The long-runningCall of Dutyseries rose to prominence and revolutionized multiplayer games withCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfareback in 2007. After a string ofwell-received entries, likeModern Warfare 2(2009) andBlack Ops 1, the pressure to deliver intense multiplayer action and a satisfying single-player campaign was high, and despite the series remaining as one of the most popular ever, the quality of the titles released after those saw more mixed reception, andthe series might have begun to run out of ideas.
It was at this point that more fans began to grow tired ofCoD’s formula. Eventually, whenCoDwent futuristic withInfinite Warfarein 2016, someCoDenthusiasts seemingly began to turn their backs on the series, feeling it had lost its way. Then 2017 came along, and with it, anotherCall of Duty, one that aimed to right the wrongs of the previous installment, by going back to whereCall of Dutybegan: World War 2.Call of Duty: WW2was one of thebest-selling games of 2017, but it remains one of the most divisive games in the series, and with it coming to Xbox Game Pass next week,I’m here to defendWW2.
Call of Duty: WW2ended up with a 79 Metascore onMetacritic, which isn’t a bad score, but thefan responses were even more negative, with the game ultimately getting a 5.3 user score after over 2,400 reviews. Critics and fans described the game as a rehash of previous ideas with a World War 2 paint job. While the title was nothing revolutionary, it did bring the series back to its roots and avoided going even further into the future.
Despite the familiar mechanics and game design,fans remain divided on the game. Over on Reddit in a thread bygordon_ramsay827, the user asks: “Why is COD WWII a hated COD game?” and the answers are all over the place.Zestycoasterrefuted the “hated” label on the game, writing:“It was fire very very good game.“Contrarily, others noted the game’s generic feel withPresent-Hunt8397even calling it"nostalgia bait,“with them adding:“The guns were very limited, the maps were forgettable, and the operators didn’t even fit the time period.”
CoD: WW2 Still Found A Fanbase
A Lot Of Fans Saw WW2 As a Breath Of Fresh Air
WW2got into a lot offans' good graces with its return to the “boots-on-the-ground"slower gameplay style, and many also noted the addition of a narrative-driven multiplayer game mode called War being a standout. However,WW2had numerous server issues at launch, which were eventually fixed, but the bad first impression was hard to overcome for several fans. On top of that, the series introduced loot boxes, seemingly attempting to capitalize on the trend at the time.
After the increasingly crazier gameplay ofAdvanced WarfareandInfinite Warfare, and even with the loot boxes, I personally still preferWW2over those two games. At one point,it seemed like we were getting a new WW2-centered game every year, fromCall of DutytoMedal of Honorand several other series. There wasn’t a lack of WW2 representation in the early 2000s, but to get one that had expansive online multiplayer offerings in 2017 was refreshing, in my opinion, especially during a time in whichCoDseemed to have lost its way.
Why You Should Play Call Of Duty: WW2 (Especially Now)
A Good Story And It’s Going To Be Free For A Lot Of People
While the multiplayer may not be as popular as the latest entry, and finding a match might take some patience,WW2hasa surprisingly fun campaign and an engaging narrative, and the single-player offerings fromCoDare usually not at the center of people’s minds, including mine. But,WW2makes a compelling case to revisit the epic battles of World War 2 with better writing, graphics, sound, and characters than have ever been offered in the franchise.
