Call of Duty 2: Big Red One

Inspired by EA's Medal of Honor series, Call of Duty paid close attention to what EA had done to make the game a success. They noted MoH's attention to gameplay details, the intense sound effects, and its unique graphic style that gave the game a gritty appearance. Activision separated the PC from other platforms by giving it an exclusive version (also done by MoH), while the consoles had to share an adaptation designed specifically for them. For the first Call of Duty, they even used the same composer, Michael Giacchino, who turned games like Frontline into heart-wrenching, unforgettable classics.

Things haven't changed much since that time. Activision has once again split the Call of Duty series in half by making the main sequel for PC and the other for Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2. The console version, Big Red One, is an action-packed shooter created for gamers who don't want to worry about conundrums and other first-person nonsense. This game is all about one thing and one thing only: killing the enemy. It does it with flying colors and – watch your head! – bullets that fly everywhere.

Big Red One's primary missions are deadly on-foot infiltrations where you must either clear out or take control of an area. It might be an enemy base you're trying to get inside of, or a town that's nearly demolished that you're dying to protect. Every part of the world needs protecting. Everywhere you turn there could be danger. There's no safety zone, no freedom from the battlefield, nor is there time to take a break. Except during the load screens and pre-mission movie sequences (all in real-time). Since loading is inevitable and the movies can't be skipped, you'll get your minute to breathe.

Once the battle begins there's no telling what'll happen next. Planes from either side will crash right in front of you. Tanks combust as if they were laced with explosive hooked up to a timer. Your comrades will fall as they make foolish mistakes that can't be reversed, not by you or anyone else.

A team of soldiers fight with you during most of the battles – they'll protect you and you can protect them. There are also those who are marked for death, dying as you approach them or as a specific task has been completed. This doesn't happen to inflict guilt - the game uses your approach as a trigger for real-time events that occur during gameplay. It's like watching a movie unfold while you engage the mission, making the war seem so much more real.

Vehicle control is generally left up to the computer, moving you along a pre-determined path. The weapons, on the other hand, are entirely up to the player. Cannons, bombs, gun turrets – Big Red One's got everything covered. There are a few times when all you're asked to do is scope out and mark the points for your comrades (who are controlling bigger, more powerful planes or vehicles) to attack.

For the most part the player is the one doing the attacking. Due to the invisible time limit, enemy planes must be taken out before they have the chance to attack whatever it is you're trying to protect. Warships can't be left to sail the high seas if the result means few of your men will make it home. These are things you have to think about every time you miss your target. Because in war it's either the good guys or the bad guys who get to go home.

Weaponry isn't usually something worth writing home about, but Big Red One's arsenal is too good not to mention. Fire at will with a Thompson, an MP44, a Bazooka, and one of the classics, the M1 Garand, among several others.

Each weapon fires differently and feels different in your hands. The Dual-Shock 2's dual motors are maxed out with the most intricate force-feedback since Metal Gear Solid. Big weapons have a heavy, thumping rumble, while the smaller weapons pack a quick punch. A steady stream of vibrations gives machineguns that much-needed kick. It's truly incredible. Just when it seemed the whole world had moved on from the force-feedback hype, a game comes along that makes it an important, gameplay-enhancing element.

Big Red One has its quirks, like dead guns (guns that are visible but can't be picked up) and checkpoints that are way too far apart. These negligible when lined up against the massive, immersive battles that shake the screen and leave soldiers with a lifetime of nightmares. The straightforward missions and elimination of unnecessary side goals are just what the game needed to be inviting to all players. Don't expect the depth or replay value of Halo. Do expect the most breathtaking war experience you've ever had on a console.

Gameplay: 8.5
Intense and straightforward, easy-to-get-into action with few hiccups to hold you up. Players will be blown away by the explosions and massive artillery. The majority of the levels include ground missions that must be completed on foot, but several of them place you in the center of the action as the guy commanding tank, ship and warplane weaponry.

Graphics: 8.0
Duty calls and polygons answer. While nowhere near the visual spectacle of the PC and Xbox 360 versions, Big Red One is a mighty impressive game with plenty of real-time surprises. Players will be stunned by the horrific attacks that occur right in front of them. And not just during the non-interactive sequences either. The most spellbinding events are those that take place during battle.

Sound: 9.0
Jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping effects that sound like they were taken directly from the battlefield. The aspect of seeing a plane come crashing into a building a mere 10 or 20 feet in front of you is shocking. Hearing it happen – hearing the plane as it cuts through the wind and plunges to its death, guns blazing, explosions blaring – makes it twice as horrifying. No question, these are some of the best, most realistic sound effects achieved on a home console.

Difficulty: Medium
About as challenging as the average WWII first-person shooter, Big Red One has a multitude of moderately easy to moderately challenging missions that require quick shooting and quick thinking.

Concept: 7.5
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is neither unique nor innovative, nor will it have the same effect Medal of Honor: Frontline had on gamers in 2002. It is, however, an extremely polished expansion of the war games console players are used to, advancing the genre slightly with a greater number of intense moments and unexpected, interactive surprises.

Multiplayer: 8.3
One of the more expansive multiplayer titles available for the PS2, Big Red One goes online in a big way. Two to 16 players are allowed to visit an environment at the same time; anymore and the polygon janitor would never be able to get out the stain.

Overall: 8.5
Big Red One isn’t quite “the one” we’ve been waiting for, but it’s a polished and extremely exciting shooter that won’t have anyone reaching for a pillow. The vehicular missions are some of the most daring, cramming the player into a tiny space with nowhere to run. Either you hit your target or you fail. On foot you have more options, but your weapons are weaker and there may not be anywhere to hide. Scenarios like these keep player interest high and never leave us with a sense of anything but exhilaration.