Call of Duty 2 Preview

Winter in Russia is not exactly the ideal vacation spot, but when you tag on the timeline of World War II, and a full-on Nazi invasion, the setting becomes downright hostile.

The mission sounds simple, and might be if the troops you fight with were trained, or even equipped properly. But that is not the case. The Germans, on the other hand, have cold-weather gear and seem to have a near-endless supply of ammunition and grenades.

A cry goes out: “Potato masher!” That means duck and cover, incoming grenade. The explosion tosses dirt, snow and – if unlucky – a comrade’s lifeless body to the side. The tracers are flying past, but you need to ignore those and focus on that line running through the war-ravaged city. The task is to trace it and fix all the breaks. The first break is easily reached and fixed, but then you have to move up, through a hail of bullets, and swarming German troops.

You see a leg under a cupboard of some sort. Occasionally the head pops out, but never long enough for anything other than a snap shot. So, you shoot the leg, the German crumbles and you can put a couple of rounds into him.

Some shots will finish the opponent with the first shot; others require a few more rounds.

Intense? You bet it is, but then, that is what you come to expect from a title like Call of Duty 2. Infinity Ward and Activision recently held an event to show off the title, allowing the media to play through a few scenarios, both in single-person and multiplayer.

The multiplayer action was solid, but the single-player experience was immersive, with a sense of accomplishment underscoring each goal attained. This is not a plow-ahead and shoot everything type of game. This requires circling the course you are heading in, finding other vantage points to shoot at the enemy from and never remaining in one spot too long. The enemy AI will pick up your location and you will find yourself targeted if you try to plant.

The Russians finally get the last break in the cable fixed and clear the room where the transmitter lays. Just as you think the mission is over, you get some chilling news. “There are Panzers in your area. Take them out. Good luck.” The transmission ends.

Ok, let’s get this straight … ammo is being collected as you move through the city off the bodies of defeated enemies. The same goes with grenades, neither of which are effective against tanks. Sure, they have given you some explosives you can plant on the behemoth, but that means getting close to it – as in almost on top of it. And the Germans are not about to just let you waltz up and booby-trap their tanks. This means more strategy, using the environment and the smoke grenades you carry to obscure and allow you to get close enough to plant the explosive and then run hard to get out of there before the tank’s machine gun finds you or before you get caught in the blast. 

Call of Duty 2 is marketedly bigger than its predecessor, featuring scenarios that range from Europe to Eastern Europe to Northern Africa. There are missions with troops and vehicle missions as well. The controls are more or less standard for the shooter genre, employing the keyboard for movement and switching weapons to the free look and fire with the mouse. The smoke grenades are a huge part of the game this year, whether in the tight streets of a Russian town or in the winding desert corridors of El Daba.

And when it comes to graphics, this game is absolutely remarkable, sparkling with details that will make your jaw drop and tempt you to spectate just a little, but because each mission evolves, you will need to continue to move. The sound is equally impressive – with your own squad barking commands about snipers, what needs to be taken out, cries for help, and the enemy doing the same thing. No need for med packs this year. As you take damage, your breathing speeds up, but find a ‘quiet’ corner for a few moments of respite and you will heal back up.

The multiplayer is somewhat standard fare with deathmatches and team capture the flag among the options.

The title is slated for release later this fall and is more than a worthy sequel to the original title – this is a must-have for anyone who enjoys war-shooter titles. It is smart, it is visually compelling, and it is terrifically challenging.