Another Triumph
posted by REVJR1 (ROANOKE, VA) Nov 16, 2008
Member since Jul 2007
20
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Anyone apprehensive about Treyarch taking the helm again for the franchise has nothing to worry about. COD5 meets every expectation set by COD4 and is a beautiful addition to the series. Those of us who've been waiting for some Pacific action could hardly ask for more - this game puts the lie to the argument that there's a glut of WWII titles out there: there's only been a glut of low-quality ones redeemed every year or so by COD's achievements.
What's there to be said that isn't obvious to anyone after five minutes of playing World At War? Gorgeous graphics, a fluid and comfortable control scheme, outstanding voiceovers, a wide array of combat weapons augmented this time around in grisly fashion by the flamethrower, and the patented fast and furious pace...some nicely done theme music provides emotional resonance to the narrative. I enjoyed the great vignettes that open each mission, filling what are already very tolerable load times with archival footage, eye-catching visuals, and concise historical context for each campaign. Probably what struck me the most is the particularly vicious nature of the conflict between Russians and Germans - you really see the brutality of war and are even, at one point, given a clear choice between showing humanity or barbarism when dealing with some surrendering Krauts. Other stuff we've gotten used to with COD comes back in fine form - a sort of "Barbarian At The Gates" sniping section reminiscent of COD1, the trademark tank mission and a terrific air combat chapter as a gunner on a PBY in the Pacific.
My only real complaint is the shortness of the game. I've always been used to savoring CODs for a week or more, but in this one you move through the levels so quickly that they feel incomplete and anticlimactic at times, even given the franchise's run-and-gun linearity. There's also a bit of oddness to the juxtaposition of Russian and American missions - somehow it doesn't feel as natural as in earlier COD forays.
COD is WWII.
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