Summary
- Release Year: 2005
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Developers: Gray Matter Interactive, Treyarch
- Publishers: Activision, Konami
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch and published by Activision. It was released on November 1, 2005, for Microsoft Windows, Xbox, and PlayStation 2. The game is a part of the Call of Duty series and is a sequel to Call of Duty.
Gameplay
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is a first-person shooter that has a single-player story mode and a multiplayer mode. The player takes on the role of a soldier protagonist in specific missions during World War II from the perspective of the American 1st Infantry Division.
The player can crouch and lie prone, and is able to scale low walls and other obstacles. Two firearms can be carried, which can be swapped with those left on the battlefield, and both fragmentation and smoke grenades can also be carried. A gun’s iron sights can be used to aim more accurately. A compass on the heads-up display (HUD) shows both allies and enemies, and objective markers to indicate locations the player must reach, areas to defend, or enemy cannons or tanks that the player must plant explosives on to disable.
Emplaced weapons such as machine guns and flak cannons are available in some locations to take out enemy forces. In addition, some missions place the player in control of a tank. It is also important for scouting, though most of the game takes place in personal, close combat situations reducing the importance of this tactic.
Plot
The single-player campaign of Call of Duty 2: Big Red One follows the American 1st Infantry Division through various battles of World War II, including the Battle of Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Battle of Remagen. The player takes on the role of several different soldiers throughout the campaign. The first four levels begin with the character Elder, who is a veteran of Pearl Harbor, who eventually dies during a mission. The viewpoint switches to three other new characters: Walsh, the flamethrower operator, who dies during an assault on a flak 88 cannon. The next character is Zussman, a New York mobster and the last character is Gordon, a countryside farmer.
Development
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One was developed by Treyarch, who had previously worked on the Call of Duty: United Offensive expansion pack. The game was developed using the Call of Duty 2 engine, which was also used in Call of Duty 2.
Reception
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One was a critical and commercial success. The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised the game’s graphics, gameplay, and sound design. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
Legacy
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is considered to be one of the best first-person shooters of all time. The game’s success helped to popularize the Call of Duty franchise, which has become one of the best-selling video game franchises in history.
Awards
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One won several awards, including:
- Game of the Year (2005) – BAFTA Awards
- Best Shooter Game (2005) – Game Critics Awards
- Best Action Game (2005) – IGN
Additional Information
- Call of Duty 2: Big Red One was the first Call of Duty game to be developed by Treyarch.
- The game’s multiplayer mode was the first in the Call of Duty series to feature the “killstreak” system.
- Call of Duty 2: Big Red One was followed by Call of Duty 3 in 2006.
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is a classic first-person shooter that is still enjoyed by many gamers today. The game’s immersive gameplay, detailed graphics, and intense sound design make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
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