Call of Duty: WWII
- November 1, 2017
- Sledgehammer Games
- 8h median play time
Call of Duty: WW2 is the best Call of Duty in years. Bombastic story, killer grounded multiplayer, and a dark and scary Zombies make up one of the most complete and enjoyable Call of Duty experiences in years.
Call of Duty®: WWII is a first-person shooter game that transports players to the European theater of World War II. The game offers a single-player campaign, multiplayer mode, and Nazi Zombies cooperative mode. The fourth DLC pack, Shadow War, includes three new multiplayer maps, a War Mode mission, and the final chapter of the Nazi Zombies saga. The Digital Deluxe edition comes with a season pass, bonus map, Call of Duty points, multiplayer upgrade, zombies camo, and divisions pack . Reference: FAQsteam.com. . Call of Duty®: WWII. Retrieved from
Reviews
- story3,524 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "Call of Duty: WWII" is generally praised for its emotional depth and character development, following Private Ronald "Red" Daniels and his squad through key WWII events, including D-Day and the liberation of Paris. While many players appreciate the cinematic presentation and the focus on camaraderie and sacrifice, some criticize the campaign for being too short, with only 11 missions, and for the frustrating vehicle controls, particularly during tank and plane missions. Overall, the narrative is seen as engaging but somewhat predictable, with a mix of historical accuracy and dramatic storytelling that resonates with fans of the genre.
“Players experience the brutal realities of war through Daniels’ perspective, alongside a diverse squad of characters, each contributing to the emotional depth of the story.”
“The storytelling effectively balances action-packed gameplay with quieter moments that allow for character development and reflection on the impact of war.”
“The story has depth, the characters are well developed, and the missions are well structured.”
“The story is so badly written, I feel railroaded through the levels, and it's just not an enjoyable campaign.”
“The tank mission is the worst COD mission ever.”
“The story felt forced.”
- graphics1,407 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in *Call of Duty: WWII* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and attention to detail, effectively capturing the gritty atmosphere of wartime Europe. Players have noted the impressive character models, destructible environments, and cinematic cutscenes that enhance immersion, making it one of the standout entries in the series. However, some users have reported performance issues and graphical glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The graphics engine effectively captures the gritty atmosphere of wartime Europe, with realistic character models and destructible environments that enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The graphics in *Call of Duty: WWII* are highly detailed, bringing the harsh realities of wartime Europe to life with realistic environments, from battle-scarred fields to urban ruins.”
“The graphics are amazing, and it truly feels like you're in the middle of a war.”
“The graphics are terrible, like 3 years behind the present average.”
“The graphics were surprisingly.... awful.”
“The graphics are just really weak for something created from a big franchise.”
- gameplay1,257 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Call of Duty: WWII" is characterized by a return to classic, fast-paced, boots-on-the-ground mechanics, offering a mix of infantry combat, vehicle operations, and aerial engagements. While many players appreciate the engaging single-player campaign and the introduction of new mechanics like squad support and health packs, criticisms arise regarding the linearity of missions, vehicle controls, and the prevalence of quick-time events that disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, the game delivers a nostalgic yet polished experience, though some players find it lacking in innovation and depth compared to earlier titles in the franchise.
“Call of Duty: WWII retains the fast-paced, fluid gameplay the series is known for, while introducing some new mechanics that enhance the experience.”
“The game features a mix of infantry combat, vehicle operations, and aerial engagements, providing a diverse gameplay experience.”
“The multiplayer modes include traditional favorites like team deathmatch and domination, as well as new additions such as war mode, which introduces objective-based gameplay set in iconic battles of the war.”
“Linear gameplay, horrible dialogues and characters, all this 'overacting' - like a kid was a director and a scriptwriter, just makes this game pointless.”
“I hate the QTEs, the game mechanics leave a lot to be desired, and the enemies are scripted badly.”
“The gameplay is shockingly bad; I think I can see what the developers were going for - pushing an emotional storyline above gameplay, but they went too far.”
- optimization376 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on high settings or with certain hardware configurations. While some users report smooth gameplay and good performance on mid to high-end systems, others highlight that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frustration and a need for configuration tweaks to achieve stable performance. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, it suffers from optimization problems that detract from the experience.
“The game is optimized well, and the multiplayer and zombies mode are both very fun and enjoyable, there are a few bugs here and there, but I haven't noticed anything game-breaking.”
“From a performance standpoint, the game is very well optimized and offers numerous options so that you can tweak it to what your system can handle.”
“Well optimized, can run on almost max on a smooth 60fps+.”
“Not at all optimized, limited arsenal, and a short 4-5 hour campaign.”
“Performance issues and stutter problems everywhere, and it's not the fault of my PC.”
“The optimization is god awful and I'm well above the recommended specs.”
- stability227 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as freezing, lagging, and crashing. Many users experienced significant frustration due to these problems, particularly in multiplayer and campaign modes, leading to a consensus that the game requires substantial patches and optimizations to improve its overall stability. While some players noted that they encountered fewer issues, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game is currently plagued by instability, making it difficult to enjoy fully.
“The game looks outstanding and runs great on my older system (AMD 8350, R9 280X, 16GB RAM, SSD).”
“Best Call of Duty game since Black Ops 2; no performance issues at all, the game runs great.”
“No stuttering, no glitches; ran pretty much spot on.”
“This game has too many bugs and glitches; please fix.”
“Game freezes during cut scenes and runs slow just playing the campaign.”
“The game would be awesome if it was not so buggy.”
- emotional138 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Call of Duty: WWII" is highlighted by its powerful storytelling and character development, which resonate deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings and even tears. The campaign effectively portrays the brutal realities of war through the eyes of relatable characters, creating a sense of camaraderie and emotional investment that many players found unexpectedly impactful. While some critiques mention clichés and pacing issues, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers an authentic and heartfelt experience that honors the sacrifices of soldiers during World War II.
“Players experience the brutal realities of war through Daniels’ perspective, alongside a diverse squad of characters, each contributing to the emotional depth of the story.”
“The campaign's emotional storytelling and the intense multiplayer battles make it a worthy addition to the Call of Duty franchise.”
“The emotional weight of war is palpable as you witness the camaraderie and struggles of the soldiers.”
“Boring story line which goes on far too long in the cut scenes and just does not engage you into the game.”
“Single player = non-historical boring story.”
“Campaign: 2/5, boring story.”
- music138 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its orchestral quality and ability to enhance immersion, while others criticize it as repetitive, generic, and overly loud, often detracting from the gameplay experience. A common complaint is the lack of an option to turn off or adjust the music volume, which many players feel is essential for a more enjoyable experience. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it seems to polarize players, with some finding it a highlight and others deeming it a significant drawback.
“The audio design plays a crucial role in creating an authentic experience, with a powerful soundtrack that complements the action.”
“I really, really enjoyed the soundtrack and how it added to this cinematic game.”
“The soundtrack is excellent, adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
“The hugely annoying music should have a command in audio settings to switch it off.”
“The music is uninspiring and garbage.”
“Most annoying thing ever is that for some completely idiotic reason, in-game music can only be turned off in coop, but not single player campaign, and the music is loud... not to mention kind of sucks.”
- grinding92 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 59 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized, with many players expressing that it requires an excessive time commitment, often likening it to needing "a second life" to manage the repetitive tasks. While some find the daily challenges and supply drop systems provide a bit of incentive, the overall sentiment is that the grinding can be tedious and frustrating, particularly in single-player modes and certain missions. Despite some enjoyable elements, the grinding experience is often described as a significant drawback that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“However, obtaining a random weapon variant is not that tedious and challenges are easy enough to get at least one variant a day.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Single-player is tedious at best and frustrating at worst.”
“Going through them, COD WW2 has easily been the hardest to push through because it's just so boring and tedious.”
“The story just feels like grinding for more cinematics.”
- monetization90 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the prevalence of microtransactions and loot boxes that impact gameplay balance. While some argue that these transactions are primarily cosmetic, others feel they detract from the overall experience and emphasize a profit-driven model over quality game design. Overall, the sentiment reflects frustration over the integration of monetization strategies in a full-priced title, leading to a perception of exploitation rather than value.
“The cool thing is also that the in-game purchases are absolutely optional, and you can buy only crates which you can easily drop from matches, promotions, daily challenges, etc.”
“That said, microtransactions thus far are cosmetic only drops and can be obtained in-game as well fairly easily by playing.”
“This game does not promote microtransactions for gameplay, but much like CS:GO, promotes it for the aesthetic value of the skins/uniforms.”
“One notable drawback is the inclusion of microtransactions and loot boxes, which can affect the balance of the multiplayer experience.”
“Over half of the content is blocked away by an unreasonably expensive season pass and the game is filled to the brim with microtransactions.”
“This is just another game in the cycle of Activision development: rush a game for release date, don't fix bugs, then add in day-1 DLC for maps that should have been in the game at launch for an extra $50+, then add microtransactions and abandon the game until the next title.”
- atmosphere73 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its gritty and immersive portrayal of World War II, enhanced by realistic graphics, sound effects, and attention to historical detail. Players feel a strong sense of tension and authenticity, particularly in the campaign and Nazi Zombies mode, which effectively evoke the horrors of war. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in atmosphere and gameplay, suggesting that while the visuals and sound design are impressive, certain elements detract from the overall immersion.
“The graphics engine effectively captures the gritty atmosphere of wartime Europe, with realistic character models and destructible environments that enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The sound effects of gunfire, explosions, and the ambient noises of battle contribute to the overall atmosphere, making players feel as if they are truly in the midst of the conflict.”
“The atmosphere was incredible, the graphics are top-notch and the story was actually believable.”
“The darkest shore appears to lack good training spots, has a boss roaming it to make your life hell whenever it damn well pleases, and just overall has a very dry and depressing atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere they went for is there, but getting 'jumpscared' every 20 seconds destroys any fear-factor that was or could have been there.”
“While I was glad to return to the era that had launched the series originally, I was sorely disappointed by the dramatic drop in atmosphere and immersion.”
- humor64 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy and entertaining moments, with players finding amusement in glitches, absurd gameplay mechanics, and exaggerated character interactions. While some appreciate the lightheartedness and wacky elements, others criticize the lack of depth in character development and plot, leading to a subjective experience where enjoyment can vary widely. Overall, the humor is often seen as a redeeming quality amidst technical flaws and gameplay frustrations.
“The gameplay is really immersive and all the missions are funny to play, and the weapons and shooting feel really good.”
“Incredible, funny, and enjoyable inaccuracies when it comes to weapons and battle suits.”
“The fans understand this stuff; they have the intellectual capacity to truly appreciate the depths of these jokes, to realize that they’re not just funny - they say something deep about life.”
“The guns are so unbalanced it's not funny.”
“Furthermore, the game is not funny.”
“There are far too many mistakes made in this game; it's just not funny anymore.”
- replayability42 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many reviewers noting that the campaign lacks significant replay value due to its short length and unskippable cutscenes. However, the multiplayer mode and ongoing updates provide a more engaging experience, offering higher replayability for players who enjoy competitive gameplay. Collectibles and progression systems add some depth, but the campaign's shortcomings limit its long-term appeal.
“However, the robust multiplayer options and ongoing support through updates and seasonal content provide ample opportunities for replayability.”
“The progression system that ensures replayability is also a surprise with how well different class options tend to function and affect the gameplay.”
“Overall: the multiplayer provides high replayability.”
“I quite enjoyed the campaign, although it felt a little short-lived; it has little replay value.”
“The campaign feels half-assed and is easily beaten in under 2-3 hours of gameplay with no real replay value unless you like the cutscenes.”
“There is hardly any replay value to the campaign.”
- character development29 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and emotional impact, allowing players to form attachments to the characters. While some critiques mention a loose overarching plot and occasional lack of detail, the overall consensus is that the character arcs are compelling and enhance the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the balance between action and reflective moments that contribute to meaningful character growth throughout the campaign.
“The storytelling effectively balances action-packed gameplay with quieter moments that allow for character development and reflection on the impact of war.”
“I legit care about all of the characters, and the character development is just amazing throughout.”
“This one has great character development, and creates an emotional attachment to the characters you (mostly) work alongside.”
“One thing that I miss is better character development.”
“Lacks attention to detail in character development and an original storyline, plus you have to endure identity politics and political correctness.”
“However, character development is lacking and I only felt attached to one of my squadmates; all the others I could barely remember their names.”
Critic Reviews
Call of Duty: WWII
Rallying The Shooter On Multiple Fronts
88%Call of Duty: WWII PC Review - Probably One of the Best Call of Duty Games
I can’t help feel (that word again) that Call of Duty: WWII is a definite improvement in the series, and I can only hope that they will choose to remain in this time period. Now that Sledgehammer Games proved they are up to the task, it’s very likely they will continue with some great releases. The community was not expecting this kind of quality from the franchise, especially after the declining trend of the previous titles, but it’s definitely a nice surprise and worth checking out, especially if you’re a PC gamer.
90%Call of Duty: WWII Review
Call of Duty: WWII delivers on everything it’s expected to.
80%