BACK FOR SECONDS; Warfare returns with a bang.

MODERN WARFARE 2 HHHHI PS3,360,PC THE original Modern Warfare was a dazzling first-person shooter. Infinity Ward blended epic scenes with thrilling gunplay to create one of this generation's premier titles.

The sequel has a tough act to follow but it manages to pull it off. However, it's not without its flaws.

ModernWarfare 2's plot centres on a new global terrorist threat and you take control of several key characters as your elite squads attempt to snuff out the threat to world peace.

With a confident swagger, InfinityWard's latest creation drops the players in various locations across the globe to nullify the terrorist threat. These levels may be fairly small in scale but are epic in terms of action-packed moments. Pacing throughout the game is just about perfect, with some of the most immersive moments in gaming this year.

A breathless shootout in a Rio suburb, freeing hostages from an enemy-infested oil rig, and an epic, eye-popping battle in a war-ravagedWashington DC in the pouring rain are episodes that will live long in the memory.

The robust gunplay in spot-on and, although you can't issue your squad mates with orders, flanking an enemy while your teammates attack is extremely satisfying.

The action isn't limited to simply gunning down enemies either. Speeding between trees on a snowmobile during a frantic chase and accelerating down river rapids offer a wonderful break from the core shooting action.

While the game features some surprising twists, the plot in general is a mixed bag. Generic cutscenes are used to explain the global situation but it never quite blossoms into a cohesive yarn.

Another gripe is the game's length. I completed the singleplayer campaign in just under seven hours. Not too bad but such is the thrill of the experience, the player is left desperate for more. Special Ops missions help extend the single-player experience, though, while the most comprehensive multiplayer this side of Halo means online gamers have enough content to last them well into next year. Of course, the big talking point is the airport scene. Infiltrating a terrorist cell in this section proves to be an uncomfortable - and incongruous - experience. A shocking scene which feels unnecessary and out of place in the implausibility of the rest of the game.

The option to skip the scene is included, but parents should be aware that this game has an 18 certificate for a reason.

However, controversy aside, ModernWarfare 2 plays beautifully - a blistering and adrenaline fuelled ride, brimming with wonderful moments and polished to perfection.

It may not rewrite the rulebook and it's a shame the single player campaign is so short but the team have delivered a fast-paced experience that no shooter fan should be without.

SHIELD YOURSELF: Dodging bullets indoors To read my reviews of Style Boutique (DS) and Tinker Bell and the (DS) Lost Treasure log on to http://blogs.dailyrecord.

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LINING UP TARGETS: The scenery is spectacular COLD FRONT: Racing around on a snow mobile is great fun