This epic first person shooter returns for a fifth installment
After an initial leak, Gameloft has swiftly released the official version of Modern Combat 5 after almost two years in development.
The story takes place across a series of super-short missions, each lasting no longer than four or five minutes. It starts out in Venice, quickly moves to Tokyo, before unlocking other areas through completing missions. This is your standard shooter fare and something you’ll be familiar with if you’ve played any of the Call of Duty games.
Venice looks lovely. Shame we’re shooting it to pieces
In regards to the story, the narrative isn’t particularly strong, and can feel a bit disjointed – but it’s a good effort and draws the player in through the missions.
Like the Call of Duty series, Modern Combat 5 includes plenty of explosive set pieces. The first mission alone sees you battling a helicopter as you escape on a rubber dinghy through the canals of Venice. Unfortunately, not all missions are this epic and most feature a standard run-through from point A to point B as wave after wave of enemies try to take you down. While these can still be fun, it’s hard to play more than one or two missions at a time.
The first mission features an epic boat escape.
As with the Call of Duty series a big emphasis is placed on the multiplayer aspect of the game. There are several game types including the classic free-for-all and squad based shootouts, but each of the games are quite short, so you’re never playing for long.
The controls can be tricky on occasion, most noticeably in online play where the lack of buttons available on the iPhone could see you swiping around the screen to control movement and aim and in the heat of the moment, missing the separate button that shoots. It can be frustrating but with practice you become better.
Upgrade your character
The more you play the more rewards you also receive. You gain SP which can be used to upgrade your weapons and abilities. These then transfer into all modes of the game you play. Eventually you’ll end up like John Rambo and you can take down a whole army, single handed, probably.
Each environment seems to have had a lot of care put into them, and graphics are top-notch. The Temple levels feels sufficiently built out and the slight details like bullet holes on the scenery make this feel like a console-quality game.
This Team Battle takes place on a huge map
It doesn’t bring much new to the table but if you can forgive the controls, Modern Combat 5 offers a fun-filled, explosion-filled, experience. Let’s hope that Modern Combat 6 doesn’t take another two years to come out!
Price: $6.99/£4.99
Size: 708 MB
Version: 1.0.1
Developer: Gameloft
Platform: Universal
