Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex Edition (Wii) Review

The first thing you will notice, as with any Wii game ported down from the more powerful systems, are the graphical downgrades, meaning it doesn't look as shiny or spectacular. However, while they lack the same sharpness, the levels are as dramatic and diverse as they need to be to make this game excellent. Although there are a few hints of slowdown every so often, you won't really notice because you'll be too busy enjoying yourself with the game. Needless to say, Treyarch have done an excellent job of porting the game, and its engine, to the Wii.

Before you begin the game, you're given six different control schemes to choose from. If you're not satisfied with those six options the controls are very customisable throughout the game; you can change anything from the button mapping, to the aiming dead zone, and even the Wii remote and nunchuk sensitivity, although, you probably won't feel the need to. There's even an option for precision aiming, which is suppose to give aiming similar to a mouse on a PC keeping your gun aimed in the middle of the screen, other than the standard mode most Wii shooters use.

Before you go out to war, you're put into a training ground as Sergeant 'Soap' MacTavish learning the ropes, going through target practice and an assault course to measure the level they recommend for you. It's now that the war begins. The campaign is short but sweet, and well worth the play through. Throughout the game you'll switch between three different soldiers, two in the S.A.S and one in the USMC. Don't expect it all to be run and gun throughout the game - this war in modern times is usually behind enemy lines, and the story that helps the game along is told well and has brilliant moments which may leave you feeling emotion by the end. There's a non-split screen co-op mode of sorts, too: another player can use a Wii Remote as a pointer, which gives the second player an experience not too different from a light gun shooter.

After you complete the main campaign you unlock the Arcade mode, which lets you play through the campaign scoring points collectively giving one big score, or through separate levels all in a time limit. It's a fun way to add replay value to the main campaign, you get the choice of which difficulty setting to play it through and it does get very hard at times. After you lose four lives it's game over and you'll get your total score, which will make you compelled to try and beat the high score next time. There is no online leaderboard, but it is fun none the less.

When it was released on other consoles, everyone who bought CoD4 raved about how great the online system was and most of it, thankfully, has made its way onto the Wii. You still get all the levelling up, unlocking new equipment and abilities the higher you climb. The prestige system is still in place - push yourself up to the highest rank possible, then optionally reset the weapons/abilities so that you can show off to your friends/eventually push yourself to a yet higher level. All the perks, all the unlockables and all the original maps - though no DLC it seems - are present, so online Wii gamers should be very happy. What also makes this the best online Wii game, however, is how fast it matches you up with games. There are friend-codes to deal with, but once you add friends you can check your stats and have private matches between each other. If you want to play randomers around the world, there's no need to mess about with the codes at all, of course. The matches are limited to 10 players per match - less than the original, but that’s two more than last year's Wii version of World at War, and the matches usually stay lag-free. There's no Wii Speak support, sadly.

Overall, this is a brilliant and overdue addition to the Wii library, and Treyarch should be proud of themselves for their excellent port job of an already great game. It really is amazing how well the game works on the Wii. The controls never get in your way and are perfectly suited - you could even kid yourself into thinking you're firing a real gun. Plus, the online gives this game massive longevity that other console owners have been enjoying for years. It's the Wii's best shooter and well worth the purchase.