Geek Magazine - Free Access Issue - 47

Call of Duty
WWII
by Matt Cabral

ACTIVISION'S FIRST-PERSON
SHOOTER RETURNS FANS
TO THE FOXHOLES
OF WORLD WAR II
FOLLOWING YEARS OF
games focused on modern,
futuristic and even science
fiction-flavored warfare,
Activision's flagship firstperson fragger finally returns
to the front lines of the
second world war. Aptly
sub-titled WWII, the shooter
revisits an era not depicted
in a Call of Duty entry since
2008's World at War.
While developer
Sledgehammer Games is
taking the series back to its
boots-on-the-ground roots,
even revisiting iconic conflicts
of the European theater, it's
promising a fresh, redefined
take on the familiar material.
Much like last year's
Battlefield 1, Call of Duty's
next tour crafts an experience
that wouldn't look - or
sound - out of place in a
classic theater. All the series'
hallmarks - from its epic
scale and cinematic action to
set pieces that could make
James Cameron blush - will
be accounted for and cranked
up to 11.
Trading the typical supersoldier story for a more
relatable, personal tale,
WWII's campaign sees players
assuming the role of private
Ronald "Red" Daniels. The
single-player path will include
all the expected adrenalinepumping action, but
Sledgehammer's also striving
to elevate the run-and-gun

experience with a renewed
focus on historical accuracy,
gritty authenticity, and the
heroism of Daniels and his
squad-mates.
In addition, players will
interact with members of
Daniels' U.S. 1st Infantry
Division, as well as what the

BASICS
DEVELOPER:
Sledgehammer Games
PUBLISHER:
Activision
PLATFORMS:
Xbox One, PS4, PC
RELEASE:
11.03.2017

developer is calling a "global
and diverse cast" of Allied
characters from the U.K.
and French Resistance. On
top of revisiting the D-Day
Invasion of Normandy, fans
will lock-and-load for other
famed encounters, such as
the liberation of Paris and the
Battle of the Bulge.
Of course, players who
prefer obscenely over-the-top
action to textbook realism
will want to stick with WWII's
Nazi Zombie mode. While
deep-diving details are more
scarce than supplies during
the undead apocalypse,
we know players will be
slaughtering the brain-craving
SS alongside friends. The
dedicated cooperative mode
will also feature a standalone
story, entirely separate from
the single-player campaign
and multiplayer content.
Players also can interact
with friends - away from the
front lines - in a new social
space dubbed "Headquarters,"
while dedicated Divisions,

such as Infantry and Armored,
will put a fresh WWII-inspired
spin on progressing their
careers.
If you're among the firstperson-shooter fans who have
been disappointed in Call of
Duty's gradual transition from
the foxholes of World War II to
the far reaches of space, this
entry should be just what the
field medic ordered when it
lands at Walmart Nov. 3.

CALL OF DUTY
SETS SIGHTS
ON THE
SILVER SCREEN
Not content with conquering game
consoles every holiday season, Call
of Duty's also aiming to dominate the
big screen with a film franchise modeled after Marvel's cinematic universe. According to Activision Blizzard
Studios, Call of Duty-based films
wouldn't be mindless action flicks or
lame video-game adaptations, but
character-driven stories supported by
smart writing and skilled direction.
The studio, which claims to already
have several years' of films plotted
out, says the first installment could
hit as early as next year. If all goes
well at the box office, the series
could also spawn a television show.
Additional details are guarded tighter
than spec-ops intel, but fans should
probably plan on trading their gamepads for popcorn buckets before
hitting the front lines.

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