Call of Duty 2 review

So, here's a new generation of console hardware and its most successful launch title is a sequel to a World War II FPS. Usually Gamestyle would comment on how ludicrous that is, but quite frankly Call of Duty 2 deserves its success. While it remains a World War II FPS, it does some things differently from all the others you've played, and the things it doesn't do differently it does very well indeed.Unlike previous console versions of the franchise, Call of Duty 2 is the same game that appears on the PC, and is all the better for it. Featuring the same multi-army story as the PC iteration, Call of Duty 2 puts you in the uniforms of soldiers from three countries: Russia, Britain, and (of course) America. Some might argue that this multiple perspective approach weakens the plot of the game, however, what they fail to realise is that the 'story' of Call of Duty 2 is not fictional. All the battles you take part in, the re-taking of Stalingrad, the invasion of Caen France, etc., were real battles that actually happened. Think of the game as an interactive history lesson - one that is, unlike most other history lessons, exciting.Call of Duty 2 captures the chaotic atmosphere of World War II on many levels. The action is thick and fast as you try your best to defend yourself against the Nazi war machine, fighting against intelligent enemies who, if you're not careful, will attack you when you least expect it. Enemies seek cover and retaliate effectively, causing you to take care as you try to flush them out. Simply rushing into a battle in an open field will cause them to descend upon you like ravenous wolves during your suicide attack. Your soldier can take a decent amount of damage, but is still vulnerable enough to mean that you need to seek cover. Thankfully, you no longer require the aid of medi-packs to heal yourself, as the game includes a Halo-esque regenerating health system. Not exactly historically accurate but, considering how easy it is to take large amounts of damage from a machine gun nest, very helpful.The graphics help emphasise the chaos that surrounds your character, and are the some of the finest ever seen on a console to date, rivalling that of top-end PCs. The dilapidated and gutted environments really give a feeling of how costly World War II was on the homes of people caught in the conflict. The authentic graphics also add some challenge to the game, especially in the snow covered Russian campaign, as players attempt to track white coat-wearing Nazis in the middle of the Russian winter. Smoke effects are also very impressive, mostly due to the extremely useful smoke grenades, which can be used to create cover in open areas, effectively saving you from enemy fire. These must be used strategically, however, as in some levels they are needed at certain points to accomplish the mission.In fact, Gamestyle can find little fault with the single player campaign at all. There are no glaring weaknesses in enemy A.I., graphics, sound or overall gameplay that Gamestyle can see; with one possible exception being that sometimes you'll die without knowing why, usually as you rush into a room only to be shot and killed from an unseen grenade or hidden Nazi soldier. That aside, it is simply a phenomenal single player game.The multiplayer, however, is where the game falters. Originally the game came with very limited options: the maximum amount of players was eight, and players could only play in ranked matches, unable to make a room for their friends, mostly due to the fact that the game automatically selected a player to be host. Also chief among these initial problems was unbearable lag, and players had no control over the maps and game types that were played even if they were automatically selected to be host. There was also a distinct lack of variety in the multiplayer modes available. Recently, developers Infinity Ward have released a patch which addresses some, but not all, of these problems.Thanks to the patch, gamers can now create their own matches, and lag has been eliminated - all well and good, but it doesn't help address Gamestyle's main criticisms. Call of Duty 2 features five game types: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Headquarters (aka Territories, from Halo), and Search and Destroy. These are fun modes, but they don't have the variety or any unique qualities to differentiate the game from the myriad other FPS games available on Xbox 360. Prey may feature such standard game types as well, but its wall-walking features at the very least give you a new view of the standard Deathmatch template (though it's highly doubtful wall-walking Nazis would be welcomed here). Add to the fact that there is still a maximum of only eight players in these modes and it shows that Infinity Ward really didn't pay enough attention to the game's multiplayer side.Gamestyle really wants to give Call of Duty 2 a nine out of ten score; the single player is a phenomenal first-person shooter, standing firmly shoulder to soldier (sorry) with the best of the genre. However, its sorely under-developed multiplayer aspect has definitely let the side down, like a soldier who's lost his big toe in the war. Sure he doesn't need it, but itd feel awfully nice to have it.