Call of Duty 2 is one of the best games available in the Xbox 360’s launch line-up. It’s just one of the many shooters that are launching with the platform and while many may like the fact that the Xbox 360 is already the home to a number of shooters, I believe it just makes the line-up look stale and unoriginal. First-person shooters flood the gaming industry unlike any other type of video game genre that exists today and the difference between one title and the other is often miniscule. The gameplay mechanics are virtually the same from game to game and whenever a unique and innovative feature is introduced in one game, it’s often copied by a dozen others that follow it. Now, it should be not be ignored that Call of Duty 2 isn’t the most original of shooters. If you’ve played a game in Electronic Arts’ Medal of Honor series, you’ll feel right at home with the game’s weapons and setting. Additionally, the game’s multiplayer modes are very similar to the great CounterStrike. So, why would anyone be compelled to pick up Call of Duty 2? The answer is simple -- the game’s atmosphere... in short, it’s absolutely amazing.
I don’t think it would be a terribly false assumption to believe that World War II shooters like Call of Duty and Medal of Honor have been partly inspired by Steven Spielberg’s "Saving Private Ryan." The blockbuster film managed to give moviegoers a gritty and intense look into the battles of World War II. Many games have tried to mimic what Spielberg’s epic had done, and the previous Call of Duty and the Medal of Honor of games have done a pretty good job at doing such a thing (how couldn’t you with such high production costs?) but not only does Call of Duty 2 manage to surpass any previous game in this respect but it also goes above and beyond Spielberg’s epic. Call of Duty 2 is the definitive WWII experience.
Call of Duty 2 has this undeniable cinematic feel to its gameplay and this is most likely due to the large amount of scripted events that occur in the game. Depending on who you ask, these scripted events were the first game’s strongest aspect, and from the point of view from other gamers, the game’s biggest flaw, because as a result the game feels linear to a certain extent. Well, you could say that the same criticism can be applied to its sequel, but from the point of view of this gamer, the scripted events of Call of Duty 2 make it a far more enjoyable shooter than ninety percent of those available on the market today.
Imagine marching down a Egyptian street with your battalion, then all of a sudden, you’re ambushed by German troops as fellow soldiers next to you are shot and killed. You then rush to side to hide behind the debris of a collapsed building. Then, off in the distance, you see Germans firing a stationed machine gun, preventing you from moving any further through the streets. In order to hide yourself from enemy fire, you toss a smoke grenade to conceal your location and move towards a safer area. Or at least what you thought was a safe area until a German Panzer tank storms through and starts shooting down even more of your fellow troops. Thankfully, one of your own Allied tanks breaks through the wall behind you, takes out the German tank and proceeds to press on forward and you run along its side to shield yourself from enemy fire off in the distance. This is the type of gameplay scenario you should come to expect from Call of Duty 2. The game never loses a beat as each and every stage in the game is filled with this level of intensity and entertainment. The game always keeps you on your toes and in the heat of action, and when the single-player campaign is over you’ll be begging for more.
The game’s levels are designed to lead you into each and everyone of these scripted events. Most paths will be blocked off by stacks of crates or barbwire, so the game is fairly linear, however, its linearity does not take away from the overall experience. If anything, it adds to is since the game’s events have been crafted so well that it almost feels as if you’re in a blockbuster war epic yourself. At times, however, there are branching paths but their events are still depicted in the same linear fashion.
As mentioned earlier, Call of Duty 2 doesn’t really do much that hasn’t been seen in a FPS before. Of course, you could argue that its atmosphere is unique, however, while that is an important gameplay aspect, the game controls like any PC shooter you’ll likely to come by and has similar mechanics. Playing Call of Duty 2 will be like second nature for most players. However, there are some minor issues that separate it from other games. For instance, you won’t be picking up any kind of medical aids in the game. If you’re hit bad, by a grenade or gunshot, the screen will start flashing red and the motion of the action will slow down. If you’re not killed by this attack, you’re best bet is to take cover and regenerate your health. If you thought the X-Men’s Wolverine was the only person who could do such a thing, you’re wrong. Because of this health regeneration, the game is rather forgiving in some areas and this can be a bad characteristic from the point of view of the most hardcore of shooter fans, but I in fact enjoyed having this feature, in addition to being warned if a grenade is tossed my way (by a image that flashes on-screen). The chaos that you get yourself into is overwhelming at times because there can be dozens of enemies firing at you. Additionally, the AI of enemies and fellow troops are a sight to behold. Throw a grenade at an enemy and you’ll see them pick it up and toss it right back at you. They’re clever bastards and always find a way to make shootouts very interesting and challenging. Your teammates are also very useful in battle. Never does it feel like you’re the only one doing the work and they don’t really get in your way either. Kudos to Infinity Ward for crafting such intelligent AI.
A new feature that wasn’t in the first game is the ability to control various vehicles in the game, mostly a tank. If you’re thinking that you’ll be able to jump into a vehicle at any time to go on a rampage of vehicular destruction, you’re going to be disappointed. Call of Duty 2 doesn’t have anything of that sort. Missions in which you control a tank only have you controlling this tank. Perhaps, I’ve been spoiled by games like Halo 2 (which I think Call of Duty 2 surpasses in regards to its single-player experience) but I would’ve liked for the option to enter and exit vehicular weapons of destruction at my own free will. Nevertheless, the game’s tank missions basically have you destroying other enemy tanks and anti-tank guns and nothing much more than that. It’s nothing that’s particularly impressive but these tanks segments are still enjoyable, once again thanks to the game’s atmosphere. You’re likely to simply enjoy being part of a convoy of tanks crossing the desert -- its just a cool image to see. Additionally, I think it’d also be wise for me to tell you folks that controlling these tanks could be a hassle but I’m under the impressions that in reality a tank is rather tough to handle, why else would most reviewers use the term "tank-like controls" in negative context?
If the game’s lengthy single-player campaign isn’t enough, which has you playing as Russian, British and U.S. Allied forces, for a good twenty hours, the game’s multiplayer aspect is also a great way to burn some time.
Multiplayer is always a good gameplay feature in any traditional first-person shooter and I’m very pleased to say that Call of Duty 2’s multiplayer modes will definitely satisfy the craving for those looking for an enjoyable online gaming experience. Like I mentioned earlier, CoD2’s multiplayer aspect is very similar to that of CounterStrike; the Search and Destroy mode in particular. In Search and Destroy, you and your teammates will square off against opposing troops and to win a round your team will have to either kill of the enemy soldiers or plant a bomb at their base or whatever piece of machinery or area is targeted. In this mode you will not be able to respawn if killed. In order to get back into the mix of things, you will have to wait until the next round. From my experience, Search and Destroy is the most enjoyable multiplayer mode to play since the inability to respawn forces players to hone their skills and learn their surroundings very well. There are also other multiplayer modes offered, many of which are expected to be in any FPS (such as Deathmatch and Capture the Flag), but that which is unique to Call of Duty 2 is its Headquarters mode. In HQ mode it’s your objective to establish a base at designated area on the map and what this does is prevent your enemies from respawning. In order for them to be able to spawn again, they’ll have destroy your HQ. You’ll get a point for each second your HQ is up and you’ll win the battle when your team has ranked up the highest amount of points. The mode is simple and approach and fairly enjoyable, but it’s no more appealing than, let’s say, Team Deathmatch.
In multiplayer you’ll see that the game plays a little bit differently. For one, your health won’t regenerate as quickly. And two, you’re likely to be killed by a single bullet. The game’s multiplayer aspect is not as forgiving as the CoD2’s single-player portion and this is, in fact, a good thing since it makes multiplayer match-ups more intense an interesting. The weapons featured in this mode feel as if they’re all balanced very well. This means that they’re all designed to cater to players of various skill levels. However, as expected, the shotgun is an overpowered weapon. Rookie players will love it and experienced players will ridicule those who use it.
The most important aspect of any multiplayer mode is each map’s level design. For the most part, the maps in Call of Duty 2 are large in size. Some are even large enough that you’ll get lost in them the first few times playing through them. Those are, of course, my least favorite maps in the game but I’m sure most players will become adjusted to them as I have after spending a few hours online. In general, it seems as if a good deal of work has been put into each and every one of these maps since there are debris, trenches, hills, etc.. all placed in fashion in which they will become part of an attack strategy. Furthermore, a good camping spot is very difficult to come across since you’re never completely shielded by your surroundings, but more experienced players are bound to find some small openings in a wrecked bus or destroyed building which they can use for some long distance head-shots. Call of Duty 2’s maps demand players to know them and by doing this an appreciable layer of strategy is added to the game’s multiplayer modes.
In the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty 2, you will not be able to play with as many players as you would be able to in the PC version of the game, which allows up to thirty-two players. Only eight players are allowed for online multiplayer over Xbox Live. Of course, you will still be able to have tons of fun, but the game is much more enjoyable online with a greater number of players. Also, since the maps are fairly large, you may find yourself running around looking for opponents for a slightly annoying amount of time.
In games such as Call of Duty 2, the game’s visual fidelity plays a very important role in delivering its incredible atmosphere. Infinity Ward has created a game that will truly showcases the technical capabilities of the Xbox 360. The game is absolutely gorgeous. The textures used are high in resolution and give a lifelike quality to the game’s surroundings and characters. Everything is detail is intricately designed, from collapsed buildings or to the expressions of pain and excitement in a soldier’s face. The most impressive of all the visual effects in the game is the smoke. When the screen is engulfed in smoke, whether it’s from an explosion or a smoke grenade, it’s just a sight to behold. It helps convey a sense of realism in a war game that cannot easily be surpassed. The 360 version of the game is even superior to the PC version of the game running on the industry’s latest graphics cards. The visuals are more crisp and the framerate runs without a hitch at all times. If you’re going to show the graphical capabilites of the Xbox 360 to friends, this is the game to do it with, and remember to bring your HDTVs with you!
Perhaps even more important than visuals to a game’s atmosphere is its soundtrack and sound effects. The soundtrack of Call of Duty 2 isn’t exactly the most memorable of orchestrated pieces but it helps deliver the atmosphere extremely well. The orchestrated pieces usually kick in during the final moments of the mission (when it’s basically completed) and more than often, the game’s soundtrack isn’t needed since the explosions, gunfire and yells of fellow and enemy soldiers are more than enough to deliver the game’s incredible cinematic feel and intense atmosphere. These sound effects feel incredibly realistic as you can literally hear bullets zipping past your head, and the dialogue of your teammates isn’t just random blurbs but dialogue that is useful during gameplay.
With all the "me too" shooters that flood the videogame industry, Call of Duty 2 is a very refreshing experience that should not be passed up. Fans of the previous game will feel right at home with this sequel and newcomers to the series will be pleasantly surprised. The game’s cinematic feel and atmosphere is unrivaled by any World War II shooter and there are only a few other shooters on the market that can compete with the quality gaming experience that Call of Duty 2 offers. Call of Duty 2 is quite possibly the very best games the Xbox 360 has to offer at launch.
