Modern Warfare 2 is at its best when it’s in third-person

The Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 beta is here and it's a good time; however, it's a better time if you play one of the third-person game modes and here's why

Modern Warfare 2 beta third person better: an image of soap with a sniper rifle

I know this is going to sound like quite a hot take, but after spending some time with the Modern Warfare 2 beta over the weekend, it has become apparent that the best way to play this shooter sequel from Infinity Ward is in the third-person perspective. Whether you’re using the best Modern Warfare 2 beta guns or not, it’s clear that the developer’s improvements to the game’s physics engine and the tactical pacing of the gunplay are far better suited to the third-person game modes available – and here’s why.

The first, and most important, reason why Modern Warfare 2 is better in a third-person perspective is the fact that this perspective suits the gunplay on offer, which is just so much slower than other Call of Duty games – not that it is a bad thing, of course. I was rather unimpressed by the gameplay of Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2019 and unsurprised to learn that the sequel to that was offering more of the same – as much as I had hoped it would improve after what I thought were strong showings from Treyarch’s Black Ops Cold War and Sledgehammer Games’ Vanguard.

So, playing the Modern Warfare 2 beta left me with the belief that Modern Warfare 2’s gunplay was lacking something special, just like the gameplay on offer from 2019’s release. Well, that was until I jumped into the third-person moshpit playlist available.

The third-person perspective allows you to better position yourself in the environment around you – something that’s even more important when mobility is limited. When the days of slide-cancelling your way around the map are gone, this is even more important.

If you’re worried about missing out on the accuracy a first-person perspective offers, you don’t need to. Not only is it easier to adjust your aim for hipfire kills while playing in a third-person perspective, Infinity Ward has decided to make sure you can still make the most of your optics when using ADS. It is a little jarring at first, zooming from an over-the-shoulder viewpoint to a red dot sight in a split second, but when you get used to this you really do get the best of both worlds.

Whether you’re into running and gunning, or pinpoint accuracy, the third-person moshpit playlist is by-far the best experience the Modern Warfare 2 beta offers right now.

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In addition to this, though, the third-person perspective gameplay is also the best way to appreciate Modern Warfare 2’s stunning graphics and the new player physics coming to the shooter.

From the way your operator leans while strafing around a corner to the dramatic shift in tempo as they slide into cover under enemy fire, it’s far easier to appreciate the improvements Infinity Ward has made to the Call of Duty gameplay experience when you can see them fully for yourself from a third-person perspective. Going forward into launch and beyond, I can only imagine that this is going to be a better way to play if you get your hands on a new operator skin. Of course, you won’t be seeing as much of any unique weapon blueprints and builds, but that’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.