[h1] Call of Duty - an unpolished diamond [/h1]
[b]Prelude[/b]
The first Call of Duty is undoubtedly an FPS classic which, along with the Medal of Honor series, gave rise to the subgenre of games with more cinematic campaigns, grounded stories about war or special ops – rarely going beyond the modern era, nearby future or WWII, only occasionally stepping into sci-fi territory.
Speaking of the gameplay aspects of this subgenre, these shooters share some usual traits: usually 2-3 weapon types instead of a full arsenal; a small variety of enemies, typically limited to different types of soldiers; linear levels where exploration ends with a couple of tiny side alleys; HP regeneration or lots of medkits; checkpoints, etc. The list could go on. I’m not insisting on this categorisation as final – as in any art form, genres blend, and CoD-like FPS games may borrow something from retro shooters (hello F.E.A.R., RAGE).
Long story short: compared to what came before it, Call of Duty revolutionised the genre – whether for better or worse is a matter of taste, but as the fact it must be acknowledged. Now all that’s left is to examine the game itself: did it manage to pull this off on the first try?
[b]Review[/b]
Short answer: yes, it succeeded, but with some rough edges
The first thing that catches the eye is the graphics. Unfortunately, even at its 2003 release, the graphics didn’t produce much of a wow effect. Enemy models, by the standards of the time, look somewhat more detailed in comparison to RTCW: characters actually have polygonal pockets, folds and little bumps on their uniforms, but the textures drag down the overall impression. The weapon models are quite decent, though the iron sights are too thick and not really comfortable to use.
The levels range from «wow, that’s impressive», like the unique german battleship or the dam, to generic villages with identical house interiors that often repeat themselves (some locations are reused for two missions, day/night). The soviet campaign with its gray ruined walls and snowy forests ending can make you feel upset too.
As for gameplay, the gunplay is very pleasant and not very realistic, but reasonably accessible. It’s hard to say there’s a great variety of guns: most missions are completed either with your standard issued kit or the MP-40 & Kar98k combo. Still, it’s always exciting to pick up an FG-42 or StG-44 though you’ll rarely find much ammo for them.
As already mentioned, the game’s key feature is its cinematic nature. Every mission feels like «Saving Private Ryan», where you feel your involvement, your role in the operation. The levels are full of military bravado – there’s no room for deep reflection here, but that is Call of Duty, and that is why we do love it. There are chases on car, stealth infiltrations, dangerous landings, assaults. And the defence of Pavlov’s House alone is worth mentioning – the best and the hardest level in the game. Overall, it’s a real thrill-ride.
However, there are a few things that personally disappoint me. Some levels are repeated and it’s understandable that reusing a map with different lighting is easier than building a new one, so this isn’t a critical issue. The biggest drawback for me are the stationary weapon sections, where you don't have an opportunity to hide, and the first enemy can shoot your entire face off with a couple of accurate hits – leaving you stuck like that unless you restart the level. I understand it probably has to do with AI behaviour and the lack of health regeneration. The developers just threw in a few medkits, but once you use them up, the enemies can just blast you again in the same way.
Speaking of AI: the machine gunners are extremely annoying. They instantly switch focus to you and suppress you with heavy fire. If you’ve run out of health and medkits, you’re forced into pure save-scum process and boring peeking from a cover, waiting for enemies to “forget” you. And sometimes friendly fire happens – but that’s a minor issue :D
The absence of health regeneration. The developers added it only in the second game, and it was a great change, it made the gameplay much smoother and eliminated the need for save-scumming when medkits were gone.
And one more minor drawback about the graphics: this is the only FPS where I genuinely struggle to distinguish enemy silhouettes. I don’t know why, but the camouflage here blends with the environment a little too well.
[b]Epilogue[/b]
The first Call of Duty is definitely a good, though not perfect, game, and many of its rough edges can be forgiven, considering it was an experiment. Is it worth playing at least once? Definitely yes. I’ve replayed it many times, and every time, the game delivers enjoyment. This is one of those cases where an old game can truly be called a classic – not outdated junk.
7 Captain Price moustaches out of 10.
