I remember hearing really good things about the first Call of Duty game but as it was on the PC, I didn't pick it up. I don't play many FPS games on the computer and so COD passed me by. Immediately before the launch of XBOX360 I got to play the demo for Call of Duty 2 and I thought "I must have it!" Even though the process of getting the system was taxing, this game managed to make up for it.

Graphics: 9 / 10
Admitedly, I don't look to harshly at graphics unless there is something glaringly obvious and distracting about them, so oftentimes I am surprised when I read a review that talks about how some game has horrible graphics when I think they're okay... and I even work with 3D Modeling in Maya! This game, however; I can say with confidence has beautiful graphics! You can literally be lost in a level and not really care so much if you haven't seen it before. The human models look realistic and I had no trouble believing in the world. The enviornments make you feel as if you are in war torn country-side and do a wonderful job of shifting from tranquil waters or vivid green plains to battered cityscapes.

Sound: 10 / 10
Sound actually makes a big impression on my gameplaying. I get irritated when I'm playing and there is some annoying noise or a really badly voiced character. I'm happy to say that I never ran across that in this game. In fact the in game sounds are some of the best I've ever heard. From bullets whizzing by your head and breaking through dilapidated metal pipes to far off explosions the sounds are realistic and crystal clear. The voice acting is also good... and while maybe not the bestest ever... the quality is really well done and no voices stick out as cheesy.

Controls: 9.5 / 10
Controls seem to be hit and miss in the world of video games. Especially with FPS games, controls can make or break a game. In this they largely seem very natural and intuitive. With the right trigger firing your weapon and the left for grenades and for the most part controls that are easy to understand and get used to. My only real problem with the controls... and it's just a matter of getting used to, is that to perform a melee attack you press down on the right analog stick. I have mostly gotten used to this but when you're starting out and some guy starts hitting you, it is really difficult to hit back without turning away from your enemy and becoming disoriented. But, as I said, it's a small thing that you get used to.


Gameplay: 9 / 10
In the single player campaign things are pretty straitforward and you are usually given a couple objectives to take care of before you get even more objectives. Sometimes it doesn't matter the order in which you complete your tasks but other times you won't be able to progress until you've completed a certain objective. This is a good thing as it adds more structure to the game while still offering enough freedom to not feel completely confined in a small space which ultimately helps make it feel like it isn't just another game.
The AI is great and the people on your side actually seem like they're doing more than just standing around looking pretty. The enemy AI is ruthless, even on the easier modes and always takes some skill to blow your way through but they never seem so difficult that I just felt like giving up completely. In fact I often laugh when an enemy becomes enraged and charges at me with the butt of his weapon... you actually come to believe that these are real emotions.
For the most part the game is smooth and enjoyable and seems to offer a satisfying experience. The main trouble I have is that more than once I'll be firing on the enemy and I won't notice that one of them is my ally! The cross-hairs will go green or red if you are targeting an ally or enemy respectively, but sometimes you don't realize it until it is to late. At that point you will often times get a screen about how firing on your own side is not tolerated and you will have to restart from your last check point. Although on the positive side, there aren't huge menus that muck up the screen... so it's a bit of a catch twenty two. Instead of the big menus, you just get a little bullet indicator to tell you how man bullets you have and what type of gun you are using... when you get hit no real life meter goes down but your sceen begins to get red around the edges and if you're very close to death a message will pop up to notify you to get to cover. There are also grenade indicators which will inform you of nearby grenades so you can get away.

In the multiplayer mode, you are treated with pretty much the standard types of games common in most FPS multiplayer modes. From what I've played, the multiplayer does a good job of running as smooth as the actual game but I haven't played over Xbox Live. I think you can't have all that many players over Live as one might think which is strange because the levels are enormous! Playing locally with four players might even be considered pretty boring as you often find yourself spending more time looking for someone to shoot than actually shooting. Though I imagine that it is really more fun with larger groups.

Replay value, longevity: 8 / 10

When I'm playing the game I am almost attatched to the control and don't want to put it away. Right now, I want to play but I know that if I do then I'll be spending more time playing and not doing things that I should be doing. I'd have to say that there are a few new things to discover, some alternate ways a mission might be done, and different difficulty settings to use... and then the achievements you can unlock on your gamercard, but aside from that.... other than wanting to kill some more digital Nazis there's not a whole lot to make you come back and play the game. Don't get me wrong though... killing Nazis is oddly satisfying and I daresay, one might be tempted to just pop in the game every now and then to bring on the mayhem. But once you've gone through the game... that's it... there's no real alternate paths to take or new things to discover but don't let that stop you from checking out this awesome game.
Also, if you're into multiplayer gaming, this does have one of the better ones I've played... so it's definately a must!