Modern Warfare 2 players are obsessed with the game's big bad

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II players are loving the campaign, pouring praise on the realism and satisfying gameplay. And, expectedly, they are head over heels for Valeria Garza, the Latina antagonist and leader of the Las Almas Cartel.

Garza is introduced in an interrogation scene where she has stepped up for the seemingly absent boss of the cartel, as per her role as their "personal sicaria." As long as the player passes this section correctly (an easy how-to is do not lie to Garza), Soap will convince the cartel of his candour and the mission will continue. Garza's compelling backstory and evident ease about her authority over her lieutenants has shot Cupid's arrow through the hearts of players and the Call Of Duty community want her to stay in the spotlight.

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Though no references to Garza are in the game's leaked list of upcoming Operators at the moment, the request for the character to become a playable option in the multiplayer modes for Modern Warfare II has over 2,000 likes on Twitter. You only need to search "valeria mw2" on TikTok to see the number of fan videos all about the character.

"Soooooo... we all down horrendous?" said one. "I swear I can change her," added another, to which the poster of the video replied, "nahh bro keep her like that." While it is positive to see Garza stealing the show, she is an example of how Latine identities are almost automatically hypersexualised in media. Quiet down with the boos, guys, someone's got to make sure you don't have too much fun round here.

Ecuadorian actor María Elisa Camargo, who plays Garza, has been thrilled with the response to the antagonist. “Buzzing!” she said on Instagram. “Such an honor to feel accepted by the Call of Duty community. Amazed and overwhelmed with all the comments in my social media (I read them ALL)…And the game isn’t even out yet! WOW. GRACIAS de Corazón. And for those who are waiting for the official release…. ARE YOU READY?!?!”

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II releases in two days time, or, you can jump into the campaign before the masses here.