Call of Duty® 2

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,434 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Call of Duty® 2 Game Cover
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Call of Duty® 2 is a WWII first-person shooter that provides a cinematic and intense battle experience. The game offers improved graphics, AI, and gameplay mechanics over its predecessor, with new conflicts and enemies to face. Its realistic visuals, including dynamic lighting and weather effects, make for an immersive and chaotic combat experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,434 reviews
story148 positive mentions
stability15 negative mentions
  • story613 mentions

    The story of "Call of Duty 2" is set during World War II and unfolds through three distinct campaigns featuring Soviet, British, and American soldiers, each with a series of action-packed missions based on historical events. While the narrative lacks deep character development and is primarily mission-focused, it effectively immerses players in the chaos of war, with memorable set pieces and a cinematic feel, particularly in the Russian campaign. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay and historical accuracy, despite some criticism regarding repetitive mission structures and a less cohesive overarching story.

    • “The story is solid and pretty realistic for a WWII shooter that came out in 2005.”
    • “The engaging gameplay, great story, and excellent environments all culminate into an amazing experience.”
    • “The story is beautiful.”
    • “The story is nothing to write home about - you follow a soldier or two through three campaigns: Russian, British, and American.”
    • “There's not much of a linked story like most usual Call of Duty games have, but three mini stories that, although don't contain anything too interesting from a story perspective, do at least have that cinematic pull with some absolutely great set pieces, especially in the Russian campaign which is the highlight of the entire campaign.”
    • “The final mission of the game is also from the American side, though it was a pretty disappointing ending to a series of intense missions.”
  • graphics369 mentions

    The graphics of Call of Duty 2, while considered dated by modern standards, were impressive for their time and still hold up reasonably well today. Many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and improved visuals compared to its predecessor, despite some technical issues and limitations in customization. Overall, the game is recognized for its solid graphical presentation, which enhances the immersive World War II experience.

    • “The graphics are impressive for the time, but do still hold up very well today.”
    • “The graphics, while cutting edge at their time, are no longer.”
    • “The graphics hold up decently well when compared to the first call of duty and it feels more cinematic.”
    • “Although the graphics are a little outdated, this is still a fun, fast-paced game to play.”
    • “Yes, the graphics have aged like milk and the character models are abysmal nowadays, but the gameplay is what matters.”
    • “The graphics are outdated, yes, but what strikes me is how uninspiring and repetitive the environment feels.”
  • gameplay278 mentions

    The gameplay of Call of Duty 2 is widely praised for its immersive and action-packed experience, featuring improved mechanics such as regenerating health and diverse mission objectives across multiple campaigns. While some players note the repetitive nature of certain gameplay elements and the dated graphics, the overall mechanics, sound design, and AI are considered solid and engaging, making it a standout title in the franchise. Despite its age, many reviewers find the gameplay still enjoyable and recommend it for both nostalgia and its historical context.

    • “As moment-to-moment gameplay, it's 10/10.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, the sound is still immersive and excellent, the mechanics such as the smoke grenades are well implemented, the voice acting is solid, it features Captain Price before he became an absolute icon of the series, and the accidental cheesy nature of the game is incredibly comforting to me.”
    • “Call of Duty 2 truly fills every aspect of level design, offering diverse gameplay elements such as using different vehicles to take down enemy soldiers and hunting tiger tanks with our tanks.”
    • “It is perhaps because the gameplay elements were just introduced by the game designers here that the resulting game feels so much like a half-baked product in which no component fully works as intended.”
    • “The gameplay is ultimately where it all counts; however, so how is it?”
    • “The campaign, though historically significant and immersive at times, suffers from repetitive gameplay and predictable AI.”
  • music77 mentions

    The music in Call of Duty 2 is widely praised for its orchestral quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, evoking nostalgia and fitting well with the wartime setting. While some reviewers note that the soundtrack may not be as memorable as that of the first game, it still effectively complements the action and emotional moments throughout the campaign. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its cinematic feel and engaging gameplay experience.

    • “For me, it's a dose of nostalgia, but even if you didn't play this game when it first came out, it still holds strong with its war stories and soundtrack.”
    • “The music swelling to hugely triumphant and emotional moments, the soldiers cheering at their victories, proudly commenting about their triumphs, it almost feels cartoony in a way but I love it because it's unlike COD games after this which either had mildly funny moments of chemistry or were overly serious in a way that's not fun.”
    • “The soundtrack is well produced but has few tracks worth actually listening to and occasionally the tone of the song that's playing is the complete opposite tone of what the game seems to be trying to portray.”
    • “The soundtrack is well produced but has few tracks worth actually listening to, and occasionally the tone of the song that's playing is the complete opposite tone of what the game seems to be trying to portray.”
    • “The music is pretty much just effects with some reaching of target crescendo at the end of levels.”
    • “The british and american sides of the campaign seemed to have a lazier world-build to it; the further you get through the campaign, the less the music comes in and the more recycled the levels get, leading to a bland, lacking FPS dated beyond belief with no real reason to exist.”
  • atmosphere42 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and realistic portrayal of World War II, with particular highlights on the Russian and African campaigns that effectively capture the chaos and intensity of battle. Players appreciate the combination of sound design, level aesthetics, and character interactions that enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding the British and American campaign's world-building. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to evoke the historical context and emotional weight of wartime experiences, making it a standout in the genre.

    • “The atmosphere is fantastic.”
    • “Playing old CODs is like watching old war movies; they may not be as shiny as the new ones, but they have atmosphere in spades.”
    • “I recommend this game even after all the years since its release because it's a very solid shooter with historical accuracy and it re-captures the atmosphere of real war perfectly.”
    • “The British and American sides of the campaign seemed to have a lazier world-building to it; the further you get through the campaign, the less the music comes in, the more recycled the levels get, and the less you feel the atmosphere. Therefore, the more you're just playing a bland, lacking FPS dated beyond belief with no real reason to exist.”
    • “It focuses solely on conveying the soldiers' situation and the current atmosphere, lacking any detailed storytelling.”
    • “What this game lacks in graphics, it makes up for in atmosphere and audio.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance across various setups, with many players reporting no significant issues, even at maximum settings. However, some users have experienced occasional stuttering, particularly during loading or saving, which detracts from the experience. Despite these minor complaints, the game is generally regarded as well-optimized, with impressive graphics and gameplay mechanics that hold up well over time.

    • “This game is extremely well optimized and runs without any flaws on the highest settings.”
    • “The graphics are so much more detailed, the effects are great, looks advanced for its time while the performance remains great with no lags and frame rate issues.”
    • “Optimization-wise, I haven't come across any issues, and as a game that was once distributed to macOS, it is well-optimized.”
    • “Was keen to play but there seems to be a strange stuttering issue I have with it.”
    • “Ran 5 fixes to get it to work, still has stuttering I could not fix.”
    • “Good game when it was working, has really bad stuttering issues.”
  • replayability23 mentions

    The replayability of this older Call of Duty title is generally viewed as strong, particularly for its single-player campaign, which offers enjoyable challenges and the opportunity to explore different difficulty levels. While some players note the linearity of the paths and the game's age leading to occasional technical issues, many appreciate the mod community and the potential for varied gameplay experiences. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a nostalgic single-player experience rather than multiplayer, with many suggesting waiting for sales to maximize value.

    • “The fact it's so gameplay-oriented in terms of its single-player campaign really does wonders for replayability, as the first thing I wanted to do when finishing the campaign was to go back in and ramp the difficulty all the way up.”
    • “This game has unlimited replay value because every time I play it, I find new ways to do so.”
    • “I loved this classic COD2 game; the single-player is way better than COD1 and it's very replayable and interesting, very user-friendly.”
    • “Content/replayability: 2/10”
    • “At the same time there isn't much replay value here in the singleplayer.”
    • “As far as classic shooters go, COD2 offers little in the way of replayability.”
  • stability22 mentions

    The stability of the game is generally mixed, with some users reporting occasional bugs and glitches, particularly with textures and AI, while others find it runs smoothly on modern hardware. Many players appreciate the nostalgia factor and note that with some troubleshooting, the game can perform well, although some experience crashes or freezes, especially in multiplayer. Overall, while there are stability issues for some, many still enjoy a stable experience with the right settings.

    • “Put a lot of hours into this game back in the day and it still runs great on Windows 10.”
    • “This was a truly awesome game when it released and still runs great today on modern machines.”
    • “Runs great on Windows 10, 3440 by 1440 on 144Hz!”
    • “Game is trash and buggy as hell!”
    • “I have tried and the game just crashes so if you're ok with playing at a really low resolution and bad graphics with buggy talking and subtitles, play this game.”
    • “I enjoyed the original game but this game freezes my computer.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a delightful mix of lighthearted banter, comedic NPC interactions, and absurd situations that create a comforting experience, reminiscent of classic war films. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance serious themes with funny moments, such as humorous character designs and amusing multiplayer antics, making it stand out from more modern, overly serious titles. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “Was the point of this to tell the player 'war is hell, but with a funny banter in-between'?”
    • “The NPC banter is funny and gets you in the mood to shoot Nazis.”
    • “Very funny designs as well; when you shoot the enemy's helmets off, they will look around and act like, 'What the hell was that!?'”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Players express a strong sentiment that grinding in the game can be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress. While some missions offer rewarding experiences, many are criticized for their repetitive nature and frustrating design flaws that disrupt gameplay flow, leading to a sense of annoyance rather than enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, with potential for fun but often marred by excessive repetition and difficulty.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “There are some serious mission-design flaws that make some sections tediously hard.”
    • “Having to go back to a previous checkpoint after constantly dying during a hard part of the game was very tedious.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Players describe the emotional aspect of the game as a heartwarming experience that balances lighthearted moments with surprisingly poignant scenes, evoking strong feelings such as nostalgia and patriotism. The triumphant music and character interactions contribute to a comforting atmosphere, making players feel deeply connected to the story and characters, often leading to tears of joy or reflection. Overall, the game successfully blends humor and emotional depth, creating a memorable and impactful journey.

    • “My most heart-warming gaming experience.”
    • “It's nice, but I cried myself to sleep after seeing Captain Price in the game.”
    • “It truly enhanced the overall experience of the game and made me feel more connected to the characters and the story.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization model of this game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and excessive DLC, contrasting sharply with modern titles that often feature aggressive monetization strategies. Players appreciate the straightforward pricing and absence of in-game purchases, highlighting it as a return to classic gaming values. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to contemporary shooters that prioritize commercialism over gameplay.

    • “This is a proper Call of Duty game; no microtransactions, no tsunami of overpriced DLC, not dominated by a multiplayer 'community' of toxic kids, no battle royale etc. You don't get AAA FPS games like this anymore.”
    • “Extremely smooth, maps were great, weapons were balanced, no microtransactions to be found.”
    • “I'd play this over all these new shooters with microtransactions and loot boxes.”
    • “Laughably overpriced, but at least it's not jammed with microtransactions like the modern trash they're putting out now.”
    • “Modern day CODs are a little less realistic and a bit too commercial for my liking with perks and in-game purchases. This game has and always will stand the test of time.”
    • “This is a proper Call of Duty game; no microtransactions, no tsunami of overpriced DLC, not dominated by a multiplayer 'community' of toxic kids, no battle royale. You don't get AAA FPS games like this anymore.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is notably improved, effectively conveying emotional depth through its atmosphere and design, despite some graphical limitations. However, some players feel that certain characters, like Captain Price, lack personal stories, focusing instead on the overarching narrative of the war without significant individual growth. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising the emotional engagement while others criticize the absence of deeper character arcs.

    • “Much better character development.”
    • “The game also succeeds in creating the illusion of the feelings you might expect within the context the game puts you in, with the added positive that even while the presentation of the game might not be graphically up to par with a lot of contemporary games, the combination of sounds, atmosphere, enemy and ally designs, plus character development, manage to give you the feeling of the brutality the game is trying to present.”
    • “Your missions will have you following a handlebar-mustached captain called Price across many fronts, but there is no real character development or personal story; it's all about the journey towards winning the war.”
    • “There is no character development.”
    • “The game also succeeds in creating the illusion of the feelings you might expect within the context the game puts you in, but the character development is lacking.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

276hMedian play time
400hAverage play time
30-1100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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