best ww2 game

User Rating: 8.8 | Call of Duty 3 X360
By gbird991 | Review Date:
Unlike some of the jaded editors in the office, I'm still a big fan of World War II games. I remember my first time storming Omaha Beach in Medal of Honor: Frontline, and I was hooked. But, after a while, you can't help but get the been-there, done-that feeling about WWII shooters. Throughout the years, however, the Call of Duty franchise has managed to recreate historic battles, many of which are relatively unknown to the average gamer.

Which brings us back to the Normandy Breakout, which happens to be the Allied campaign following D-Day that resulted in the liberation of Paris. Whereas COD2 was spread across Africa and France and Russia, COD3 is much more localized. As Americans, British, Polish and, finally, Canadians, you'll liberate Paris from four sides, which helps to bring a cohesiveness to the single-player game that COD2 lacked.

Although Treyarch took over for Infinity Ward, the gameplay mechanics remain largely the same. With a regenerating health system, you fight your way from objective to objective and through a variety of scripted moments -- what COD does best. Although the missions are fun and well laid-out, including vehicles as well, the gameplay mechanics are getting a bit stale. COD3 is fun, don't get me wrong. But after playing Rainbow Six Vegas and even Gears of War, both with outstanding cover systems, I can't help but wish something like this would be applied to a WWII game. In the end, the single-player missions feel more like an expansion pack to COD2, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's just that this franchise needs a breath of fresh air.

Fresh air is exactly what the multiplayer game received however. Completely revamped, COD3 plays like a next-gen Battlefield 1942, complete with classes of soldiers and a ton of vehicles. Scouts can call in artillery strikes; medics can inject their miracle needle to save a re-spawn, and support gunners can lay down the .50 cal and obliterate people. In short, the COD3 multiplayer is outstanding, a complete overhaul on the mediocre mode in COD2. With a ton of game modes and huge, sprawling maps, COD3 could jump on top as one of the most popular multiplayer games this holiday season.

Clearly Treyarch put the most focus in overhauling multiplayer, and the effort has paid off. With a decent, more focused single-player campaign and an excellent online mode, COD3 is a great WWII shooter. Still, this series is in need of something new, be it a whole new campaign outside of Europe or even WWII.

Oh, and COD3 has the best looking grass of any game in history. Snap!

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