Special Ops

Modern Warfare 2 contains a third mode, entirely separate from the singleplayer campaign and the multiplayer mode. Special Ops - a.k.a. Specops - is designed specifically for co-op (both split-screen or over the Internet) but can also be played alone if you choose so. Missions are copied (and modified) from the singleplayer campaign and there are also non-campaign scenarios and set pieces built specifically for specops as well.

In short, specops is much like the "Mile High Club" mission — that is unlocked after completing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare — in which you had to rescue a VIP that was held hostage in a big jumbo jet filled with armed enemies. While this was singleplayer only, specops is meant to be worked on co-op style.

Specops

In specops there are many different challenges for you to complete, not just the get from point A-to-B or kill everyone in the map, but also time trials on for example a snowmobile. Each mission has three stars (one for each difficulty level), with a total of 23 missions (69 stars) this will take about as long as the singleplayer campaign - if not longer. It's built on five levels of play – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo. Earn enough stars in the Alpha levels, and you'll unlock Bravo and so on.

Difficulty can be changed for each player individually. Meaning that if you want to tackle one on veteran and your buddy wants to play on regular, you can do it. To balance this you both get rewarded only for the weakest link; so if you play on veteran when your mate is playing on normal you will only be rewarded with stars for regular.

Joel Emslie, lead character designer, says that there will probably be DLC for Special ops: "It does look logical that Specops is just perfect for that kind of stuff."