Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

Genre: First Person Shooter

Number of Players: 1 (up to 24 online)

Support: HD 480p, 720p, 1080i

Peripherals: Ethernet Broadband

PS Network Compatible

I’ve actually not yet played one of Activision’s Call of Duty games, at least not until now, but the very first thing that I came to realize is that they have obviously taken the World War II crown that once belonged to Electronic Arts. Medal of Honor was once a hot franchise, but the recent releases of the series the past few years have been less than impressive to both reviewers and fans. World War II first-person shooters have become the “cool thing” to do, and there’s nothing wrong with re-creating the war, even though the tales here might simply be a work of fiction. Call of Duty 3 not only made its way to existing platforms, but it found a home on the next generation consoles, debuting both on the Wii and PlayStation 3 as launch titles, and we see yet another war on the PlayStation 3; which FPS is the best? (Remember, Resistance also hit stores at launch.)

Call of Duty 3 is set, of course, during the days of World War II. More specifically however, during the Normandy Breakout campaign that brought freedom to Paris. You will take on the role of four different soldiers during this climactic series of battles. There is Private Nichols, a member of the United States 29th Infantry, Private Cole of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, British SAS Sergeant Doyle and Corporal Bohater, part of the Polish 1st Armoured Division. With the tide turning against the Germans, these missions may be what finally ends the war . . . if you can succeed.

While I know that many people have played, and loved, the Call of Duty games, for those that have not, this isn’t quite your standard first person shooter. You don’t actually have health like you would in any other FPS. Instead, you’ll take damage, and if you start getting shredded by bullets, the game will warn you that you need to take cover before you perish. That’s simply one of many features in this game however that make it stand out in a sea of first-person shooters. Some are subtle, for instance, I really love the fact that if you’re standing too close to an explosion, you’ll hear a ringing in your ears and the volume will temporarily fade while you try and shake it off. This is war after all, and war certainly is hell.

Normally, a first person shooter will let you stockpile weapons and switch through an uncountable amount of arms, who knows where those are stored, but not CoD. You can swap out weapons by holding square, but in the process, you will loose whatever you currently have in your possession. CoD allows for one primary weapon and one secondary weapon to be used, and getting comfortable with a single type isn’t advisable either as you may find yourself short on ammo and the German’s certainly aren’t going to sit back and let you find another one. If you see that you have only a few rounds left, definitely grab something else.

You also have two types of grenades, smoke and frag, and both are quickly helpful. Usually, I’ll ignore smoke grenades, but here they can provide perfect cover and the visuals used here, the smoke pouring slowly out and filling the screen, are quite impressive. But, CoD isn’t a game that just tosses grenades, and you will have a red circle counting down. It should be obvious, but throw it before the counter hits zero. You might be able to survive round after round of enemy fire piercing your flesh, but holding a grenade isn’t necessarily good for your health and it certainly won’t keep you in combat long. You also have hand-to-hand that you will use at times either by pressing R3, but the PS3 will also allow you to use the SIXAXIS motions to move left or right to attack with this method or shake off a German solider by rapidly moving it back and forth. The motion sensitive controller is also used in some other unique elements such as arming bombs and even driving vehicles, so it isn’t something that is merely being utilized as a gimmick, but instead gives some more intriguing elements to the game. There are a few times when I was a bit uncertain as to exactly what direction the game wanted me to move the controller in, but a bit of quick experimenting reveals what needs to be done, and in most circumstances, you aren’t a magnet for enemy fire.

The objectives are quite easy to follow and comprehend, and the game readily shows you where your next destination is on the HUD as well as your allies who are shown in green, and enemies shown in red. Call of Duty actually is about working as a team much of the time, and any soldiers that you have in your ranks generally tend to use some very good AI and don’t simply run around not knowing what to do next. If there are German’s present, they can and will open fire on them. However, I do feel that the game could have benefited from a SOCOM type of command option where you could actually issue orders to them, though in most cases, you’re not necessarily high up on the military food chain.

Call of Duty 3 also features online play, though at least in the case of the PlayStation 3, you will need to download an update before taking on this feature. The online games can support up to 24 players in a single match, though you also do need to have a high speed connect, something that most gamers should have no issues with at all. You will be allowed to choose what kit you want, and these include rifleman, light and heavy assault, medic, scout, support, and anti-armor. Each has benefits and drawbacks as well as a different selection of weaponry that are assigned. You also have the option of which side you want to play, Axis or Allies, unless you have a game set up for auto-balance so that one side doesn’t outweigh the other. There are also a number of different styles of online play. War is a bit similar to what you may find in the story mode. You will be given a target to capture and once successful, a new one will be added. Capture the Flag meanwhile everyone knows at this point. Headquarters puts both teams in a battle where the goal is to destroy the others base. There is also Battle mode, the Deathmatch mode, with an optional Team Battle. Aside from having a number of different maps to choose from, you can also select options regarding time, the maximum number of players that can be included in a game, penalties, and a number of other features.

Call of Duty 3 looks amazing. The missions aren’t simply daytime either, but also at night, though never really under the cloak of complete darkness. The weaponry used in the game is all authentic recreations of those used in WWII, and not just the guns, but also tanks, missile launchers, and a number of other things that all add a great sense of realism to the game. Seeing dirt and dust fly up around you in the midst of battle is fantastic, and one sequence that really grabbed me is right in the start as the American forces begin a raid on a German stronghold. During the skirmish, a plane streaks across the sky, drops a bomb which hits a church steeple and is accompanied by a loud toll as the structure begins to crumble. In most missions, you will find burned and bombed out buildings filled with rubble and debris that adds just another realistic factor to the game. There are even a few cut scenes that, in the first person mode, you will be allowed to look around and get a better grip on your current location, and nothing is disrupted during this. The power of the PlayStation 3 is displayed here perfectly, and the game is just as much fun to look at as it is to play.

Call of Duty fans should rejoice at this being on the PlayStation 3 debut titles. The comparisons between this and Resistance really is unfair as they are two completely different types of first person shooters (and one would really do well to own both of them.) Call of Duty 3 brings the element of war right into your living room, with a huge safety factor of course, and while World War II itself may have been one of the bloodiest wars that the world has ever seen, CoD3 brings it to life like no other game can. You have your orders, and it’s to grab this game.

-mike-