#6 Call of Duty 3
The Single Player: This was by far the worst game in the series. Like..downright terrible. Of course, I had it for the Wii so I had double the frustration of other gamers. It's hard to kick some Nazi ass when the controls are so sensitive on the nun-chuck that you ended up putting more rounds into the ceiling than in your enemy. I have played it on both the xbox and the wii however, but both times I thought it sucked. The xbox's graphics were significantly better than the wii's (obviously), but that didn't save the game from being downright annoying all the same. Even after beating the game, you couldn't skip those annoying cut-scenes which seemed to take forever and were corny as shit.
Wow. That was so inspiring and emotional it brought tears to my eyes.
Not.
1.5 out of 5 on the singleplayer.
The Multiplayer: The only highlight I could possibly find from this game was playing online with my friends on the xbox. Multiplayer was much like the PC's Battlefield series in the aspect of playing with classes (ie. Medic, Sniper, etc), and vehicles came into play. Ultimately it stacks up a whole lot better than singleplayer, but I wouldn't give it higher than a 3 out of 5.
Overall Rating: It shouldn't have been made.
#5 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Smoot how could you possibly tell me this game comes in at #5? This game was the best game in the whole wide world---if it was legal to marry inanimate objects I would marry this game......Blah blah blah blah blah. Alright, this game was overrated. There, I said it. Was it fun? For a while, yeah. But it got boring wayyy to quickly, unlike it's two mega-hit predecessors COD4 and COD5:WoW.
The Single Player: First off, the single player campaign-It wasn't fulfilling in the least. While it did boast some new technology (like the heartbeat sensor) it just didn't have that same edgy feel to the original Modern Warfare. Oh and might I mention that it would have been much more realistic for the Russians to invade America's West Coast?....soo they wouldnt have to go through Europe's armies first? I digress on the realism though. The campaign was too short, and too easy. Even on veteran I felt like it was too simple to pluck off hapless enemies, and unlike the first Modern Warfare, I didn't feel like I was doing a whole lot of damage. The controversial terrorist level seemed out of place, and still didn't add any edge to the game. 2 out of 5.
The Multiplayer: It was good...but again, it just got boring way too fast. Besides a new plethora of attachments (you have to love how every gun has a full rail interface, including the AK) it didn't offer much of a dynamic change between weapons in COD4. They all looked, and sounded the same..and again..that element of damage felt like it was missing....that n00b camper jackass who killed you 10 times? Running up from behind and unloading a clip on his back was not as enjoyable as COD: WoW. 3 out of 5.
Bonuses: Spec Ops. Again, this was fun....for a while. Then it got real old, real fast. Plus, it was an extra that they felt had to be thrown in because of World at War's Zombie mode, and it didn't offer any new substance that you couldn't already find in the game. 2.5 out of 5.
Overall Rating: Stop being a p.o.g. whiskey-tango bunny hopping camper and continue to defend this game---it wasn't that good.
#4 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
I had a difficult time deciding which one was better: COD4 or COD:WoW. Ultimately, you can really switch either one into the number 4 slot depending on your preference, they're both great games which revolutionized the franchise in their own rights.
The Single Player: I definitely think COD4 is much better than COD:MW2 however. With the COD franchise, I prefer to beat the single player before I move on to multiplayer, and the single player is awesome in this game. The sniper mission in Chernobyl....Charlie don't surf....raining down death from an AC-130? (cliche examples I know, but nonetheless they were awesome). COD4 of course deserves the full recognition of bringing the series to a modern time period, unfortunately though I think that was dampened by Modern Warfare 2. COD4 has the grit of a modern day shooter. It's set up in the depressing landscape of Eastern Europe as well as the scorching and brightly lit Middle East. MW2 was just too...ehhh..I dont know, based on primary colors? Of course it's a nice peachy day when Russia invades the 'burbs. They could have done a lot more to set a serious tone in MW2. Digressing from my rant on MW2, I'd give COD4 singleplayer a 4 out of 5.
Ted Burton must have loved the dreary atmosphere in COD4
vs.
MW2: What a lovely day to go frolic in the meadows!
The Multiplayer: Anyway---Multiplayer was of course a hit...so long ppsh, hellooo P90!!! Fortunately spray and pray gameplay was not as successful as it was in Call of Duty 2 multiplayer, and instead the new massive collection of assault rifles became the hand of death on multiplayer. The ability to make your own classes, and gain ranks originated with this game. The concept of "perks" also came into play---depending on your perks you could reload faster, sprint longer, etc. Focusing on a specific gun allowed you to gain more experience with it, and thus unlock new attachments-like suppressors and scopes. Multiplayer focused on a lot of CQB and medium-range maps, with a couple of larger maps. For the new modern atmosphere and weaponery, I'm definitely giving COD4 multiplayer a 5 out of 5.
Bonuses: No multiplayer bonuses other than new game modes like sabotage and headquarters. An Arcade mode was added as a bonus after you beat the single player campaign. Gathering intel ended up unlocking in-game cheats like slow-motion "bullet-time" and not having to reload.
Overall Rating: Excellent game, onlyyy barely edged out of the #3 spot.
#3 Call of Duty: World of War
Grit. Ultra-Gore. Nazi Zombies!
The Single Player: Although COD:Wow hearkened back to COD's WWII roots, it added a whole new outlook with brutal realism. COD: Wow, in my personal view, beats out the #6-4 spots on single player. The in-game Pacific theater is as brutal and nasty as all the stories you hear from your grandfather, with spider-holes and camouflaged enemies that hide in the tall grasses of Okinawa before bayoneting you in the back. The solution of course is the veryyyyy fun flamethrower. The Russian invasion of Berlin is also highlighted in the game, and you'll end up carving through more Nazis than an Inglorious Basterd. Truly fun, single player gets a 5 out of 5 in my book.
The Multiplayer: COD:WoW didn't add anything spectacular on top of COD4's multiplayer, other than extremely unforgiving and unfair kill streaks (Dogs anyone?). They also attempted to add attachments that weren't appropriate for the time period and seemed out of place...aka Treyarch didnt have to feel the need to try and add a red dot sight (named the aperture sight) as an option...it just looks silly and we all know they were trying to compete with Infinity Ward's COD4. Taking out somebody's legs with an artillery strike sure was fun though. Multiplayer gets a 4 out 5.
Bonuses: Now I know what your saying...okay..so how does COD: WoW beat out COD4? Two Words: Nazi Zombies. This was by far the most original new bonus added to the Call of Duty series, and it instantly became incredibly popular.
Overall Rating: Brutal realism, limb removing explosions and Nazi Zombies FTW!
#2 Call of Duty 2
This is the game that really pushed Call of Duty into the mainstream, and while it doesn't have all the perks that the new games have, its earned the #2 spot in my book.
The Singleplayer: Out-standing. By far my favorite level was the D-Day landing. There's so much chaos you have to deal with while trying to complete your mission...and surviving it. The graphics engine was great--when it came out--and the levels were pretty realistic. I'm not sure why, but COD2 stands out in my head as better than all of the COD games that focused on WWII put-together that came after it, despite not having some of the benefits of its future cousins. Ultimately a 5 out of 5.
The Multiplayer: Oooh boy....time to choose a side for team deathmatch..shit! I didn't get the Russians! COD 2 had, in my opinion, the best multiplayer maps out of the entire series. The only downside was the incredibly stacked weapon selection. Depending on what side you were on, you either had a good day, or a very bad one. For instance, if you got auto-assigned into the Germans on the Leningrad map? You were pretty much fucked. The Russian team would almost exclusively choose the ppsh submachine gun, which sported a 71 round clip and a ridiculous fire-rate. In German vs. American matches, you were most likely better off with the Germans---those crafty bastards had the one-shot-one-kill Kar98k bolt-action---the only American one shot wonder was the Springfield 1903, which had a non-variable zoom sniper scope...so basically you were screwed for CQB. Other than that, lots of great memories from COD2 multiplayer, I also had it on the PC, so playing on modded maps were an added bonus. 4 out of 5.
#1 Call of Duty Black Ops
I'm not giving this #1 because it's the newest in the series. Black Ops is getting my top spot because the developers of the game went all out, and produced an awesome product.
The Singleplayer: Dude. Killer storyline. I'm obviously not going to spill all the beans here for those of who haven't yet played it, but it is an awesome game. The story is really rich and fighting in Vietnam/doing black ops in Russia doesn't hurt much either. My one bone to pick with the singleplayer is I don't like how many in-game player controlled cut-scenes there are...it seems like there's a lot more talking than there is shooting...but this could just be me. 4 out of 5.
The Multiplayer: This is where everything changes. Treyarch are geniuses for Black Ops multiplayer. They went totally balls to the wall with content. THANK YOU for finally adding the option of playing online splitscreen with one friend at your house. Thank you as well for the added bonuses of wager matches, combat training and the theater ability. It's nice that you dont have to constantly use one weapon in order to gain attachments just for that one specific weapon on multiplayer. Treyarch designed a way in which you'd simply level up regularly, but also gain an in-game currency which allowed you to buy attachments and camouflage. No other Call of Duty game allows you to customize your classes as much as Black Ops. You can buy certain face-paints for your classes, customize how your scopes look by changing reticle colors, designs, and scope colors. You can also add camouflage to your weapons like MW2....but without all the BS of having to use that gun for 40 matches in a row, just level up, unlock the camo for ALL of your guns, and if you have the cash-go ahead and buy it----And if you gain enough money, you can even gamble it. Wager matches allow you to gamble your hard, but easily, earned in-game money on 4 different "wager match" modes. The video above highlights them all. This fun and easy new interface really boosts Treyarch's role in the franchise, and I give it an absolute 5 out of 5.
Bonuses: Of course, Nazi Zombies makes a comeback, and it's instantly classic once again as you can play as JFK, Castro, Nixon or Defense Secretary McNamara in one of the levels. Zombies is significantly a lot harder in Black Ops right off the bat, and it's a little bit harsh on the learning curve for gamers more used to the laid back Zombies in COD: WoW.
There's also a pretty cool Easter Egg in the....main menu? Yup...you can get out of the chair you're restrained to (if you haven't played the game...Google it if you're totally lost) and hack into a computer sitting behind you. You can read other in-game characters Pentagon Emails (if you know their user name/password) and it offers an interesting background to the game (even more considerably if you've beaten it). 5 out of 5 for bonus content.
Overall Rating: Beats out MW2....'nuff said.
