Call of Duty 2

War has never been so much fun! No. Er, War is hell. Sigh. Wait: This time it's war! Meh - is COD2 as bad as these clichés? Here's our final verdict.

	Version Xbox 360, PC	Developer Infinity Ward	Publisher Activision	Genre FPS

By Stephen Rowley

"War! (dun-dun) Hur! (dun-dun) What is it good for?" Absolutely nothing... except for, apparently, an endless stream of visually and substantively similar videogames, year on year, week on week, day on day... There are now more games based on the events of World War II than there are racing games for the PSP (yes, that many... well, maybe), so do gamers really need another one, and in particular as a launch title for a brand-spanking new console?

Surely a new generation of console should bring with it a whole new set of experiences, not just souped-up visuals, but despite Call of Duty 2's familiar setting, the fresh spec of the new console allows such enhancement to the game's presentation as to make it feel like a new experience.

It certainly isn't something that any of the previous generation consoles could fully handle, that much is evident from Call of Duty 2 on Xbox, PS2 and GameCube being a completely different game, subtitled Big Red One (and how's that for a single entendre, and with no effort on our part).

This presentation makes itself equally felt in both audio and visual departments; it's difficult to say for sure just how lovely this game looks, having little to compare against - but alongside what other 360 titles there are, it's definitely one of, if not the, best looking. Textures are satisfyingly detailed, while shadow, fire and smoke in particular play a huge part in COD2's visual palette.

The latter is most obviously evident from the use of smoke grenades, vital for moving through areas without cover, but adding significantly to player confusion. With visibility so reduced you can't see the enemy until you're right on top of them, and how German troops suddenly appear through the smoke is as nerve-jangling as any such shock-moment in your Resident Evils and Silent Hills.

Add to these lush graphics a meaty cacophony of dozens of soldiers firing guns, throwing grenades and shouting (orders, insults, screams of pain), and other audio effects such as ringing ears caused by nearby explosions, adding such a level of immersion it does much to distract you from what is essentially a linear and familiar experience. The game unfolds through the eyes of a few different soldiers, and through some key events of the war. Starting off in the rubble and snow of Moscow and Stalingrad, as a young Russian draftee; moving through the Panzer filled sands of Africa, as one of Britain's 'Desert Rats'; finally taking the role of a US trooper from their entry to the war on D-Day right up to the end of the war.

Despite the differing viewpoints though, the actual mission objectives aren't particularly wide-ranging, and the actual act of completing them is for all intents the same throughout. Whether repairing phone lines, planting explosives, or securing (and subsequently defending) enemy positions, the mechanics to fulfil these tasks lack variety. The missions are also on the long side, but at least the linearity eases up in later levels, sometimes being able to choose the order in which objectives are completed.

Also, despite the majority of the game presenting a certain level of realism, there is one glaring aspect which appears to contradict this: the health system. The more traditional 'health pack' route used in COD1 has been replaced by something more akin to The Getaway's 'wall-rest' recovery. If you get wounded, the edges of the screen turn red and breathing gets louder, and you'll need to find some cover for a few seconds to recover.

Yet whilst this isn't realistic, if it had replicated the actual reality of war it would be unplayable and prove just how easy it would have been to become a casualty. It also lessens the focus on individual player skill, and places it more on the need for strategy - finding the best cover and picking your moments. Still, it's perhaps more realistic than magically gaining health from walking over a small box.

If it were the case with this game, here is where we would reveal that flaw which unravels any other good it may do: dodgy AI. Thankfully though, both your allies and enemies have a relative modicum of intelligence. They'll happily look after themselves, find cover and throw grenades, or retreat when the going gets tough, but never take the focus away from your actions as the player. The feeling such AI produces is akin to making you a small cog in a big wheel, rather than the overpowered, un-killable hero around whom everything hinges, and as such enhances the overall authenticity. Take things online though and you'll still notice the difference, and although the player total over Live is on the low side, the experience is still very entertaining.

Regardless of Call of Duty 2's relatively minor negative points, the game as a whole is just so impacting and overwhelming, that it's impossible not to be impressed. Sure the underlying mechanics are over-familiar, and the WWII setting completely overcooked, but when the end result is as compelling and enjoyable as this, simply from enhanced presentation, it's enough to make you believe that this next generation hasn't come too soon, and to make us all look forward to what else is in store from the advent of Xbox 360.