Modern Warfare 2's "No Russian" Mission

Infinity Ward has stirred a bit of controversy over the third mission, "No Russian," in its latest game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. In the mission, the player assumes the role of an undercover CIA agent in a Russian terrorist cell, and assists the group in shooting innocent people in an airport. The player is given the option to skip the mission entirely, and suffer no penalty. Even if the player decides to do the mission, they can actually still choose to not shoot on any innocent civilians. Just the same, the scene is visceral and disturbing, and many people will likely not want to play it. Some have gone so far as to say that the mission should never have been included in the game at all.

While I can understand and respect one's personal decision to skip the mission, suggesting that we have limits to the narratives in our fiction is a dangerous implication, in my opinion. The emotional impact is the entire point; you are meant to feel disgusted and angry and uncomfortable. It's the same reason why Old Yeller is killed at the end of his eponymous book (or movie): to illicit an emotional response. Artists often put these unpleasant aspects of into their work because it's part of the human condition, and we shouldn't forget that.

Personally, I don't feel the scene was handled improperly. This is an odd thing to say given the circumstances, but if this is the story Infinity Ward truly wanted to tell (and I have no reason to doubt that; this is Modern Warfare 2, and it doesn't need drummed up controversy to move copies), I don't think a more mature method could have been used. It was neither sanitized, nor was it gratuitous. It was brutal, but the message was clear.

I'm curious to know your take though. Feel free to leave a text or video response about your thoughts on the "No Russian" mission in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

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[TheLittleMJPuppet]

HEY CRAIG DID YOU LIKE THE MOVIE STAR TREK THAT IS IN YOUR LITTLE TABLE THERE?

[tvandlust]

@TheLittleMJPuppet Yes, very much so.

[seahawkslakersfan24]

358 people that likes this video were GAY Americans!

[tvandlust]

@seahawkslakersfan24 We invented Coke, the Internet and the polio vaccine. Keep hating.

[seahawkslakersfan24]

oi TI PISKA translation from Russian to English YOU PUSSY!

[Paulwebbrc]

when i played no russian i didn't kill the civilians i tried to kill makarov but don't worry makarov gets his comeuppance seeing how as a captain price repeatedly punches makarov in the face and ties a knot of rope round his neck smashes through the glass and hangs makarov while captain price holds onto makarovs hanging body its complicated but just watch mw3 ending oh yeah i forgot to mention SPOILER ALERT

[gingermonkeykid]

@MCTurkster Looks like "Nerd rage" to me.

[MCTurkster]

@tvandlust YEAH YOU ALSO INVENTED BEING FUCKED OVER BY THE UK AND THEN CRYING TO THE FRENCH FOR HELP LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

[TheYaser123]

@TheDmitriG

You're sick

[TheDmitriG]

I love the mission no Russian

[KEWB99]

I started playing VoD not long ago and just recently got to that point in the MW2 campaign. I generally have a high tolerance for this sort of stuff, but having not heard about this mission, the content struck me a little off guard. I play games like Saints Row and stuff where killing innocent people is routing, but those games are a lot more over the top and not really meant to be taken seriously. In the No Russian mission in MW2 it's a far different situation. Was it shocking? Yes. Did it dis

[kenneth2051]

I personally like the no russian level because it brings the story toghter and shows the TRUE HORRORS of terroism. The BIGGEST problem is people who have lost loved ones in a terroist attack ( 911 for instance) will be saddened by this level. The innocent ''people'' are just like the enemy soldiers, just without guns and wearing t shirts and jeans.

[HamburgersWithFries]

@tvandlust America, FUCK YEAH!