Call of Duty®: WWII

(This is a review of the campaign only) The original CoD wasn't a masterpiece. It was overall just hokey fun, like a B movie, wrapped in a fun to play shooter. Subsequent campaigns have started to have more and more focus on the set pieces, without iterating on the gameplay or doing anything really interesting with the stories. There are standouts, and they are definitely fun, but nothing that gives you a real sense of place like the original. CoD WW2 feels like the original CoD, infused with the set pieces and action of new, as well as beautiful graphics that are focused on the overall picture rather than just being technically impressive. CoD isn't known for innovating gameplay much, and they have rightfully gotten a reputation for stagnation. I maintain that despite that, CoD's core gameplay is really well done, and lately they have actually started to experiment with and improve the gameplay a bit. I think it might have started with this game. The gameplay isn't a shooting gallery anymore. There isn't regenerating health, you now have a resource of first aid kits, and you have to get to cover and use them to regenerate. Your teammates can give you resources like ammo or first aid kits on a cooldown. There are instances where you can perform "heroic acts" by saving wounded soldiers. Even the quick time events are expanded, having to manually aim them rather than just pressing a button, making the set pieces feel a lot more involved. Stealth sections were sprinkled through the campaign, and the mechanics made them feel matured and quite fun. You could even drive a silly Jeep! The story itself is hokey fun, like a B movie, at least at first. It's cheesy at times, but it does make the characters endearing. The story isn't overly in your face, it's actually rather down to Earth all things considered. Taking place throughout most of the war, you fight with your group of boys through everything. Their personalities bounce off each other very well, I could feel the camaraderie, and I grew to love seeing them banter. The epilogue honestly got me emotional, it tied the story together very neatly and gave all the characters their payoffs. This is definitely my favourite Call of Duty campaign, which I did not expect from the hate I remember it getting at the time. Hurray!