Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2 redefined the world of action FPS games when it appeared on PC in late 2005, bringing with it an authentic and adrenaline-filled retelling of some of the most spectacular moments from WW2 military history, all viewed from the eyes of ordinary soldiers fighting in epic conflicts. Offering dramatic visual, gameplay, and narrative improvements over its predecessor (that has won over 80 Game of the Year awards), Call of Duty 2 was immediately hailed as one of the best FPS games ever created and a multiplayer giant that set the stage for the arrival of the legendary Modern Warfare just a few years later.

Developed by Infinity Ward under the close supervision of Activision, the game follows the perspectives of four soldiers in three distinct campaigns covering the exploits of the Russian, American, and British forces across several WW2 fronts. In terms of gameplay, COD2 introduced mainstay features such as automatic regenerating health (a mainstay element that can still be found in modern games today), a visual marker of nearby active grenades, enhanced movement animations, a wide array of authentic WW2 weaponry, and vehicles, ability to drive tanks, and more.

The main campaign of the game features a total of 27 missions, separated into three individual campaigns. To make the gameplay more challenging to seasoned players, the developers included four difficulty levels (Easy, Regular, Hardened, and Veteran), as well as a fully-featured multiplayer section with varied gameplay modes (Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Search & Destroy, Capture the Flag and Headquarters) and 13 official maps (8 more in premium DLC packs). While some console versions were limited to just 8 players in a match, PC multiplayer supported up to 64 players.

On its release, Call of Duty 2 was welcomed with very positive scores from the media, who praised the game's visual design, varied locales, and spectacle, the addition of a regenerative health system, and satisfying fast-paced action. After several years on the market, the game eventually reached 6 million sales on all platforms, with most of them being on PC.

Plot

The 9-hour-long single-player campaign of Call of Duty 2 is separated into three main campaigns. In the Russian campaign, the players are placed in the boots of Private Vasili Koslov who was present during the defense of Moscow and a long set of missions during the battle of Stalingrad. The British campaign is set in Africa during the Battle for Caen and their fight against German Afrika Korps troops. The final American campaign is squarely centered on the D-Day assault of Pointe du Hoc, and the following push of allied soldiers in the French countryside. The final mission of the American campaign recreates the Rhine River crossing into Germany.  

Main Features

• The Call of Duty game popularized the gameplay systems of the modern COD franchise.
• Award-winning fast-paced action FPS.
• WW2 experience retold through the eyes of ordinary soldiers.
• Choose your approach in fighting across all WW2 fronts.
• Large single-player campaign covering Russian, American, and British viewpoints.
• Fully-featured multiplayer mode.
• Modest system requirements.
• Optimized for modern versions of Windows OS.

System Requirements

• CPU:  1.4 GHz (Pentium) or 1700+ (Athlon)
• RAM: 256 MB
• OS: English version of Windows 2000/XP or newer
• VIDEO CARD: 3D Hardware accelerated card required - 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible 64 MB (NVIDIA GeForce3+ /ATI Radeon 8500+)
• STORAGE: At Last 4.0 GB of uncompressed free disk space

PROS

Realistic World War II Setting: Call of Duty 2 is set during World War II and does a good job of immersing players in the historical period. The game features authentic weapons, vehicles, and locations, providing a realistic feel to the combat.

Challenging Gameplay: The game offers a challenging single-player campaign with varying difficulty levels, providing a suitable experience for both casual and hardcore gamers.

Variety of Missions: It features a diverse range of missions, including infantry combat, tank battles, and sniping missions. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.

Multiplayer Mode: The game's multiplayer mode was popular at the time of its release and allowed players to engage in intense online battles. While the multiplayer community may have dwindled over the years, it was a significant feature when the game was new.

Modding Support: The game has a robust modding community, allowing players to create and download custom maps and mods, extending the game's longevity and variety.

CONS

Dated Graphics: It was released in 2005, and its graphics have not aged well. While they were impressive for their time, they may appear quite dated to modern gamers.

Limited Storytelling: The game's single-player campaign is somewhat light on storytelling compared to more recent Call of Duty titles. It focuses more on gameplay and historical accuracy.

Lack of Modern Features: Compared to newer entries in the series, it lacks many of the modern features and innovations that have been introduced in recent years, such as advanced movement mechanics and larger-scale multiplayer modes.

Smaller Player Base: The multiplayer community for the game has diminished significantly over the years, making it harder to find active servers and players for online matches.