Call of Duty

Europe wasn't liberated by an individual but rather by countless citizen soldiers, each fighting to reach a common goal. Unlike previous World War II action games, this first-person shooter isn't about lone-wolf assaults or over-the-top operations but instead focuses on realistic engagements where c

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"Call of Duty" is a first-person combat game set in World War II. It features realistic squad movements and tactics, along with varied mission objectives and multiple perspectives from American, British, and Russian soldiers. The game aims to authentically represent the weapons, locations, vehicles, and sounds of the war.

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Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,938 reviews

story157 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience, showcasing the origins of the Call of Duty franchise with engaging gameplay and memorable missions.
The campaign features diverse perspectives from American, British, and Soviet soldiers, providing a unique take on World War II battles.
Despite its age, the game still holds up well in terms of gameplay mechanics, sound design, and overall fun factor.

The graphics are dated, and some players may find the lack of modern features like health regeneration and sprinting frustrating.
The AI can be inconsistent, with friendly soldiers often being unhelpful and enemies sometimes exhibiting aimbot-like accuracy.
The game is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in about 5-7 hours, leading some to feel that the price is too high for the content offered.

story
574 mentions
27 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is set during World War II, featuring missions from the perspectives of American, British, and Soviet soldiers, which provides a diverse and immersive experience. While the narrative is generally straightforward and lacks deep character development, it effectively captures the intensity of historical battles through engaging gameplay and well-designed missions. Players appreciate the cinematic quality and historical references, although some missions can feel repetitive or overly linear.
- “I'm about 12 hours into the campaign and enjoying how the story bounces back and forth and ties into real-world historic campaigns.”
- “The campaign was really fun to play through featuring missions from all major allies in WWII and some of the most famous battles.”
- “With its compelling storyline, immersive gameplay, and intense multiplayer action, it remains one of the best games in the series and is a true classic in the world of first-person shooters.”
- “Minimal storytelling depth: while the game does an excellent job of conveying the intensity and chaos of World War II battles, the storytelling can feel somewhat shallow, with a focus on action over character development or deeper narrative themes.”
- “The characters, while serviceable, lack the depth and complexity seen in later entries in the series, which may leave players feeling less emotionally invested in the story.”
- “The campaign storyline was nothing original but the Russian side of the story was by far the best one.”
graphics
303 mentions
30 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 2003 release, but many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and smooth performance for its time. While some find the visuals lacking compared to modern standards, others argue that the game's strong atmosphere and historical detail compensate for its graphical limitations. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress today, they still hold a certain appeal, especially for those who grew up with the game.
- “The atmospheric war, espionage, and rescue missions, along with graphics and good music, were done very well.”
- “I love it, and that nostalgic cozy 2000s style of graphics adds to that.”
- “The graphics may not be as impressive as the newer titles, but they still hold up and add to the overall charm of the game.”
- “The graphics are severely outdated, making it hard to immerse yourself in the experience.”
- “While the art style and environments are well-designed, the textures, character models, and animations lack the detail and polish of more recent titles.”
- “The graphics haven't aged well, but they are acceptable and the single-player game, while a little short, is pretty fun.”
gameplay
301 mentions
36 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the original "Call of Duty" (2003) is characterized by its classic WWII first-person shooter mechanics, offering a mix of squad-based combat and mission variety that keeps the experience engaging. While some players appreciate its historical accuracy and immersive atmosphere, many note that the gameplay feels dated compared to modern titles, with limitations such as a lack of health regeneration and restrictive mission paths. Overall, it remains a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre, despite its age and some repetitive elements.
- “As for the gameplay, the goals and missions we have to complete are really interesting.”
- “Its realistic gameplay and great atmosphere make it one of the classics of the genre.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and intense, with a wide variety of weapons and vehicles to use.”
- “The scripted nature of the missions means there is often only one path to follow, which can make the gameplay feel restrictive, especially when compared to more open-ended shooters.”
- “But if you are in it for the gameplay then no, it didn't age well gameplay wise.”
- “The gameplay can easily become mind-numbing, but it's also really easy to drop and pick up whenever the mood strikes.”
music
89 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the intensity of action sequences, with many reviewers noting its strong orchestration reminiscent of classic war films. Composed by Michael Giacchino, the soundtrack effectively captures the historical context of World War II, although some players found it occasionally drowned out by in-game sound effects. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive experience.
- “The music score adds to the depth of the battles and the tone of the stories and dialogue from the soldiers.”
- “The music is outstanding and really all parts of the sound design were amazing; it gave it this Band of Brothers vibe.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and goes with the game perfectly.”
- “The music is very subpar but is also usually drowned out by the great sound design.”
- “The music is instrumental in a sort of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault style, but unlike that game, Call of Duty's music is utterly and instantly forgettable except for a few Russian choir parts.”
- “However, the sound is another story; there are no separate option sliders for sound effects, music, and voice.”
atmosphere
44 mentions
50 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Call of Duty (2003) is widely praised for its immersive and realistic portrayal of World War II, effectively capturing the chaos and brutality of war through detailed environments, high-quality sound design, and a fitting soundtrack. Despite its age, the game's atmospheric elements, including intense action and life-like animations, continue to resonate with players, making it a classic in the genre. Overall, the game's ability to transport players into the historical context of the battlefield is considered one of its standout features.
- “The atmosphere is highly successful and realistic, perfectly conveying the horror and cruelty of World War II.”
- “Authentic World War II experience: Call of Duty (2003) immerses players in the gritty and chaotic atmosphere of World War II.”
- “For the age of the game, I have to respect it for its detailed map designs, an incredible atmosphere, life-like animations with the characters, great voice acting, and to top it off, it really makes you feel like you're a young soldier thrown in the middle of a hellish gunfight with men screaming, planes and machine guns roaring, and explosions around you.”
- “That said, the rest of the game lacks the atmosphere of the Omaha Beach level, mainly because throughout the whole game your character fights alone.”
- “The atmosphere achieved in this game still stands up over 15 years after release.”
- “Alot of effort made for atmosphere, it really puts the player into that time and place.”
optimization
20 mentions
50 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on modern systems without crashes or major performance issues, it lacks support for higher resolutions and requires some tweaking to function optimally. Users note that for a game from 2003, it shows its age in terms of optimization, but many still find it enjoyable and playable on contemporary hardware.
- “The optimization is fantastic, and the game runs smooth as butter even on Windows 10.”
- “The game runs smoothly and graphics are okay for the period.”
- “It's a great game, runs smoothly, does its job, offers challenging and exciting missions.”
- “My only criticism is the price tag and the optimization - for a game this old it should be a lot less, and it's not optimized for today's PCs, so it needs some tweaking to get it working properly.”
- “It's got a couple of optimization issues, such as no setting for any resolution higher than 1024x768, but other than that, it's perfect for a 90s classic game.”
- “Also, a quick note for users of modern computers: I found that when you open the game, there are a lot of performance issues.”
humor
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd animations and quirky character interactions, leading to many laugh-out-loud moments, particularly with the soldiers' exaggerated movements and dialogue. Players appreciate the blend of comedic elements with nostalgic gameplay, noting that the game's design choices often result in unintentionally funny scenarios. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the experience, making it enjoyable despite any shortcomings.
- “Hilariously enough, enemies blend unnaturally well with pretty much any environment they are placed/spawned in, so there will be a multitude of moments of hearing sniper fire but not knowing where it is coming from.”
- “Great game to go back and visit some nostalgia with, or just to enjoy an afternoon of arcade-like shooting and funny voice acting.”
- “Gets the award for most hilarious running and crouch running animations from the AI.”
replayability
16 mentions
25 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while the multiplayer modes offer competitive challenges and some players find it infinitely replayable due to modifications, the lack of co-op options and limited single-player content restricts overall replay value. Many users note that the campaign is relatively short, and its linear design with few alternate paths or endings significantly diminishes replayability for some. Overall, opinions vary, with some rating it as average to good, while others find it lacking after the initial playthrough.
- “With a range of modes, from traditional deathmatch to team-based objectives, the multiplayer component provides additional replay value and a competitive challenge for those looking to test their skills against other players.”
- “It has only gotten better because it has been modified so many times and it has added to the replay value.”
- “The replayability of this game is way better than any other COD.”
- “Additionally, the lack of a dedicated co-op mode or additional single-player content beyond the campaign limits the game's replayability.”
- “A fun way to spend 9+ hours, but I can't see much replay value.”
- “The extremely linear nature of this game (no alternate endings, nearly no alternate paths to take) decreases this game's replay value dramatically.”
grinding
16 mentions
6 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
44 % negative mentions
Players consistently express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, describing it as tedious and requiring excessive time investment, often likening it to needing "a second life" to manage. Many reviews highlight that the gameplay becomes unbalanced and frustrating, particularly in the latter stages, detracting from the overall experience.
- “It's a shame this game loses so much steam by the second half and it just becomes tedious to play sometimes, especially with those damn MG42 hit scanners.”
- “It's tedious and rather frustrating.”
- “My main problem is how unbalancing and tedious the gameplay is.”
stability
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
-15 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and minimal crashes, there are notable glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in older versions. Some users have experienced issues like getting stuck in certain locations and loading freezes, indicating that the game has not aged well in terms of stability. Despite these problems, the game remains enjoyable and is often recommended for its fun factor.
- “I had a lot of fun with this; the game runs great as is and is very easy to get running in full widescreen.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is, making it easy to dive in and play without any frustrating issues.”
- “Sometimes you will notice that this game is old and that it didn't age well, because you will encounter some weird glitches.”
- “Didn't age well, the loading freezes are incredibly annoying.”
- “But seriously, it's still kinda buggy, feels a little rough, and the health pack system feels so dated now.”
emotional
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players feel a deep connection and are moved to tears by its impactful finale and historical context, others find the characters lacking in depth, which diminishes their emotional investment. The game is praised for its nostalgic and immersive portrayal of warfare, with moments that evoke strong feelings, particularly during the final mission and its accompanying score. Overall, it resonates deeply with those who appreciate its historical significance and emotional storytelling, despite some critiques regarding character development.
- “This game is so good I cried.”
- “It's one of the few games to actually make me tear up with its final moments, thanks to a really great finale and composer Michael Giacchino's triumphant and emotional score, one of the best for any FPS game.”
- “Still the most emotionally impactful campaign in any shooter I have ever laid hands on.”
monetization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the current monetization practices in the franchise, labeling it as a "cash grab" that detracts from the passion and quality of earlier games. Critics long for a return to a time when games were less focused on microtransactions and more on delivering a complete and engaging experience.
- “More COD to come, but I hate what they have done with the franchise now with pure cash grab!”
- “Back when video games were made with passion and weren't just a soulless cash grab.”
- “This game was released at a time when video games were not tainted with microtransactions and map pack DLC.”
character development
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with a focus on action overshadowing deeper narrative themes. While players appreciate experiencing the war from multiple perspectives, the storytelling feels shallow and could benefit from more substantial character arcs and mission presentation.
- “The character development is rich and engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with the protagonists.”
- “Each character evolves throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and impactful.”
- “The game excels in showcasing the growth of its characters, providing a satisfying narrative experience.”
- “Minimal storytelling depth: while the game does an excellent job of conveying the intensity and chaos of World War II battles, the storytelling can feel somewhat shallow, with a focus on action over character development or deeper narrative themes.”
- “Character development and mission presentation could be better.”
- “No real character development, though it is good to see the war from several different perspectives (American, British, and Russian sides all have their own missions to play).”