
This is a MUST OWN
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.
The single player campaign in Call of Duty 2 is nothing short of enthralling. From the very beginning, a certain bond is developed between the main hero and his comrades because everybody is watching out for one another. Instead of feeling like you can take out all of Nazi Germany on your own with just a Thompson, it will take all of your available resources to survive. Typically, missions will involve your squad either being forced to push through enemy lines or defend a certain location, and in both instances the battles will be epic.
of Duty 2 can be played split screen and over Xbox Live, and the shooter experience translates very nicely from the PC to the Xbox 360. The typical game modes are present, including Deathmatch, Search and Destroy, and Capture the Flag. In addition to the Russian, British, and American soldiers you can control in the single-player mode, you can also take role of your favorite Nazi in this Axis vs. Allies brawl. It is a little disappointing because only 8 players can be in a game at a time, but having 16 players could have its fair share of problems as well. 8 player games can be extremely laggy right from the start to the point where the game isn’t playable at all. There isn’t any lobby for you to select a game room; instead you can choose to participate in a ranked or unranked match, then you’ll randomly be placed with other players.
Still, once you manage to get into a steady server with at least 6 people, the game is going to be loads of fun. The maps are big enough to accommodate snipers, yet small enough to allow foot soldiers to do some major damage. The best part about the online play is that there is always more than one path to take to get to the back of your enemy’s base. Because of this, a bothersome sniper may think he has the upper hand once he kills a few oblivious troops, but there’s nothing more satisfying than beating him to death with the butt of your rifle. Overall, playing online or split screen with your friends is loads of fun, especially if you don’t feel like following objectives.
While the gameplay in Call of Duty 2 is commendable by itself, the outstanding presentation value makes the entire experience memorable. The Xbox 360 truly shows off its next generation capabilities, which are all the more enjoyable if you have an HDTV. The character models have lifelike movements and are heavily detailed, although the textures can look a little grainy if you get too close. The particle effects are stunning; the muzzle flash from a gun will light up the screen, while a smoke grenade can safely shadow your squad from hailing turret fire. The environments also look top notch no matter how closely you scrutinize the textures, and there aren’t any rough edges to speak of.
Likewise, an intense war game wouldn’t be complete without a sufficient audio performance. As expected, the chaos on the battlefield won’t only be seen, but it will be heard as well. Comrades will chant together as they rush out in their last hurrah while some will shriek once the first bullet pierces their skin. The blaring machine guns, powerful sniper rifles, and heavy grenade explosions are all accompanied by a dramatic soundtrack that suits the mood nicely. Being on the battlefield in Call of Duty 2 is an enthralling experience that will leave your heart pounding in awe.
Review ID: 10000000000775152

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