Credit for OT: AntiMacro
Platform: PC/PS4/XB1 | Release Date: 11/3/17 | Developer: Sledgehammer Games/Raven Software | Publisher: Activision | Genre: FPS | Rating: M
The 14th outing for the Call of Duty franchise returns to the series roots in World War II, removing the advanced movement systems found in past games and keeping boots on the ground. This is the second game Sledgehammer Games has created for the franchise, having previously worked on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and it retains the now-expected three-pack of Call of Duty modes: Campaign - Multiplayer - Nazi Zombies.
Platform: PC/PS4/XB1 | Release Date: 11/3/17 | Developer: Sledgehammer Games/Raven Software | Publisher: Activision | Genre: FPS | Rating: M
Campaign
As Ronald Daniels, a fresh recruit in the US First Infantry Division, gamers deploy in the European theater alongside a squad of AI-controlled teammates each sporting a unique ability that can be activated when their skill meter is charged - sped up by killing enemies or completing objectives. Zussman, for example, can throw the player a health pack, while others provide ammunition, spot enemies, or call in mortar strikes. The game's difficulty is ramped up thanks to non-regenerating health, a gameplay change that makes Zussman's ability even more important on the higher difficulty levels.
Starring Josh Duhamel and a handful of NFL players, the campaign starts out storming the beaches of Normandy and covers key battles across Europe.
Nazi Zombies provides gamers with their co-op fix, set in the village of Mittelburg with players - as one of the Monuments Men/Women - running afoul of the undead menace while trying to track down stolen art from European museums. The zombies this time around are creations from a Nazi research lab, bolted together undead flesh and machinery that exists only to kill or be killed.
Multiplayer
The bread and butter of the series, Call of Duty multiplayer is probably a top 10 reason for a drop in workplace productivity in offices around the world. Returning to 'boots on the ground' combat, Sledgehammer also provides a few tweaks to the formula: Headquarters, War mode, and Divisions.
Headquarters is - as planned - a shared social space for players to log into and explore while they interact with other players. Shoot alongside other players in the shooting range, check out the Scorestreak Training Tower, and receive Orders and Contracts - quests to complete for experience and other rewards. Players earn experience - used strictly for their social rank - within the Headquarters for completing small tasks like shooting 250 targets on the range or finding the three balls hidden within the map. Headquarters is currently a solo experience, following matchmaking issues on launch day and continuing into the following days, but Sledgehammer is expected to re-enable the 48-person social space in the future.
Players into retro games should hit the beach and find the classic games tent where you can, for a small amount of Armory Credits, play classic games like Barnstorming, Chopper Command, or River Raid.
War mode is a multi-stage mission that brings Battlefield 1's Operations mode to mind. One team is tasked with missions like taking the beach or destroying radio equipment, while the opposition tries to hold them off long enough for reinforcements to arrive. If your team is unable to advance, the mission ends in failure. Complete the mission, however, and you'll move on to the second step. Finish all your assigned missions before time runs out and your team is victorious.
Divisions redefines the Create-A-Class system, forcing players to choose one of five divisions: Airborne, Armored, Expeditionary, Infantry, and Mountain. Each division offers a number of unique perks earned by leveling up.
Airborne:
I - SMG suppressor - attach a suppressor to an SMG, cloaking your weapon fire from appearing on the minimap
II - longer sprint - self-explanatory but with the lack of unlimited sprint it's an appealing trait to have
III - clamber faster - also easily understood, but perhaps underestimated until used in the field of battle
IV - increased sprint speed - ok these are all pretty easy to understand...
Armored:
I - LMG bipod - mount your LMG to a suitable surface for greatly increased recoil management, at the expense of mobility
II - immune to shellshock - no more getting dazed by close calls and tactical grenades
III - take less fire damage - I don't have the strategy guide, but if I had to guess...
IV - take less explosive damage - ditto
Expeditionary:
I - shotgun incendiary shells - OMG SO FUN...also you will get so many hate messages
II - tactical + lethal equipment - offers flexibility other divisions lack
III - throw faster and farther while sprinting - self explanatory
IV - resupply equipment from downed enemies - the return of the Scavenger perk
Infantry:
I - rifle bayonet - adds a nasty bayonet charge to your sprint
II - +1 primary attachment - bigger magazine or faster shooting? whynotboth.gif
III - extra magazines - carry more bullets, shoot more bullets
IV - move faster while aiming down sights - movement is key!
Mountain:
I - sniper sharpshooter - focus your aim before shooting
II - invisible to enemy recon aircraft while moving - sniping's no fun when they know where you are
III - hidden to player-controlled streaks - never fear a strafing run again
IV - silent movement - be silent, but deadly
In addition to the Division, players can choose from 21 Basic Training perks to provide additional functionality to their loadout. Take Requisitions, for example, and your Scorestreaks won't reset on death, but cost more to get and can only be used once per match. Not a great choice if you're always on top of the leaderboard at the end, but appealing for those who struggle to string together kills.
Basic Training:
Espionage - Enemy Scorestreaks and enemies you damage appear on mini-map.
Launched - Take Launcher as Secondary, and resupply it from enemies killed without explosives.
Requisitions - Scorestreaks do not reset on death, but cost more and can only be earned once.
Instincts - Warning when targeted off-screen, and detect enemy explosive equipment.
Rifleman - Take two Primary Weapons, and swap weapons faster.
Hustle - Reload faster and while sprinting.
Lookout - Enemy targets appear from further away, and increased mini-map coverage.
Gunslinger - Fire guns while sprinting and diving.
Ordnance - Cheaper Scorestreaks, and ability to re-roll your own Care Packages.
Primed - Additional Primary Attachment, and flinch less when shot.
Undercover - Killed enemy death locations hidden, and reticles do not change when targeted.
Serrated - Take Melee Weapons as Primary, and melee faster. Bonus: two throwing knives and two tacticals
Duelist - Take akimbo pistols as Secondary. Bonus: extra pistol ammo
Forage - Resupply bullets from killed enemies, and swap weapons faster.
Bang - Take a Mk 2 Frag as a Lethal and an extra piece of Tactical equipment.
Flanker - While moving quickly, hidden from enemy Recon Aircraft. Bonus: delayed detonation of enemy mines.
Scoped - While aiming down sights, have less idle sway and move faster.
Energetic - Sprint again sooner, and no damage from falling.
Hunker - Early grenade warning, and take less explosive damage. Bonus: Fuse of Mk 2 frag is reset on throwback.
Inconspicuous - Quieter movement, and walk fast while crouched.
Concussed - Take a British N° 69 as a Tactical and an extra piece of Lethal equipment.
REVIEWS
OpenCritic:81
MetaCritic: PC - N/S, PS4 - 82, Xbox One - 87
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