Call of Duty 2: Big Red One
November 7,2005 -

The Call of Duty franchise has always been known for its ability to draw the player into a world of chaos. Frantic action, a historical backdrop, and a gripping story are all keys to CoD’s success. The latest in the series, CoD: Big Red One, keeps all these things in tact and does not tarnish the CoD name. However, in a world swamped by “me too” wartime shooters, Big Red One really does little to set itself apart from the pack.

Call of Duty has always been known to provide a compelling story, and BRO is no different. You follow the life of a soldier in WWII as he travels through parts of Europe and northern Africa with the First Expeditionary Division, nicknamed “Big Red One.” You fight along side of your squadron through the gritty streets and dusty deserts and learn about each of their lives in the process. Each character has a distinct personality, and it becomes easy to grow attached to them as you get to know them better. Characters chat about various things in-between missions and during cut scenes, which fills the game with individuality. The personalities in the game keep you interested in the story, and have you actually caring about these virtual beings.

The action in BRO is what you expect from any CoD game, with non-stop action around you almost all the time. There are explosions from every angle, German soldiers abound, and plenty of allied troops shout in the background. The action may not be quite as frenzied as its PC counterpart, but BRO does manage many characters on screen at one time with absolutely no slowdown.

With so much going on around you it is easy to lose sight of the main objective, which is to kill, kill, and kill some more. Those pesky German soldiers are out in full force and they attack you from every possible angle with every weapon imaginable. On foot, you will be tested in the art of bullet dodging at every turn. The use of cover is extremely important for the soldiers as mortars rain down from above and suppressing fire rattles off in the distance. Waiting for the enemy to reload their weapons is oftentimes the winning strategy. If you decide to run from bunker to bunker too soon, you will be mowed down in an instant. Luckily, not all the missions rely on your ability to detect a reload. Some missions have you operating a “Flack Gun” to ward off enemy aircraft, while another level has you running around from Gunner to Bomber in an aircraft. These gun-pod type missions are great fun, and they break up the on-foot action perfectly.

If you get tired of the mission-based, story driven, single player game, you can always connect to the internet for some fun multiplayer action (or split-screen for GC owners). There are only four basic game types in BRO: CTF, Deathmatch, Domination, and Team Deathmatch. The limited game types are nothing new to anyone, but that does not mean they are not fun. The action is fast paced, yet realistic enough to hold the historic feel. The weapons are great and there are a few tanks thrown in for good measure. All in all, the multiplayer does nothing at all new, but hey - if it’s not broken, why fix it?

Graphically the game is solid from head to toe. The character models look fantastic, and they have pretty good animations to boot. Soldiers run around the battlefield franticly, and when they are shot they crumple into a lifeless heap in a very realistic manner. Level design is also top notch. The cityscapes are especially well done with broken buildings galore, and debris lying about. Honestly, other than a few minor hiccups here and there, the game is surprisingly pretty.

If there is one place that BRO really shines it is in the sound department. The mixture of explosions, gunfire, and soldier chatter will suck you into the environment of war. Machine guns are quick and powerful, while the bolt-action rifle packs a slow but deadly crack. The reload sequences are accompanied with great effects of bullets dropping to the ground and the clickity-clack of the magazine being slid into position. The heavy artillery sounds extraordinary as well. Mortars explode a few feet away from your soldier and a deafening ring remains in your ears. The high caliber mounted machine guns and flack guns are a complete blast to use as they muscle rounds out of the barrel. If you have a good surround sound system, this game will bombard your senses until you suffer from shell shock. Even if you just play the sound through the television, the audio experience is still one of the best out there.

All in all BRO is a great game. The sound and graphics alone make this title worth checking out; the only problem is that it does little to innovate. The whole game, while exceptionally well done, is just more of the same old WWII action that we have already seen a hundred times before. If the developers would have been able to come up with one great innovative game mode, or some unique feature of some kind, the game would be near the top of the FPS heap. As it stands, BRO is just another well-made WWII shooter that does nothing to stand out from the crowd.

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