So instead of missions punctuated by just one of those activities, there's a healthy mix of gameplay throughout just about every encounter. You'll do a little of each of them multiple times throughout the campaign, broken up by a minimal amount of exploration and a hell of a lot of shooting galleries. The nice thing here is that, unlike in recent series entries, the pacing of these genre staples is much more varied. I can't tell you how many times I found myself thinking, "Okay, here comes the sniping/escort/stealth/turret/driving/sprinting sequence," which inevitably led directly into those familiar encounters. Everything here is tried and true and almost choreographed to a fault. ![]() The same can be said for the mission structure. Like a popular band from the 80's coming out of retirement, Call of Duty: WWII felt like it wanted to offer a couple of new tracks while spending most of its time replaying the hits. As a result, the campaign felt more like I was making my way through a series of boxes that needed to be checked off. But even with the latest graphics, explosive surround sound, cutscenes that look ripped from a Hollywood blockbuster and dynamic setpieces, I kept feeling like I was seeing something I've already seen a few too many times before. We haven't fought through The Battle of the Bulge in a AAA FPS in a couple of console generations, so the thought of revisiting memorable European Theaters was exciting. This is where nostalgia conflicts with my desire to see something new. ![]() The game feels safe and, so long as you're comfortable with that, you're likely going to enjoy what WWII has to offer. The team at Sledgehammer offers a few new twists here and there, but they're relatively small adjustments to a formula that has served the series pretty well for the past 10 years. But what makes this both a blessing and a curse is the fact that we're basically playing a greatest hits album. If you yearn for the good-ole-days when mechanics were more straightforward, abilities were tamer and the conflict was more relatable, then WWII delivers. Gone are the days of wall-running and grenades that actively seek out the enemy. ![]() But after 10 years of increasingly outrageous scenarios, weapons and abilities, the cries shifted to, "Okay, cool, but can we please go back to World War II now?"Ĭall of Duty: WWII feels like a direct response to the flagging interest the community has shown to fighting amongst the stars. Back in 2007, Modern Warfare answered gamers' pleas to play in a setting other than the Second World War. Then came Modern Warfare, completely shifting the focus of first-person shooters and beginning a steady creep further and further into the future. Back when Call of Duty first hit the scene, it seemed like every shooter on the planet was content to return to World War II over and over again.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |