What we like: 'Modern Warfare 2' doesn't bother with historical accuracy, which frees it up for a wide range of locations: Afghanistan, Rio de Janeiro, Russia, and, uh, Virginia. In one stage, you go ice-climbing, pick off an entire base of Russian soldiers, then narrowly escape via snowmobile; in the next, you're fighting in American suburbia, fortifying the local fast food joint against the next wave of enemies.

The immersive gameplay of 'Modern Warfare 2' gives even the less exciting elements a shot of adrenaline. Many shooters, like 'Gears of War,' treat scenes where you leap onto a helicopter as a boring, view-only scene. Here, though, it's playable, and the outcome is surprising; you're supposed to miss the chopper and fall to the ground. The next five minutes are then spent weaponless, feverishly trying to claw your way back to the roof while a pack of guerilla fighters chase you.

Murdering civilians at Russia's Sheremetyevo International Airport is just as graphic and shocking as you can imagine. Since the game's plot hinges on the event, it warrants its own stage. But knowing that doesn't make it any easier to play. Morally ambiguous moments like these continue to linger long after they're over, speaking volumes to the power of gaming as an effective storytelling medium.

'Special Ops' mode is perfect for when you feel like jumping to a particular campaign stage or event without having to plod through the story. Multiplayer will have you coming back to the game after completing the five-to-10-hour campaign. The action is even more chaotic, and new features include create-a-class, an upgradeable perks system, and over a dozen kill streaks, which unlock tactical aids like the laptop-guided predator missile.

Graphically, 'Modern Warfare 2' isn't quite the belle of the ball (Random buildings and signs appear blurry and pixelated close up.), but to say it's anything but gorgeous would be unfair. The sheer level of onscreen action as you sprint through Washington D.C., fliers swirling around gunfire and helicopters crashing to the ground, is almost unparalleled.

What we don't like: That ambitious plot? It's disjointed, to say the least. Sure, you'll get the gist of the story, but chances are you won't figure out many details (e.g., who's on which side, the importance of a particular sub-character, why you're in a particular location, etc.) until after the fact. Blame the frantic storytelling and convoluted plot for making you wish you could just get on with it and start shooting already.

As far as game mechanics go, the grenade proximity alert could seriously use tweaking. It's great to have some warning when a grenade gets hurled your way -- even better when you have enough time to toss the grenade back at an unsuspecting enemy. Sometimes, though, the alert doesn't go off, or you miss it completely in the heat of battle, winding up dead more often than you should.

What it costs: $59.99

Does it live up to the hype? Though its story is a mess and its campaign mode shorter than the previous games', there's a lot to love about 'Modern Warfare 2.' Every stage is a unique, thrilling test of precision and strategy that rewards players with great eye candy and heart-stopping moments. And fortunately, when the campaign ends, the fun can continue ad infinitum via excellent cooperative and multiplayer modes. Game of the year? Debatable, but it's certainly the best shooter to come along in a while.