| System: PS4, Xbox One, PC |  |
| Dev: Sledgehammer | |
| Pub: Activision | |
| Release: November 3, 2017 | |
| Players: 1-12 Player | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p | Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language |
The Call of Duty: WWII matches themselves are what you expect, and the in-game flow feels a bit better compared to pre-release beta tests. It’s still a specific kind of shooter, more arcade-like with little time between the time it takes between getting shot at and dying. But the tools available fit that theme and respawning is usually just as quick. The new War mode is the star of the show, with a series of progressing objectives that play out little mini-stories despite the online multiplayer setting. Highlights also include an arena-style multiple checkpoint mode, and sillier fare like tossing a ball around. Despite the sounds and horrors of WWII in the background, Call of Duty is still Call of Duty.
Zombies, despite the resources poured into its presentation, feels like a sideshow. It’s odd to see everything crammed into menus, juxtaposed to the grand ambitions of Headquarters on the other side of multiplayer. It’s also confusing, as the prologue, once again, barely tells you how things work. Much of Call of Duty: WWII assumes you already speak the language, and anyone trying this stuff out for the first time may feel discouraged as they bumble around trying to figure out what does what. Objective markers may have been helpful, for starters, as much of my experience was teammates opening the first door, then leaving it to me to seek out more stuff to do. Balance also feels off, with teammate revival being slow and recovering from a death being nearly impossible after about ten waves or so, due to you losing all your stuff when you die. Is this designed to make loot boxes more attractive? It sure feels like it.
Overall what we have here is another Call of Duty, which means exactly what you think that means. Going back to basics will likely please the fanbase, which was vocally growing tired of the sci-fi stuff. The gameplay loops online are much less complicated, heading back to the “freeze tag with guns” and away from the more complex movement systems. The campaign feels like a greatest hits of Call of Duty moments, but falls short of standing out on its own, despite looking nice and being well-produced. Headquarters feels like an unstable attempt at Destiny-fying Call of Duty, but the amount of online multiplayer content available will help people overlook flaws and perhaps allow for future iteration. Call of Duty: WWII is a solid entry, but it feels more safe and standard than it should, especially standing next to its peers that took similar ideas and did more.
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By Lucas White Contributing Writer Date: 11/06/2017 |
Game Features:
