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Posted on: Nov 06, 2007
Call of Duty 2
WORDS BY: Ryan McCaffrey
If this is what the next generation of first-person shooters is going to be like, then you should invest heavily in biotech stocks now because gamers everywhere will be clamoring for pacemakers before it’s all over. Strap yourself in for a nine-hour, tension-filled rollercoaster ride in the guise of the WWII epic Call of Duty 2.
Of course, Infinity Ward’s Nazi-stomping sequel hardly breaks new ground – the proliferation of the genre means that nearly every such game has conquered Omaha Beach – but it’s CoD2’s precise execution that elevates it to king of the WWII castle. It’s obvious the developers calculated exactly what they wanted you to feel in every moment of gameplay, and with each new level it’s as if they’re the carnies manning the Gravitron, sadistically cackling, “Raise your hands if you want to go faster!”
It all begins innocently (and humorously) enough in frosty Russia, where a short training level has you shooting wine bottles and hurling potatoes in lieu of grenades for practice, but once the action formally begins, your senses are immediately bombarded.
In the first “wow” moment – during the very first mission – you’ll scurry single file through a snowy trench, then look up to see tanks rolling by just inches above your skull. Later, you’ll mow down battalions of Germans in one devastating delivery of Flak 88 cannon fire. In fact, the bulk of the gameplay does an outstanding job of mixing scenarios that put you on the offensive, the defensive, or alternately pushing forward only to be resisted and shoved back.
The latter is exemplified by the penultimate American level and is the highlight of the game: You ascend a large hill, smoke-screening your way past bunker-fortified Nazis, then take the structure at its apex and defend it on all sides from attacking troops and tanks for five minutes while you await airborne aid to swoop in and turn the tide.
Naturally, though, even the most well-crafted and polished action wouldn’t stand for long if it sent countless waves of brainless automatons at you in a straight line. Thus, CoD2’s AI deserves a lot of credit for the overall product’s success. Your opponents will flank, lay down covering fire, and toss grenades (and hurl yours back). Your fellow Allied soldiers will get your back (but never shoot it), and overall, they serve honorably in battle. They’ll even throw smoke grenades to mask your approaches – a key component in Call of Duty 2 – and remind you when you should do so too.
For all its successes, just a few faults mar CoD2’s service record. First, as incredible as the bookending Russian and American campaigns are, the middle British missions – including their tank excursions, which should be cool but instead are plodding – lack the same oomph. Also, those who gave up on the WWII genre only to be brought back into the fold by the tactical elements introduced by Brothers in Arms may be disappointed that CoD2 is “just” a well-crafted shooter whose health system unrealistically mimics the one found in Halo.
Still, most will gleefully revel in the frazzling frenzy of this digital incarnation of the Second Great War. Just make sure you know a good cardiologist before you get started.
On Xbox 360
- Dozens of “OMGWTFdidyouseethat?” moments.
- Laudable opponent and friendly AI.
- Stellar 5.1 surround-sound audio.
- Will videogame designers ever run out of WWII source material?
Sat, 10/17/2009 - 23:07
Posted by wickland
I remember Call of Duty 2, it was actually one of my favorite games to play. WaW is now insanely awesome!
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 12:50
Posted by shadowover93
Call of duty 1- never played it
Call of Duty 2- Really good for it's time
Call of Duty 3- I loved it!!!
Call of duty 4- Really Good until WaW
Call of duty WaW- The Best YET!!!!
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 17:16
Posted by umm...nope
call of duty 4 is sooo sick
call of duty 3 sucked sooo bad
" " " 2 was really cool
" " " 1 was ok
Thu, 02/21/2008 - 18:29
Posted by cenahk
rainbow man your not the 1 to talk
Thu, 02/21/2008 - 18:28
Posted by cenahk
This game was good but the next 2 were way beter
Thu, 01/24/2008 - 19:03
Posted by oldguygamer
From the oldguygamer:
This was the best $14.99 Xbox 360 game I ever bought used at GameStop (Mid December 07). The game play is good. CoD3 is understandably better, but this was really good when it came to setting and WWII era stuff.
I really liked it.
I didn't have to learn what the super special laser-death ray will did, but I had familiar combat arms that I actually used at one time (my former career in military). I also liked conventional war settings, and not the sneaking around the streets looking for an enemy in civilian clothes. Lots of good story too.
Mon, 12/31/2007 - 17:45
Posted by rainbow man
Hey rock kid,GO TO SCHOOL! oh it is opinion and piano lupo.
Mon, 12/31/2007 - 17:42
Posted by rainbow man
My god Anthgonz360 cut down your opinions to about 3 sentences I spent about ten minutes reading it!
Mon, 12/31/2007 - 17:35
Posted by rainbow man
I have the game and for my opinion it is one of the best games in my library.I got pretty sick of world war two themes for call of duty.I am so glad activision came out with call of duty 4(awesome game)!
Sun, 12/23/2007 - 21:34
Posted by PsychoOrange
COD 2... what can I say, is an awesome game and the veteran difficulty is not for hardcore gamers only, but it just takes a little bit of skill to get through it.
Fri, 12/21/2007 - 21:34
Posted by shadylurker
this game i thought would have been better with vehicles but well even without i bring it to sci-fi club and i brng it to everybody im telling you use the shot gun and sniper and you cannont fail
Sat, 12/08/2007 - 18:56
Posted by Headshothoncho117
rock kid is either 6 years old or un-educated, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO SPELL ORIGINAL WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wed, 12/05/2007 - 15:42
Posted by rock on kid
i have this game on the origanal xbox (sorry if i spelled origanal wrong) i cant get past pano lopo (cant spell those words etheir)i finally got to protect those three buildings but i hate having to protect those stupid buildings with the stuipd gun on the jeep i felt like i would of had it easier with a pistol. operation huskey my favorite mission so far is hard but pretty fun. this is a good game
Sun, 11/25/2007 - 07:57
Posted by Romoware
I have had this game for a little over a year but never played it all the way through for various reasons(Oblivion). Well anyway due to a mistake in starting gold account I had to start my gamercard over from 0. Why I've never played this is beyond me. Its 1 of the hardest games ever. The 5.1 sound is unbeliveable. If you have not played it go get it now. Every detail is outstanding and I started on Veteran and I don't know what they mean by 9 hr campaign because I have alot more time than that in it. But in the last month I have bought Halo3, Mass Effect, Assasins Creed, The Orange Box, Splinter Cell Double Agent,Forza 2,Rainbow 6 Vegas and Overlord and vowed not 2 play any until I beat COD2. Even with all of them reasons COD2 is just extremely hard on vet.
Fri, 11/23/2007 - 07:48
Posted by Anthgonz360
Well said, Ryan and I have similiar taste in gaming more so then the other OXM staff but I must admit, despite owning the Xbox 360 since its debut, and playing through about 70% of the games that have been released, I always will remember my first experience with the 360, and the first game I was blown away by, COD-2. It was a first for me in a lot of different ways...the first time I ever actually screamed aloud, "Holy shit! Thats crazy!! Thats just disgustingly amazing!" (For example, when the tanks rolled over head in the first campaign misson) while playing any game...the first time I played through a game more then 5X through and still throughly enjoyed ever last minute...the first time while in the game I endlessly walked around a level or room in the game and just looked at every detail of the room and giggled at how detailed and graphically beatiful every inch of the area was without regard for what was happending around me...more importantly the gameplay was A+ right on point, I loved just fireing off the many weapons even at the wall just to hear the richet of the bullets bouncing off objects, the marks they made, and the sound the weapon made was realistic unlike any game before it, A-U-T-H-E-N-T-I-C WW2...this game has to go down as the FIRST real taste of Next-Generation Gaming, even though its not the BEST or TRUELY full "NEXT GEN" it was a taste, a taste that we come to expect and crave out of the 360. Now with games like Bioshock, Gears of War, and MassEffect and on and on and on, sometimes we forget about the first game that really gave us a breif 9-12 hour glimpse into the future of gaming, but I sure won't.
Continue to game on, and support Microsoft and OXM!
Take care,
AnthGonz