While 2018’s Black Ops 4 decided to do without a traditional story mode, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare brings back its beloved campaign mode with an all-new story that fans can enjoy before losing themselves in the game’s multiplayer modes. The rebooted narrative contains fun nods to the ori🐲ginal Modern Warfare story that long-time players will no doubt enjoy an✅d appreciate, as well as fan-favorite characters such as Caꦰptain John Price and Kyle “Gaz” Garrick. However, while the iconic Captain Price may receive all of the attention and fanfare, he isn’t the driving factor for the campaign. Modern Warfare’s story mode is successful because of its women.
Female Characters In Previous Titles
Female characters in Call of Duty games aren’t necessari𝓡ly a new addition to the series. They first became a playable option in 2013’s Call of Duty: Ghosts, but only in its multiplayer modes. The first playable female le🔴ad didn’t come to Call of Duty until two years later with Black Ops 3, which came with a storyline that (God forbi🐻d𝔍 they create a story that was female-centric).
Modern Warfare’s story is similar in the sense that even though it’s told from the perspectives of both men and women, it’s a 🏅relatively gender-neutral storyline. However, there are many moments throughout the story that feel intentionally empowering for the women of Modern Warfare, which is𒁏 a nice change of pace from the typical old boys’ club type of feel that most war genre titles - Call of Duty included - tend to have.
***Warning: The rest of this article contains story spoilers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019).***
"Yes, Ma'am"
It’s pretty apparent early in the campaign that the status quo between the genders is shifting. When a covert mission overseen by Station Chief Kate Laswell goes awry with soldiers within the Marine Raiders unit being killed in action – a group led by the (male) Colonel Norris – the two commanding officers get into a verbal spat while putt✨ing each other’s authority in check. Lieutenant General Lyons – a woman – intervenes and dismisses Norris when he tries to present his case. After a long pause as if he is surprised, Norris responds with a defeated, “Yes, ma’am,” before heading off to let Laswell and Lyons determine the next move.
Co♈lonel Norris is a pretty stereotypical and unlikable character as it is – confirmed in a later scene between him and Captain Price. But the way in which he is so quickly brushed aside is both refreshing and satisfying, and ultimately made me care more about the ensuing conversation, which is admittedly something I rarely have much interest i🔯n with Call of Duty games.
Leading The Charge
Newcomer to the series, Farah Kirim, is also a breath of fresh air within the typically male-dominated series. The Urzikstan Liberation Force Command💎er is unwavering in her dedication to her country and her people, and is willing to put her own life on the line to make sure her mission of sovereignty is seen through to the end. Her tenacity and unconditional dedication is immediately recognized as something to respect, as made clear in Alex’s (“Echo 3-1”) ultimate sacrifice after asking her to command him to manually detonate some explosives in the game’s final act.
Farah’s grit is a shared characte൩ristic of her fellow female soldiers as well. During one of the flashback levels that tasks players (playing as Farah) with escaping prison, the other female prisoners battle it out beside her. These were, quite honestly, were my favorite NPC soldiers in Modern Warfare. Not only were they portrayed well in ꦚtheir fierceness and combat pro🌠wess, but they were also the most effective NPC teammates in the game.
It’s really not a surprising mechanic for soldier NPCs to be about as effective as a Stormtrooper when it comes to aiming at enemies, leaving the opus on the player to take out entire armies. However – playing on the normal difficulty, at least – there was a noticeable difference between the effectiveness of the Urzikstan female soldiers and the game’s male soldiers; the former act🅺ually being able to aiꩲm and take down enemies, unlike the majority of the latter.
A Step In The Right Direction
Beyond the lead female characters, the women on the other side of the battle are just as badass, albeit unfortunately forced into their desperate role as “soldiers.” During my playthrough, I died numerous times at the hands of the gun-wielding women who were merely trying to survive their situation. Those moments were some of the toughest to play through for me, but that extreme desperation really shines a light on the realness of thos♉e situations.
Modern Warfare may be one of the most polarizing titles in gami💝ng rig🐎ht now, but one thing that Infinity Ward succeeded in is its portrayal of the women of its campaign mode. With female 𝓡representati🐓on still significantly lacking in video games, it’s refreshing to see a high-caliber title such a💛s Modern Warfare put them front and center in the spotlight.