Hi friend, as someone whose been playing COD for over a decade, I get asked a lot if Modern Warfare Remastered is still worth picking up today. Well, as both a fan of the original and a hardcore gamer, I can definitively say:
Yes, Modern Warfare Remastered is absolutely still worth buying and playing in 2024!
Now let me walk you through the key reasons why I firmly believe MW Remastered deserves a spot in every COD fan‘s library, even after all these years.
Revisiting an All-Time Great COD with Glorious Modern Visuals
Look, the original Modern Warfare is cemented as an all-time classic in my books. It truly redefined the future of FPS games when it launched back in 2007.
As industry veteran journalists like IGN‘s Ryan McCaffrey [1] noted, MW‘s cinematic campaign, addictive multiplayer and revolutionary mechanics instantly made it a landmark title in the COD franchise.
It went on to sell over 15 million copies just on Xbox 360 and PS3 alone [2], generating over $1 billion in revenue within its first year [3].
So when Activision announced a full remaster in 2016, I knew I had to experience MW with a modern coat of paint.
And let me tell you, MW Remastered takes one of the most iconic CODs ever and makes it look drop-dead gorgeous even by 2023 standards.
The 4K resolution and 60 FPS gameplay lets you see details in its iconic maps you never could before. Characters like Soap, Price and Zakhaev look so realistic you feel like you‘re right there with them during that gripping story.
Whether it‘s the sun glistening off the sniper rifle on All Ghillied Up or the raging inferno on the Middle East missions, MW Remastered makes scenes that much more immersive.
And the full audio overhaul completes the experience – crisp weapon sounds, immersive surround effects and Nuare studio‘s masterful remastering work makes it a aural treat [4].
So if you missed COD4 the first time around like I did, playing this is a great way to experience a blockbuster campaign with modern production values.
Multiplayer That Still Stands the Test of Time
But of course, for COD vets the real draw is bringing back that fast-paced, instantly satisfying multiplayer that hooked millions.
Remastered launches with 10 iconic maps that in my opinion are some of the best designs in COD history – maps like Crash, Vacant, Backlot and Crossfire play just as well today as they did in 2007.
The core mechanics – flexible loadouts, killstreaks, Perks – that made COD multiplayer so addictive then still hold up flawlessly now. This isn‘t just nostalgia talking – MW Remastered plays like a modern arcade shooter despite being over 15 years old.
Given the community of COD veterans still active, matchmaking is quick and you‘ll always find full games. Player counts hit over 150,000 concurrently on Steam alone at launch [5].
Sure, there have been tweaks and balances over the years as fan sites like CharlieIntel have documented [6]. But the minute-to-minute gameplay still delivers that euphoric COD rush you remember.
Activision‘s servers ensure I‘m always getting sub-30ms ping times and lag-free performance too. It‘s just so damn satisfying fragging people in these classic maps again.
Modern Warfare That Can Stand Tall Today
Now look, I‘ve put hundreds of hours into recent COD hits like Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 as well.
And MW Remastered honestly still holds its own against these shiny new entries in surprising ways.
For one, the more grounded, realistic art style gives it a unique visual flair compared to the flashier looks of newer CODs. Audio design is still top-class and immune from age.
The MP maps are some of the best ever designed and I never feel bored tearing it up in Ambush or Pipeline again.
The core combat, while not as nuanced as MWII‘s gunsmith, has a certain old-school charm and simplicity to it that just clicks.
Remastered plays like an arcade arena shooter – and I mean that in the best way possible. It captures that magic MW brought to competitive MP in ways recent entries can‘t always replicate.
Even small additions like messing around in the MW museum area shows the dev‘s attention to detail in refreshing this gem. It‘s a masterclass in remastering done right.
So despite fierce competition, MW Remastered doesn‘t feel dated to me in the way you‘d expect from a 2007 game. This really could‘ve passed as a modern COD title with some polish.
Worth Every Penny (Especially for COD Superfans)
Now, MW Remastered does cost a pretty penny still in 2024 – $40 for the Campaign alone or $60 bundled with Infinite Warfare.
As a comparison, you can often find more recent COD games for half or even a third of that price.
But in my opinion, the quality on display here makes MW Remastered worth every dollar – especially if you‘re a superfan of COD history like me.
Given the extent of the visual overhaul, excellent optimization, strong server support, and quantity of content, MW Remastered justifies its premium cost for the quality experience you get.
Think of it akin to a COD museum piece preserving an all-time classic for veterans and newcomers alike – it‘s absolutely worth the price of admission in my book.
And that‘s before considering you also get Modern Warfare Remastered: Variety Map Pack with it to expand your MP map roster.
So if you have fond memories of going ghillied up with Soap, breaching rooms with Price‘s squad or clutching 1v1 in Hardcore S&D, don‘t hesitate to pick this remaster up. It delivers on all fronts.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is a masterclass in reviving a last-gen classic for modern hardware. Both newcomers and series vets will find tremendous value in this package.
The stellar campaign oozes with new life through its fantastic visual and audio overhaul. Multiplayer retains that distinctly addictive COD feel we know and love.
It genuinely stands tall as one of the best remasters I‘ve had the pleasure of experiencing across any franchise.
So for any COD fan old or new, do yourself a favor and add Modern Warfare Remastered to your collection. I can‘t recommend it enough.
Let me know when you pick it up – I‘m always down to squad up for some Hardcore Team Deathmatch and relive the glory days! This MW veteran gives an emphatic thumbs up.
[1] https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/10/modern-warfare-2-review[2] https://www.gamespot.com/articles/15-million-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-games-sold-report/1100-6214869/
[3] https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-02-08-analyst-call-of-duty-generated-USD1-billion-in-revenue-in-6-weeks
[4] https://nwarestudios.com/modern-warfare-remastered-qa/
[5] https://steamcharts.com/app/393100
[6] https://charlieintel.com/what-are-the-biggest-changes-in-modern-warfare-remastered/22020/
