Call of Duty 2 puts you in the action on every front as you assume the role as a Russian, British, and American soldier. Whether you’re taking on Rommel in Africa, defending against the Germans in the bitter cold of Stalingrad, or storming the beaches of France, you’ll experience every side of the war has to offer.

Like many other World War II FPS titles, it’s all about the fight. Snipers, tanks, infantry, grenades, mortars, close quarter combat, and absolute chaos are what gamers look for. Without a doubt CoD 2 features some of the most in-depth and realistic scenarios for any war game out there. Looking at CoD 2 some may think it’s just another mindless WW II shooter with very little to offer in the means of innovative or revolutionary gameplay. The fact is they’re probably right. When it comes to gameplay; and by that I mean just pushing buttons and moving your mouse, CoD 2 doesn’t do anything terrific. But what Activision and Infinity Ward created is a WW II game that encapsulates everything a gamer could want in a FPS and war simulation.

As mentioned above, the game takes place on multiple fronts and in the eyes of three soldiers. Men of war who aren’t galactic heroes or unstoppable war machines, but rather simple individuals caught up in war just trying to survive. This is even more apparent with your mission objectives. Instead of “saving the day” you’ll be met with simpler, more humane goals such as defending a position, taking out artillery guns, and providing cover for your mates. EA’s Medal of Honor did a great job of portraying WW II, but Activision seems to have perfected it. Regardless of what nationality you’re fighting as, you feel a sense of camaraderie between you and your comrades. You feel as if every German you take out is one closer to ending the war. The fierce confusion and bedlam from the first mission continues throughout the entire game, never letting up and always keeping you in the fray of battle.

The only real quirk I have with CoD 2’s engine is that it doesn’t feature enough destruction. Sure the explosions are big, the movement is fluid, the landscapes are brilliantly created, but there just isn’t enough destruction. In a WW II game you have to expect certain objects to kick around, break, blow up, and disintegrate into a pile of rubble and dust. Explosions are good, but when nothing actually…explodes, it hurts the realism.

That being said, CoD 2 is a nice looking title that features three main types of scenery; the snowy wreckage of Russia via Stalingrad, the desert sands of Africa, and the beaches and countryside of France. The graphic specialists did a great job of creating some close quarter fighting and almost half of the game is fought in small shattered ruined cities. Character models look good from top to bottom and feature a nicely bump-mapped uniform. It pays to look your best when going up against an army of Germans.
Mist, dust, explosion particles are all top notch as well; and with this being a war and all, expect a lot of that type of stuff.

With plenty of explosions, gunfire, and cries for help, CoD 2 is as good to hear as it is to look at. Like most assets of this game, the sound jumps right at you from the first mission and doesn’t let up. Without a doubt, this is one of those games where you justify buying a good surround sound system for your PC. While the sounds of war are most obvious and noticeable, the squad chatter during fire fights is what I truly appreciate. Teammates will call out to each other for help, backup, and even pinpoint enemy machine gunners, tanks, and infantry. Not only is it nice to hear but it also serves an important purpose in crucial situations.

Music is also well done in an orchestrated fashion, though there could have been a bit more. For example, during one of your first raids in Stalingrad, you and your comrades must hold position until backup arrives. While the Germans continue to bombard you with infantry, movie-like theatrical music plays adding to the adrenaline rush. This makes for one hell of a fight and a great moment in the game. For whatever reason, not nearly enough of the same music is used during the American and British campaigns; which is truly disheartening seeing how good it can be.

Controls, like all other FPS, are simple to grasp. Since you only have the ability to carry two weapons at a time, you won’t be bothered with using your mouse scroll button to cycle through five, six, or seven weapons at a time. Call of Duty 2 uses a bit of the screen as an interactive HUD. For instance, a grenade icon will pop up when enemies hurl grenades in your direction and you’re within distance of the blast radius. Little red blips will also go in and out when you’re taking enemy fire.

The most useful part of the interface is your compass which shows you where your team is, as well as where to go for your next objective. Even though CoD 2 is a fairly straightforward title, it’s helpful to know where your next objective lies.

Call of Duty 2 offers one of the most realistic War World II experiences I’ve ever played. Everything from the sights, sounds, battles, and chaos is detailed and reproduced into this title. From the first mission in Stalingrad to the last one in Germany you’ll be on your toes keeping an eye open for enemy snipers, tanks, and mortars the entire time. With so many FPS out there this season, you can not go wrong with this title.

• Discuss this review