To a lot of people nowadays (including me), Modern Warfare 2 is, and always been, hailed for many great things it had offered to the FPS gamers. Its story line, characters, soundtracks, gameplay, different game modes and etc. are the important matters that made this game so unique and addictive.

However, apart from the gameplay, this game also has a huge load of illogical and other unrealistic things. Here are examples and suggestions for those who really interested in realism, just for an educational case and it also might be useful for the Modders and the future "REBOOTED" version.

*Note: Most of this were taken directly from my own original review for MW2. To put it simple, this is an upgrade version of the review - https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198153269941/recommended/10180/


1. Illogical/unrealistic stuff
- The outcome after No Russian incident, seems like the Ultra-Russian decide it was all the US fault without any careful research.
- In reality, just attacked civilian in the airport was seemingly not enough to convince the world to believe it was all planned by the US government. And it might would have ended up rising a suspicious toward the Russian Government also.
It would be MUCH more believable if Makarov's men also attack on the Russian Government's important places, other military related locations, and assassinate their political rivals. To put it simple, the attack on airport could be just a bloody diversion for the Russian security forces.
- From above, there is another thing to make the event more believable. In the prior terrorist attacks, Makarov might had left some sort of the fake evidences to make people believe that American is the one who back him up. Well, at first not everyone might buy it, but then there is another attack with another 'evidence'. And then No Russian happens with a body of CIA that will back everything in the past up.
- Why FSB operatives don't check up or follow the Makarov's ambulance? Well, that make me believe either the FSB might have known about the set up or just the developers make them arrived the scene too quick.
- To this day, Infinity Ward developers never give a reason or any kind of lore that WHY SHEPHERD CHOOSE PFC.ALLEN to do the suicide mission at the first place? Because he had a knowledge on Russian language? Or some sort of connection? We never know.
- How could no one able to detects hundreds of large cargo planes flying over 'European territories' into the US?
- By such a distance, how did Russians able to support their logistics for invasion force? This seems like a single trip since there isn't enough fuel to return to Russia.
- In reality, it was very unlikely that only Russia alone could be able to (nearly) win the war against the US. It'd make more sense if China and some of allies countries of both super powers assist the attack also.
- In order to attack US, the plan and troops should be prepared more than a week or month, or even longer than that. And there is no further explanation at all if the Russian military have already secretly prepared their forces to invade US and use the 'No Russian incident' as an excuse for the invasion or not.
- How could the nuclear/EMP blast wave be able to destroy the space station and satellite in space? With no atmosphere, the wave should be ineffective (especially if it's just an EMP). Still, EMP and radiation wave (with no atmosphere to interrupt their path) should be enough to kill those poor people in the station.
- From the Cliff hanger and Just like the old times missions, why two ELITE special forces didn't even try to hide or cover up the dead bodies at all? This is possibly the reason of how they blown their cover.
- From the Cliff Hanger and the End game, pursued by so many Helicopters and snow mobiles/zodiacs, the protagonists shouldn't survive from the situation.
- Ukraine's coat of arms appear on the Ultranationalist's snow mobile.
- American bus appear EVERYWHERE on this planet.
- In Takedown mission, Rojas assistant was firing his Desert Eagle about 13 rounds, from the entire 7 rounds clip.
Note: The Devs finally change the event to become more appropriate now in the remastered version. Rojas assistant now firing 4 rounds out of the pistol, then pick up an AK to do the rest of his kills.
- Judge from the distance, how Royce know that Meat is down? Since Meat also doesn't scream or anything.
- Being one of the arms dealer for Makarov and have a connection to KGB and Ultranationalist (Soap's Journal in MW3). Yet, the ONLY thing Rojas known is "Prisoner 627" - Something that seems to be a very private information, and how Rojas knew it is something we don't know to this day.
- In the Hornet Nest's loading screen, the news about Russian invasion is mostly covered up by videos of the 'No Russian' incident and the favela shootout for no particular reason.
- In reality, it's normally requires two person to operate the Javelin (FGM-148).
- Every AIRSOFT weapons and magazine models in this game (most of which still appear in the Remastered version) should be replaced by the realistic ones.
- Every shotgun's tighter spread should be readjusted for the sake of realism.
- American armament like 50 cal ammo cases and suppressors appear everywhere, on every factions.
- FSB and Spetsnaz with American MH-6 Little Bird, it should be 'Kamov Ka-226' variants instead.
- To shoot Shepherd's Helo down, Price should use 'M203' or something else bigger instead of just 3 rounds from M4A1.
Note: This one has already been fixed in the remastered version, luckily.
- According from "Alex D Vasilkov" my 2 years experienced Ex-Russian soldier and Modder friend, Russian BTRs and tanks have a special electronic system that (might) can help them to survive the EMP blast. Even without this special gadget, they might can still be operational 'IF' those vehicles have other starting options. For example - using the pressurized/compressed air starting system to start the engine, with this method the vehicle might can still be able to operate long enough to return back to the base.
- Russian VDV (paratroopers) alone can't secure the entire Northeastern part of US, the regular Russian Army soldiers should appear in the DC missions also. And they could appear along with T-90 battle tanks.
- T-72A tanks that appear as wreckage props in DC missions should be changed into either T-72B3 or T-90.
- In the Gulag mission, how (and why) a single VDV appear inside the Gulag (who got bested by Prisoner 627) is unknown.
- In the end of the Only easy day was yesterday mission, US marines are riding on the little bird choppers. But then they are all replaced by TF141 crews in the Gulag mission.
Note: They were finally replaced by TF141 men in the remastered version.
- In the Second Sun mission, Pvt. McCord is the only regular NPC who still alive. In the next mission his surname is changed into Sandler.
- DSM transfer speeds, nuff said (Loose End mission).
- In reality, the abandoned boneyard in Afghanistan was the leftover by Soviet, not US.
- According to the COD Wikia, although the Russian 'Ultranationalist' idolize the Soviet Union out of a sense of national pride, their actual commitment to Communist political and economic ideals are left ambiguous and unknown. But if the Ultranationalist in the new rebooted version had nothing to do with the Soviet ideology at all, then its 'Hammer and Sickle' symbol (as in the original version) should be changed into something more appropriate.
From: https://callofduty.fandom.com/wiki/Ultranationalists_(Original)


2. Fast paced video game come along with fast paced story line
If they carefully arranged the timeline (extended the story and time gap) the whole game can be separated into 2 parts, for the sake of logic and realism:

Part 1 -> S.S.D.D ~ No Russian, and more additional missions.
1.1) For PFC. Allen - Add more missions to gain more trust for Makarov and his mates (rescue, sabotage, assassination, etc.)
1.2) (optional) Some missions for Roach or Ghost.
1.3) Ramirez - A few or just one mission in Afghanistan, before the Rangers are suddenly transferred back to the US after the No Russian incident.
1.4) Other Makarov goons or just one of them - Attack one or several of the important government places and assassinate the important political rivals during the incident.

Part 2 -> Brazil (Takedown) ~ Ending, extra missions can be included.


3. AIs models and appearances
- Seems like German Shepherd is the only kind of dog that existed in the COD franchise. There should be a change for the dogs in Rio favela missions.
- Lack of variations for the enemy models (faces and uniforms), especially:

3.1) The Brazilian militia/gangsters
- More variations on the uniforms and face models, and about a half of them shouldn't have a well-dressing and military hardware.
Note: In the remastered version, some of the gangsters are now wearing undershirts and shorts. Their variation on shirts have also been slightly increased.

3.2) Ultranationalists and OpFor
- [OPTIONAL] Change Russian VDV camo, and proper uniforms for the Winter Spetsnaz.
- A new model of the VDV sniper, the original one look more like some sort of Taliban sniper.
- More variation on faces models (both unmasked and partially visible ones).


4. I'd considered to be the WORST of all, choice of the WEAPONS for the Campaign/Single Player

In the game, you'll see many AIs are equipping with inappropriate firearms, especially the enemy factions:

4.1) The Russian "Ultranationalist" - This is the finest example for all these messes. Seriously, they made the entire Russia ruled by the "ULTRA"nationalist, but using a large amount of foreign weapons doesn't sounds like they are Ultranationalist at all...
In reality, although Russian officials and military indeed have some foreigners weapons in their arsenal. But they are using them in a FEW amount and it's mainly for personal protection, internal security, and testing.
If you still don't see this is a problem, just imagine if one day some Russian video game devs portrayed the US soldiers to use the customized version of M16A1 as a standard rifle, and others were equipping with firearms manufactured by South American countries, along with 2-3 Russian CQB weapons.

And to prevent the 'out of ammo' problem for the 'starting load out' (western weapons). The players could have ask for an additional ammo from the friendly AIs (similar with Medal of Honor 2010 and War Fighter).

- Russian VDV (paratrooper)
They equipped with a huge amount of NATO firearms (P90, UMP45, FAL), Israeli (TAR-21), AMERICAN (Vector, Striker, Javelin (FGM-148), M107, M67 grenade), also Walmart's AK47 and outdated RPD. The only 'acceptable' weapons are PP2000 (mostly used by police and security forces in real life though), Dragunov, and RPG-7.
What it should be (including the recommended Russian Army soldiers in DC missions):
Pistol & SMG -> MP-443 Grach, PP-19 Bizon, SR-2 Veresk (optional), Vityaz-SN
Rifle/Carbines & Marksman -> either AK-74M or AK-15, AKS-74U (opt), VSS Vintorez, OTs-14 Groza (opt)
Shotgun & LMG -> Saiga-12, either RPK-74M or RPK-16, either PKM or PKP Pecheneg
Sniper & Others -> SV-98 (opt), OSV-96 (replace M107), RPG-7D (optional for paratroopers), either RGD-5 or RGN (Standard grenade), RDG-2 smoke grenade, 9K135 Kornet (replace Javelin)
Acceptable original weapons: PP2000 (opt), Dragunov SVD, RPG-7 (optional for the army only)

- Winter Spetsnaz
They equipped with a gigantic amount of NATO firearms (USP.45, Beretta pistols, G18, P90, MP5K, UMP45, FAMAS, AUG HBAR, SPAS-12, M1014, MG4), Israeli (UZI), American (AA-12, Striker, Vector, M240, Intervention, FIM-92 Stinger, AT4, M67 grenade), and Walmart's AK47. While TMP (MP9) is quite acceptable, but it's only known to be used by FSB in reality.
WISB:
Pistol & SMG -> MP-443 Grach, PSM pistol (opt), OTs-38 Stechkin (opt), either PP-19 Bizon or PP-90M1, SR-2 Veresk (opt), Vityaz-SN
Rifle/Carbines & Marksman -> either AK-74M or AK-15, AN-94 (opt), either SR-3 Vikhr or 9A-91, ASh-12.7 (opt), OTs-14 Groza (opt)
Shotgun & LMG -> RMB-93, Saiga-12, either RPK-74M or RPK-16, PKP Pecheneg
Sniper & Others -> SV-98 (opt), Dragunov SVU (Bull-pup), either RGD-5 or RGN (Standard grenade), either 9K38 Igla or 9K333 Verba (MANPADS), either RG-6 or GM-94 (both optional), either RPG-30 or 32 (both optional), RDG-2 smoke grenade
Acceptable original weapons: MP9/TMP, PP2000, Dragunov

- FSB and airport security
Equipped with a gigantic amount of NATO firearms (USP.45, M9 Beretta, MP5K, UMP45, F2000, SPAS-12, Plus - P99 pistol in the flashback from MW3), Israeli (TAR-21), and American (M14 EBR that used by airport security snipers, 1911 in the holster of FSB folks, and M18 smoke grenade).
WISB:
Pistol & SMG -> MP-443 Grach, SR-2 Veresk (opt), Vityaz-SN, PP-2000
Rifle/Carbines & Marksman -> either AK-74M or AK-15, either SR-3 Vikhr or 9A-91, ASh-12.7 (highly recommend), OTs-14 Groza (opt)
Shotgun & Others -> RMB-93, Saiga-12, VKS sniper rifle (opt), Either RDG-2 or non of a smoke grenade equipped at all
Acceptable original weapon: MP9/TMP (actually used by FSB, but should be appeared in a fewer amount)

- Makarov's Mercs (not the airport attackers)
The foreign weapons for this unit is exceptional, but it would make more sense if about a half of the unit equipped with proper Russian weapons also.
And honestly, the extremely rare weapon like WA2000 should be replaced by Dragunov SVU instead.

4.2) OpFor (Al Asad's orphans)
Many of them can be seen running along with high-grade firearms that should be uncommonly and rarely seen in the real life Arabian war zone. However, there is a new clue that Shepherd's Shadow Company might have an involvement in this (but the devs never give us any lore about this, sadly): https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2059440292
About a half or majority of the OpFor men should be equipped with old or outdated firearms, such as: old AK variants (like AKM, AMD-65 and AKMS/AKMSU), G3A3, PKM, Skorpion, Makarov pistol, etc. While the rest can equipped with stolen/captured American (or provided by Shadow company) weapons and assets.
Acceptable original weapon: M9, Mini-Uzi, RPD, RPG-7

4.3) Favela militia/gangsters
Most of them can be seen running along with high-grade firearms that should be uncommonly seen in the real life Rio's favela.
About a half of Favela gangsters should be equipped with old firearms: old AK variants, Beretta M12, old pump-action shotguns (870), old AR-15, some old rifles/carbine, Madsen LMG, etc.
Mix with a normal black synthetic FN FAL, IMBEL MD97L, and some new Russian weapons (provided by Makarov).
In addition, some of the gangster should be equipped with a single pistol (M9/PT92, Desert Eagle, 1911, etc.), and revolver only.
Acceptable original weapon: M9, Desert Eagle, 1887, Ranger, Mini-Uzi, RPD, RPG-7, Dragunov

4.4) US Army Rangers
This faction seems to be OK by overall, except the 'Desert Eagle' that should be removed from this faction. Also, M110 and (optionally) either Mk46 or Mk48 should be included for this faction.



In conclusion

This game is certainly a memorable piece of work and so much fun to play with. But it's also filled with many of unrealistic issues, plot holes, and Hollywood flaws.

Also according to Mr. Act Man (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHYIymYeytA), this is where the franchise began to lose its own identity and turned itself into some (big budget) Hollywood movies. And with my very own opinion, the fact that developers kept on this unnecessary tradition is the main reason why later COD games were getting worse.

To put it simple, despite it was the highest era of the whole franchise, it was also the beginning of their downfall. Before it's finally somehow could be able to redeem itself by the new Rebooted title of the series (still, with quite huge amount of nonsense stuffs however).


That's all, folks! If any one had any disagreement or questions and even more suggestions, please leave it at the comment section. And this topic might be updated later for the new information that could be useful for everyone who interested.



PS. Thanks for ActMan, COD Wikia, IMFDB, Alex D Vasilkov - my Modder friend who has a vast knowledge of firearms, and one Facebook user who I was dealing with for so many interesting information.

PS2. Of course, I'm NOT a hater. All I did is are just a little effort to make the game even more interesting and getting more respect from both of the old and new fans.

PS3. I'll address it again, this topic is for those who really interested in realism and also as an educational case.