Call of Duty 2 (Xbox 360)

In a way it is very similar to the original game. In other ways it is the most impressive game on the 360. The soldiers all feel and move like real people, and the AI is faultless. Shoot at someone, and miss, and they will hide, and will check if you are still aiming at you before coming into the open again.

Graphics wise, everything looks crystal clear. The blades of grass sway, the trees shed splinters when you shoot them and walls turn to rubble under fire. It is a total immersion in WWII.

Like the previous game the missions are set up into three campaings, each unique. The first is the Russian campaign - an excellent introduction to the game that gently eases you in - with it's claustrophobic settings, and snow white towns. Here there is a lot of sniping sections, and my only bugbear of the game is that when in sniping mode, the gun sways quite dramatically, and it's very hard to pinpoint your target.

The British campaing is next, and involves tanks. However, while tanks were the downside of the original, here they are easier to control. Very smooth driving, with ultra manic battlefields, there is an awful lot to do. I love having to empty a house of all targets before moving on, as you creep inside you won't know where your enemy is and gives the game a very personal feel.

Lastly we have the American campaign, set in France, and involves the D-Day landings. Although the landings have been done numerous times, it's nothing new, but the American section also includes the attacks on hill 400 - the most epic part of teh game. From the very start of that level, to the penultimate end, you will be under heavy fire, barricades, enemy attacks, snipering, tanks, trenches - it feels like the creators decided to really let rip with this finale, and bang everything together to make a truly real experience.

Even the on rails, vehicle sections are not limited, requiring you to jump on and off vehicles to clear the way ahead, or blow up a blockade. Getting behind a machine gun or cannon is also effective as you can feel the power of it as its rips the oncoming enemy to shreds. Some blockade sections are impressive, where you have to defend a standpoint until back up arrives. Although this is used probably one time too many, watching the clock tick down, and the tension rise up as you swathe your way through waves of enemy soldiers is particularly exciting.

With it's smooth physics, interesting gameplay, and can't put it down nature, Call of Duty 2 was a pleasure to play. I never felt so immersed into the second world war. Genuine emotional characters and storylines feed a game that is fresh and exciting. At times relentless (the blurring effects and slow down when you get struck by a near miss from a grenade or mortar are superb), and at times heart wrenchingly patriotic, it's incredible to believe that this is based on real events.

Move out soldier...

GOOD POINTS:-
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+ Brilliant graphics and presentation (easily as good as a high spec PC)
+ You get the feel of war
+ Difficulty curve is good
+ Good soundtrack and sound effects

BAD POINTS:-
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- A bit repeatitive in places
- Online mode could be vastly improved
- Bits begged, borrowed and blatantly stolen from just about every other war game and war film ever!

OVERALL:- Despite the online mode nearly ruining it, this is still a fantastic game. Really, really is a must buy and if unsure, then rent it. Simple.