Most gamers complain that there are simply too many WWII games out there. You hear from most gamers these days, but honestly I’ve never gotten bored with them. So now Activision is taking a look back at one of the games that set the benchmark for the Second World War genre. Is there still enough fun here to pull gamers back to this simpler time of shooter fun? That’s what we’re looking at with this re-release of Infinity Ward’s shooter re-titled Call of Duty Classic.
Visually this title shows its age, but certainly it isn’t the worst looking game you’ll find to download. Water effects and explosions look very nice. One mission actually has you blowing up a dam under the cover of night which graphically seemed to be the most demanding scene in the game and really brought every together in terms of the eye candy to be offered here. Just don’t walk into this one planning to be awe-struck like Modern Warfare and you’ll be satisfied.
Call of Duty Classic still brings it in the game play department. You get to play through British, American and Russian missions. Considering this title’s age, it is so surprising how engaging the game is. Levels are challenging and yet balanced. For those not old enough to have played this game before the “Classic” was added to the title, this game will show you just how far the genre has come due to how dated it feels. Health packs litter levels and appear when you kill baddies. With games being more challenging these days, it may come off as almost too easy. Probably the most surprising thing will be for those who have mastered sniper rifles in recent years. You don’t have to steady your weapon as it is already steadied due to a lack of breathing.
Yes this makes the game play feel a slightly dated, but not enough to ruin the overall enjoyment of whole package. It is a little odd though that they call this ‘classic’ and yet didn’t add the United offensive expansion pack which improved the original by adding vehicles in the multiplayer. If Infinity Ward had done that, new gamers this “Classic” version would likely spend a little more time with it prior to jumping back into Modern Warfare 2.
Classic is definitely a challenge to play through regardless of your shooter experience, especially considering the save points which may be considered lacking. Maybe this is compensatory for the high number of health packs, many levels see you retreading dying at the same point after hoofing it on foot a second time due to no close by save points. The way to overcome these repeated deaths is another way this title shows it’s age. Simply memorize the enemy locations. They don’t change.
CoD Classic has been restored and polished quite nicely and certainly has something to offer for all gamers. Those who either missed the original release and those who remember playing it on the PC will get their moneys worth. The game holds up very well. Sure some of game play mechanics feel dated, but this is a mild irritation which should not come between shooter fans and this “Classic”.
Graphics | Audio | Gameplay | Replay | Genre | Final |
