 Review By: Jared Black |
Developer: | Treyarch |
| Publisher: | Activision | |
| Genre: | FPS | |
| ESRB: | Teen | |
| # Of Players: | 1-4 (24 online or system link) | |
| Online Play: | Yes | |
| Accessories: | Xbox Live (online play), System Link, HDTV 480p/720p/1080i, In-game Dolby Digital |
One of the biggest selling points of Call of Duty 2 was the excellent smoke effects that served as effective cover for perhaps the first time ever in a game, and naturally that returns here as well. On Xbox 360 they’re just as good as ever, but this time around they aren’t emphasized as much as they were before. The game only has a few situations in it where you really need to use smoke for cover, which is most likely simply due to the fact that it’s no longer a new feature.
The A.I. is also strong, with enemies that will flank your position, work together as a unit, and find cover when they’re in danger. Of course, once again soldiers will call out enemy positions contextually, with specific statements such as pointing out that enemies are on the second floor of a building, behind a well, etc. I still saw a few instances of soldiers standing out in the open or missing the enemy at point blank range, and the war will still occasionally “stop” and wait on you to catch up, but on the whole I was pretty impressed with the A.I.
Fortunately, the Xbox 360 version is not as plagued with bugs as the PS2 version. In particular, I was never “stuck” on an object in the environment and forced to reboot. However, this version did still have some display bugs, such as men floating in the middle of the air during a cutscene, and chairs and other objects stuck inside walls or floating in the air.
While the PS2 version only supports 16 players online, the Xbox 360 makes room for up to 24 at once. It’s also virtually lag-free as most Xbox Live titles are, whereas the PS2 version is plagued with lag and framerate issues. Otherwise, it’s the same experience online. There are several character classes to choose from (complete with different equipment sets) that you can gain experience and rank up with, and drivable vehicles quickly get you from point A to B, and perhaps even run over a few opponents in the process. So if you want to play Call of Duty 3 online, this is definitely the version to get.
Graphically, Call of Duty 3 is simply gorgeous. Soldier models are very detailed, with plenty of bump-mapped textures, smooth animations, and all of the next-gen goodness you’d expect out of an AAA title. Buildings look like true buildings that have been destroyed by the ravages of war, and the environments do a good job of replicating rural France aside from some occasional tight areas to keep the levels on track. You can believe the pre-release hype as far as the effects go, as Call of Duty 3 definitely has some of the best-looking explosions to go along with chunks of the environment flying through the air, incredible lighting, and hands-down the best looking grass (individual blades clumped together nice and thick, reacting realistically to the war around them) I’ve ever seen in a game.
In every version of the game, it makes effective use of sound. In addition to the decent voice-overs and constant soldier chatter, the game is constantly filled with gunfire, sirens, and the other sounds of war. Music is used sparingly, but effectively to make big moments feel more epic and such.
Bottom Line:
After experiencing Call of Duty 2 and seeing what other games that have come out since then can do (especially war games like GRAW and Gears of War), Call of Duty 3 just doesn’t have the same impact as the last one did. That being said, it’s still an incredibly fun title, with plenty of enhancements and additions to keep it fresh and make it worthwhile to revisit World War II yet again.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
|
| 8.6 |
Posted: 2007-03-10 10:30:30 PST