When a new Call of Duty game releases each Fall, some gamers rejoice in happiness while others sigh in discontent. Let’s face it, this is a franchise that has needed new life breathed into it for years. The last few entries including Black Ops 2 and Ghosts have done little to break ground in the FPS genre. There has been minimal progress in crafting a believable and intriguing story, much less a respectable single player campaign. The folks at both Treyarch and Infinity Ward have focused primarily on perfecting the online component. After all, that is what most Call of Duty enthusiasts are interested in. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has arrived and is developed by newcomer to the series, Sledgehammer Games. Is this just another ho-hum Call of Duty or is it finally something different?
First of all, the strong, yet familiar gameplay mechanics remain fully intact. Precision aiming and gunplay are at a premium here and remain staples in the series. The game is undeniably fun and no one can refute that. It’s never been more satisfying to hear and feel the thump of your choice firearm while in the heat of battle. Gameplay overall, is surprisingly fluid, hardly ever batting an eye at potential frame rate problems or glitches. Nothing seems to get in the way of how smooth Advanced Warfare runs. The weapon selection is somewhat familiar but there are several newcomers. There are heat-seeking grenades, a rifle that fires missiles and a bevy of variations of certain weaponry. You have about six different types of grenades for crying out loud. From small silencers to gigantic rocket launchers, Advanced Warfare has you covered. The game is set in the future, so each weapon has futuristic touches. This makes it all the more believable. The gameplay is also quite diverse, having you on the ground, in the air, on the water, underwater, in a frozen tundra…you get the picture. You’ll be globetrotting in style as you jump out of airplanes, into oncoming traffic (seriously) and racing from enemies on a hovering ATV. The on-screen display has changed to the much better holographic projections. The character leveling system is simple this time around, yet satisfying, as you improve certain attributes such as grenade capacity, overall health, flinch resistance and reload time. The A.I. can be shoddy at times, as you are usually the one to take down most of the enemies. Another great gameplay element here is stealth, which feels natural and its usually challenging, which makes it a balanced experience. Additionally, the level of customization is one of the standout features in the game. On the down side unfortunately, I feel like the game borrows heavily from other series making it feel unoriginal at times. Overall, Advanced Warfare doesn’t really break new ground, but it should get respect for its pinpoint execution in the gameplay sector as a whole.
You play as Private Jack Mitchell (Troy Baker), a U.S. Marine in the year 2054. The United States is in a battle with North Koreans. You are recruited by Atlas Corporation, a private military contractor after losing your best friend and your arm (literally). Kevin Spacey plays the CEO of Atlas and the game’s primary villain, who is trying to “fix” the nation’s “problems” while essentially abusing his newly acquired power. As the story unfolds, several new challenges and surprises arise. I won’t continue due to spoiling it for you. I’m going to come right out and say it: The story in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is actually respectable! At long last, playing through the single player campaign is surprisingly fun and entertaining. It plays like a hit summer blockbuster with an unlimited budget. Explosions, blood, emotions, factions, friendships, war and more are all here. You’re essentially playing an action movie. You’ll work with some very likable characters such as personal favorite of mine, Sergeant Cormack. The characters are believable and due to the great graphics, they feel alive and present. However, the story in Advanced Warfare isn’t without its faults. It’s littered with cliches and predictable dialogue, making it feel like “just another shooter/action game”. This really drags the experience down after a while. At several points, your partners will repeat the same thing over and over until you complete a certain action and they only give you a few seconds. It makes the moment feel unrealistic. It’s far from perfect, but the fact is, the storytelling better than recent series entries.
The visuals in Advanced Warfare are some of the best PS4 and Xbox One have to offer, while definitely being the best in the series. During gameplay, the graphics are ultra fluid, smooth and most importantly, gorgeous. Character models are at a premium, but mostly the main characters. There will be times you’ll notice some enemies and pedestrians that are eerily similar and lacking in detail. The protagonist, Mitchell, looks like a carbon copy of Bradley Cooper and of course, Kevin Spacey is here who looks unbelievably lifelike in cut scenes…oh those cutscenes, so beautiful. During cutscenes these characters look insanely good! I can’t stress that enough. The developers really emphasized the visual presentation. Environments and locales are diverse and varied and they all look very pretty. One thing that is worth mentioning is the attention to detail. Every corridor, nook and cranny is detailed incredibly. This is one feature I never expected out of a Call of Duty game. Sound design is also excellent. Gunfire isn’t obnoxious, but subtly boomy, if that makes sense. You can hear sounds of shrapnel and bullets flying all over the place and your enemies screaming at the top of their lungs during a firefight. Plug in some quality headphones into your controller for the best experience.
Well, there you have it! Advanced Warfare is one of the best Call of Duty games to date. Its intriguing, futuristic setting offers tons of new fun to be had. The visuals are stunning, along with the excellent sound design. Those old, yet reliable Call of Duty controls are still intact. There are new customization options, a new upgrade system and several new and cool weapons. Finally, this Call of Duty game has a respectable story, but is still filled with cliches and predictability. You know that feeling you get like you’ve seen this before? But, it’s entertaining and for the most part, delivers the fun. The co-op and multiplayer should deliver the goods for online enthusiasts once the campaign is over with. Furthermore, this is a nice change for the Call of Duty series, even though it’s not the drastic change some feel the series really needs.