Call of Duty 2

First off, I know I am only asking to have people dislike my review as I am going against the grain and when one tends to do that to a video game none of your points are taken. They see you do not rank their favorite game until the sequel comes out low, and this for reasons tear a person up inside. I like Final Fantasy games, but I do not care if others do to the point of dismissing that person's opinion all together. Still, I know what I am in for, but I shall press on and say, this game just did not make for an enjoyable game playing experience. It looked stunning, and I did enjoy it a bit at first, but it was just a game I could not get into and none of the commercials of the later games makes me want to play them.

This was one of the first games I played on the Xbox 360, which is why I initially enjoyed it. It showcased the new systems power quite well as the graphics were stunning. Very crisp to say the least. The game is your standard first person shooter, however, and this is a genre I am not a big fan of. I see why others like it, I just am not crazy about it...just as others out there hate RPGs and such. You run around with only your gun present and you are constantly being hit which in real life would be a one way ticket to a hospital or grave, but your guy can withstand quite the onslaught of bullets and shrapnel and can be completely healed by a first aid kit. If only thing progressed like this in the real world, wars would last infinitely as long as conveniently placed first aid kits and ammo was scattered throughout the world. The game is divided into different areas and you take on the role of a different soldier in each level or front of a World War II battle. You have a different goal each time, and this is probably another reason why I did not care for the game as much as others. I prefer to have a more interconnecting story. Here you must battle in one place and another as a different person each time. I do not know why this did not work for me, I am a bit insane if that helps explain.

All through the game you are killing others in this very detailed environment. It is a bit strange that this Call of Duty game is rated T rather than M. I am also not a big fan of first person shooters where you kill other soldiers. I prefer an alien or monster force to oppose, which is why I sort of liked the first Halo game and Resistance. Very strange here as I like horror films and such, but for some reason I am just not a big fan of killing people in war situations in games. Another thing I cannot explain.

So, it was not an entirely bad game, it had some good points and I certainly see why so many enjoy this game and the series even. This just is not for me is all and I have to rank it according to my enjoyment. It was fun for awhile, but it did not last and thus why I never have and most likely never will play any of the newer games. That and they rely more on online play which I am also not a big fan of. I prefer doing games solo and the game providing me entertainment with its story and missions, not ones I and a group of strangers has to create. I prefer the old school classic games these days to most of the newer stuff being produced, once again just an opinion and a sign I am getting old...now I am sad, but this game is not. If you like FPS games then give it a try, if not steer clear.

This was my first 360 game and it did not disappoint. Although it hasn't used the 360's full arsenal of high tech abilities it has everything you need for an extremely enjoyable FPS (first person shooter) This hasn't incorporated any special button trickery and is pretty straight forwards from unwrapping to fragging, so its good to have a friend over for a game as well! The details in the graphics are amazing too, and i found my self in awe at some of the battles unfolding before my eyes, and no cheesy cut scenes, your in there, watching everything as it happens, trying to get to cover and trying to get out of harms way.

Thats another thing this game has, it feels real, i know you can get shot a few times and not die, but i don't mean realistic, i mean it feels like your in the battle.

When a tank rolls in you want to get out the way, you fear that turret of death, you slowly come to associate with the band of brothers around you and come to hate the Nazi's. When you see a MG32 nest slaughtering your mates, you feel for them and get out of whatever pit your hiding in and start shooting. This is the only game I've found myself feeling slightly scared at how worked up it makes me feel.

The multi player game is great fun, although no amount of skill can save you from the sheer luck that seems to befall you, which comes into play in single player as well. there's just a few frantic moments in this game which really annoy me, silly little things like your gun moving slower than the guy running away from your sights, like about to be diving into cover when discovering you have been stuck on some random object which gets you killed. Also the amount of times that the enemy knows your there gets a bit disheartening, especially when your on hard mode and have five angry Huns armed with large calibre rifles knowing your every move.

Other than these small nuisances, this is a fantastic game, with the most realistic smoke effects I've ever seen. And you can have an amazing array of tactics and freedom through it as well, either smoking and running in, or flanking your enemies, your allies seem to respond instinctively to what your trying to achieve and help you with it, whilst your enemies too, slowly adapt to your strategies.

Its also great in the fact that your not a super human soldier, you can die in as many shots as your enemies can, and are as likely to get hit by a wry grenade as any other grunt, but have the ability to regenerate. This is great as it means you don't feel like some sort of super soldier, but one of the lads getting done over by your enemies, yet you seem to have a real impact on battles, despite being so mortal.

There are also some great scenes, such as a level where you are falling back, fighting your enemy until compromised then falling back to the next position until your at your last stand. Then another scene where you are to hold out on top of a hill you will end up loathing, and loving. All of these are amazingly well done, with a running commentary from several of your friends voices that become familiar and comforting throughout the game.

This game might not have the best graphics, or the most original storyline or situations, you might even be quite limited in your range of movements on the battlefield, but this game has something others don't. Its literally like being in a film, but having an active role, although it is let down by some unsavoury moments involving bunkers and inescapable grenades that make you want to scream, its a riot of fun too, whether your looking for a solid FPS to frag on or something to mess about on with your mates, this will have it.

It even has some replay value, just for certain battles though.

This was one of the first xbox 360 games that I bought, and along with Project Gotham Racing 3 and the recently released DOA 4 are proof that the 360 is indeed a next-generation system. The game look pretty good on a regular TV set, but on a HD capable TV with surround sound the superb game truly comes to life with amazing graphics and intense sounds. The bullets whizzing by your head, the fights your fellow soldiers are engaging in, and all the other sounds truly immerse you deeply in the game. Of course any true hardcore game wouldn't try the game in anything less than the Veteran setting, which is particularly unforgiving (especially the later American levels) All in all this is a simply great game and is one of the few MUST OWN ones if you managed to get your hands on a 360. It rivals any but the most maxed out computers currently out.

My Grade: A

(note: this review was written at the time of the game's release, but since the page on it didn't exist on IMDb then, I'm posting it now)

Ngl, I think the only reason I decided to replay this game was because I started black ops 6, and didn't realize it was kind of a sequel to Cold War, and from someone who hasn't played a call of duty campaign since WW2, I decided to just stop since I want to experience the overarching story without being confused on certain story beats, so screw it, I've played the first call of duty somewhat recently, so why not replay Call of Duty 2 and get some of the achievements I've been lacking, which all revolved around beating missions and the campaign on veteran difficulty.

This was loads of fun, and brung back so many memories, but wow is the veteran difficulty a pain in certain areas of the game. Playing 3 different campaign sections, each playing a different ally, you're tasked with the same ideology; kill and obliterate the Nazi regime. The first section (The Russian campaign) was a great introduction for what's to come, and had a few moments that felt like the game was just punishing you for playing on such a hard difficulty. I did like with this game, there's no more health packs, and your health regenerates overtime, making this game way easier than the first game, but still, certain parts of this game would of been actually impossible if that was the case. The second campaign (The British campaign) was a step up in difficulty bringing tank war in the mix, but actually playing as the tank was fairly easy. What made this campaign more difficult was the missions where you're tasked on killing massive amount of guys, oh and they love to ambush, so having guys come around corners and already shooting at you was all too common. One particular mission that was a pain was a sniping mission where you sit on top of a building and have to shoot soldiers shooting mortars. Thank God there were auto save moments during that because if not, I would have just gave up there. Now the really hard part of the game was the 3rd campaign (The American campaign) in particular a mission where you have to storm a beach and infiltrate and destroy the artillery guns. The lack of auto saves during this mission was such a pain, and had me struggling so much. Definitely died 40 times or so before I was able to finally smoke grenade my way into a bunker and finally get that auto save but yet, there were plenty more moments in this campaign that just seemed impossibly hard for no reason, the other being a mission where you have to infiltrate a bunker that has an infinite bad guy spawn, and have to smoke grenade and aimlessly shoot your way in. Another mission I died more times than I wanna count, but it was rewarding to finally get past it. There were a some other parts that seemed obnoxious, but at this point, I was expecting the worst, so the rest of the campaign didn't phase me. Beating the last mission and seeing those end credits were a relief to say the least.

In all, I think this game was pretty good. If you want a real challenge, definitely play this on veteran and prepare for a relentless beating.

"Call of Duty 2", released in 2005, became one of the most impressive games of its time, taking the series to a new level. The developers of Infinity Ward managed to create a shooter that not only surpassed its predecessor, but also offered a lot of innovations that made the game unforgettable.

One of the main achievements of "Call of Duty 2" was the improved graphics. The game struck with realistic visual effects, detailed textures and dynamic lighting. Fighting on snow-covered fields, in destroyed cities and on deserted fronts looked so impressive that in those years it seemed as if you were really on the battlefield. The atmosphere was especially memorable - the player felt that he was immersed in a real story, fighting side by side with the soldiers of that era.

The missions in "Call of Duty 2" were all as varied as in the original series. The game once again offered three campaigns, each of which allowed you to plunge into different theaters of World War II. Campaigns for Americans, British and Soviet soldiers opened up different perspectives on the war, offering unique missions. This variety made each campaign interesting and original to some extent, not allowing the player to get bored.

One of the most notable innovations of "Call of Duty 2" was the absence of a traditional health scale. For the first time in the series, an automatic XP recovery mechanism was introduced when the screen turned red when taking damage and the player needed to take cover to regain strength. This innovation has changed the dynamics of the gameplay, forcing players to act more cautiously. For 2005, of course, this was something new and even controversial. However, it is worth noting that this decision significantly influenced the further development of shooters.

The toy also impressed with its soundtrack. The sounds of gunshots, explosions and screams of soldiers were so realistic that it seemed as if you were really on the battlefield. All this sounded especially cool in high-quality headphones, when the decomposition of the audio signal made it possible to clearly determine where certain sounds were coming from, starting from shots and ending with the screams of soldiers on the battlefield. The musical score, written by Graham Revell, perfectly complemented the atmosphere, enhancing the drama and tension at key moments of the game.

I remember "Call of Duty 2" with warmth, as well as the original. The game has passed the test of time, becoming to some extent one of the pillars of the entire series. She managed to keep the spirit of the original game alive, while offering many improvements and innovations that made her one of the best. Improved graphics, diverse and intense missions, as well as bold innovations in gameplay mechanics - all this has made "Call of Duty 2" not just a sequel, but a real step forward for the entire industry.

9 out of 10.