While most of the civilized world (at least the videogame-playing parts) lining up to play the anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, you'd think the franchise was strictly a stationary affair. Activision's hit series returns to the Nintendo DS alongside its bigger console cousins, and while classics like Demenitum and Moon have showcased the artistic merits of the genre for the console, few have managed to really replicate the full experience as n-Space's take on the Call of Duty franchise.  Nintendo's portable is certainly no stranger to the franchise, with previous games providing on-the-go enthusiasts plenty of firepower in small packages. With plenty of action-packed missions and online multiplayer packed into its tiny DS cart, the aptly-named Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized is the real deal, and shouldn't be underestimated.

Those familiar with the previous Call of Duty adventures for the DS should feel right at home with Mobilized, as the game retains the same basic look and level structuring as those titles. Rather than miniaturize – and drastically reduce – the pure cinematic and technological bravado of the home console versions developer N-Space has once again crafted an entirely new and compelling game that makes great use of the DS hardware. Mobilized follows American and British forces as they race against time to locate and disarm a rogue nuclear device across global war torn locales and regions. The game's tone and pacing is decidedly lower than its M-rated counterparts, so don't expect the same visceral (and controversial) campaign experience on the smaller screen.

Activision has stated that Mobilized is a 'companion' to the regular Call of Duty games, and that's probably the best way to describe it. From sharp-shooting to run and gunning, this is a true FPS experience, with plenty of straightforward action and firepower housed into a surprisingly long and accomplished campaign on the Nintendo DS. Missions will take players through war torn Middle Eastern cities, defending riverboats, steamy jungles, and even navigating tanks and gunships. Some areas will require stealth (via spy robots), while others will require a little help from called-in aerial strikes - this is the authentic Call of Duty experience, only compacted and tailored for the mobile market and executed remarkably well.

If you're looking to judge the technological merits of Mobilized by looking at screenshots, don't bother, as the game really needs to be seen in motion to be really appreciated. Environments are larger and nicely detailed, with good effects and animations on the various character and weapon models. Enemies still resemble a pastiche of blurry pixels from a distance, but they seem a bit smarter and less inclined to die this time around. I was actually really impressed with some of the more action-intensive scenes that had drop helicopters zooming overhead, and the mobilized sections (in-vehicle sequences) were actually quite exciting and fun to play.

The same level of polish applies to the game's audio, with plenty of spoken dialog and a booming, explosively good soundtrack that really helped drive the experience home. I was surprised to hear the subtle attention to details, like whipping wind effects and metallic grinding coming out of my speakers alongside the action. To be quite honest, DS games have seldom looked or sounded this good. Techno-snobs may laugh at such a statement, but given the hardware the game is running on and the level of gameplay on display, this is good stuff.

How you’ll find the actual gameplay will largely depend on how comfortable you are with first-person shooters on the DS itself, a genre that’s been well represented on the platform. Control is graciously tailored to both left and right-handed players, with both d-pad and face buttons used for movement, left/right triggers for firing, and the lower touchscreen for everything else. Some have complained (and with merit) this configuration can lead to cramped wrists, and that will most likely be true for anyone looking to spend extended periods grasping the DS to finish the game. Of course, the missions seemed designed with this in mind, with plenty of checkpoints scattered across the larger levels to help keep the pace brisk and quick. Traditional Call of Duty sequences, such as manning turrets and defending locations, are abbreviated here for quick results and faster succession.

Mid-level touchscreen 'puzzles' also help break up the action, which range from unlocking encrypted computers to simply matching corresponding circuits. Some are more intuitive than others, although I can't say any of them were a highlight for me.

Mobilized features drastically improved online multiplayer than World at War, with up to 6-players either locally or through Nintendo WiFi. Features represented are Team Deathmatch, Team Sabotage, Team Capture the Flag, Team Switch, and Team Hunter Prey. Each mode is nicely varied and worth experimenting with, and While finding and connecting to matches took forever, the actual matches were quite smooth and relatively lag free. There's no voice-chat or any of the perks home console gamers may be used to, but given how good the game plays online (and the fact it even exists at all) is reason to celebrate and only adds value to the overall package.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized is one of the best first-person shooter experiences on the DS, and definitely a worthwhile addition to the franchise. It looks, sounds, and plays great with touchscreen controls, and with 6-player online multiplayer and plenty of single-player Achievements to unlock, the game has serious replay value when the campaign is over.  Those looking for longer sessions may have cramped hands and fingers to deal with, but that's really more to do with the console itself than the actual game.  While it may lack the cinematic and graphical accomplishments of the full Modern Warfare series, this is a great portable experience and one worth taking.