Being a game journalist has its perks. Yes, you do get free games. But you also get access to first-look events for many of the most anticipated upcoming titles. This month I want to take you inside one of those events for a little game called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which arrives on November 10.

An AC-130 strike hits Rio in Modern Warfare 2.

High stakes multiplayer battles take place in Modern Warfare 2.

Battle atop a high rise in Modern Warfare 2.

Chances are this is a game that's already in your GameQ. It is, without question, the most anticipated title of the year and a direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The team at Infinity Ward shared a few details about the campaign and co-op at E3, but multiplayer has been shrouded in secrecy. That all finally changed at an event in Hollywood in September, when Vince Zampella, the CEO of Infinity Ward, took the wraps off the game's ambitious online plans. Yes, I've played it, and I can confirm that fans will be blown away by the action, strategy, and maps.

At its core, Modern Warfare 2 is still a 60 frames-per-second action shooter. Layered on top of the action, however, are a vast array of perks, equipment, and achievements that add a surprising amount of depth. The biggest feature? Killstreaks, perks that you earn for killing a series of opponents in a row. For instance, after 11 enemy kills you get to summon an AC-130 gunship to bomb your enemies. If that's too hard, after five kills in a row you can trigger a predator missile - which often leads to another Killstreak perk - like a supply drop. If you're a novice player you can take advantage of Deathstreaks, which level the playing field. Died 3 times in a row? You'll get Painkiller, which triples your health. Or Copycat, which lets you steal the weapons and perks of the guy who just took you down!

The Killstreak/Deathstreak combo adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay, but it's only the start of Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer experience. There's also equipment to consider. Sure there are bombs and semtex, but my favorite piece of equipment is tactical insertion. This is a flare that, when deployed, remembers your current location as a re-spawn point for after you die. Find your favorite out-of-the-way sniping position and, when someone takes you down, you can instantly reappear in that location.

Like the first Modern Warfare, you will also be able to rank up your character as you continue to play online. The level cap will top out at 70, and I have no doubt some players will hit that level within the first week of play. Besides being a great way to brag about your skills, the level cap helps ensure that the game is fun for players of all skill levels.

As for the maps, Infinity Ward isn't commenting on how many we will see in the initial release. But there were three on display at the multiplayer event. First is Afghan, which is set in a Middle Eastern mountain range next to an airplane crash site (which you saw in the first game trailer back in May). Second is Rio, which presumably is set in Brazil since it features the Christ the Redeemer statue. Rio is my favorite map so far, as verticality comes into play in a big way. You can fight along the streets or you can take to the rooftops, where you jump between shacks and concrete buildings. At times it almost feels like there are two games going on - one on the rooftops, and one at street level. The final map showcased was High Rise. Infinity Ward wasn't commenting on the location of the map, but it did feature a Russian helicopter and countless skyscrapers under construction.

For fans that prefer co-operative multiplayer like Halo, you won't be able to play through the campaign of Modern Warfare 2 with a buddy. But there is another option: Spec-Ops mode. Infinity Ward has created an entire campaign of mini-missions built specifically for two player co-op. These aren't retreads of campaign missions, but entirely new experiences built specifically for two-player action. Grouped into three difficulty tiers, these pick-up-and-play missions all feature different goals. One, for instance, is a snowmobile race set in the same area as the Cliffhanger level shown at E3. Another one is similar to Horde Mode from Gears of War 2 or Firefight in Halo 3: ODST, where you have to fend off a wave of 50 enemies at once. If you don't want to play them online there will also be a two-player split-screen option.

To put it simply, Modern Warfare 2 is living up to the hype. And the best part? We still know very little about the core single-player campaign and what twists and turns are in store for us there. If the initial trailer is any indication, we can expect underwater action in a submarine, fights on snowy airfields, and probably some other big surprises that have yet to be revealed.

Next month I'll be back with a holiday game guide - a look at key games you'll want to rent not just for yourself, but for everyone in your family.