i started getting into the COD franchise with the newer MW(specifically MWII) and, for a while, i thought they were pretty sick. if you exclude MWIII, its a pretty solid and enjoyable gameplay. i still enjoy how much they explored each character's personality and took some time to make them bond, it feels as if we are watching relationships grow.
however, after finally playing the original MW games(actually, i have yet to play COD4:MW. im downloading it rn haha), i can easily say that they are better. the new ones are still enjoyable, i only play the campaign and its VERY fun, but it feels as if you are constantly hyped in the old ones.
maybe its because i dont rlly take codMW seriously. i see it as a caricature, something kinda ridiculous to say the least. but its damn fun. sure, maybe shooting enemies as you fly around in a falling airplane isnt "realistic", but it sure is fun! i also felt a lot of emotional depth in the older games.
although it feels as if their personality got to shine a bit more in the newer MW since they took it slow, in the previous games it feels as if we cant stop for a second. we are always rushing with adrenaline, we bond just by the fact of being alive and fighting for a greater good. despite it not being the main focus, i still grew attatched to those characters and it sure felt as if they did to one another.
soaps death was a main factor to me, price's blood-curling screams as he watched soap take his last breath. watching that old military man call his teammate "son" as he begs him to live shocked me to say the least. i actually had to pause the game because everything, from the music to the voice acting, it all just made me shocked.
speaking of music, the original mw music directors went INSANE with it. i could feel adrenaline rushing through my veins in every mission, i think it was a big factor for me to love this game so much.
but i digress. both the new and old version are enjoyable, but for different reasons. the new mwII is very good, but i hate mwIII and i feel like most players agree with me. they managed to mischaracterize everyone, gave us lame missions, and the most boring death known to mankind. sure, people say the original mwIII was repetitive due to the missions playing on nostalgia(which i dont really agree, but i can see why that point is made), but at least it was fun. in the new games, it feels as if they are allergic to killing everyone, always bringing characters back or just not killing villains for no reason.
either way, personally, i prefer the original mw franchise but i still find the new one good in different ways.