Call Of Duty 2 Big Red One Review

Overview

Released in November 2005 by Activision and developed by Treyarch in collaboration with Gray Matter Interactive, Call of Duty 2: Big Red One represents a significant departure from the main series by focusing exclusively on the U.S. First Infantry Division's campaign through World War II. This Xbox first-person shooter takes players from the deserts of North Africa through Sicily, France, and into the heart of Germany. Unlike other Call of Duty titles of the era that jumped between different allied forces, Big Red One maintains a consistent narrative following a single American squad, creating a more personal and emotionally resonant experience. The game features voice acting from several cast members of HBO's Band of Brothers, adding authenticity to its character-driven approach.

Graphics and Presentation

On the Original Xbox hardware, Big Red One manages to create convincing wartime environments despite some technical limitations. The game employs a variety of visual effects to enhance immersion, including dynamic smoke, impressive explosion effects, and detailed weapon models. Character animations are particularly noteworthy, with soldiers moving naturally through the environment and displaying contextual awareness during combat sequences.

Each theatre of war receives distinct visual treatment, from the sun-bleached North African deserts to the muddy fields of France. Environmental destruction, while limited by today's standards, adds impact to explosive sequences and firefights. Weather effects, particularly rain and dust storms, contribute significantly to the atmosphere, though they can sometimes impact the frame rate.

The game's presentation benefits from high-quality cutscenes that blend historical footage with in-game graphics, creating a documentary-style narrative framework that enhances the historical authenticity. The user interface is clean and unobtrusive, with clear objective markers and status indicators that don't detract from the immersion.

Sound and Music

The audio design in Big Red One stands as one of its strongest features. The voice acting, featuring Band of Brothers cast members including Michael Cudlitz and Frank John Hughes, delivers powerful performances that bring authenticity to the squad interactions. Battlefield sounds are meticulously crafted, from the distinct reports of different weapons to the chaos of artillery bombardments. The positional audio system effectively communicates threat directions and enhances situational awareness during intense combat sequences.

The musical score, composed by Graeme Revell, strikes an excellent balance between dramatic orchestral pieces and subtle atmospheric tracks. The music dynamically responds to the action, building tension during quiet moments and swelling appropriately during major battles. Sound mixing deserves special praise for its ability to prioritize important audio cues like command shouts and enemy movements even during the most chaotic battles.

Gameplay Mechanics

Big Red One's core gameplay loop focuses on squad-based combat through historically inspired missions. The shooting mechanics are solid and accessible, with a well-implemented aim-assist system that makes console controls feel natural without making the game too easy. Weapon handling reflects the World War II era appropriately, with period-accurate rifles, submachine guns, and heavy weapons each requiring different tactical approaches.

Vehicle sections provide welcome variety to the standard infantry combat, putting players in control of everything from Sherman tanks to B-24 bomber turrets. These sequences are well-integrated into the narrative and offer a refreshing change of pace, though some may find the controls in these sections less refined than the on-foot gameplay.

The level design follows a linear path but provides enough tactical options within combat encounters to keep the gameplay engaging. Squad AI generally performs well, with teammates providing effective covering fire and responding to threats intelligently, though occasional pathfinding issues can break the immersion.

Story and Setting

The narrative follows a single squad within the First Infantry Division from their early engagements in North Africa through the liberation of Europe. This focused approach allows for stronger character development than previous Call of Duty games, with recurring characters whose personalities and relationships evolve throughout the campaign. The storytelling benefits from authentic historical details and mission contexts, with each operation feeling like part of a larger strategic picture.

The writing effectively balances the personal stories of squad members with the broader historical context of each battle. Documentary-style interludes featuring actual World War II footage and veteran interviews add depth to the narrative while educating players about the real historical events that inspired the missions. The game handles the serious subject matter with appropriate gravity while maintaining an engaging pace.

Content and Value

The single-player campaign can be completed in approximately 8-10 hours, making it somewhat shorter than other Xbox World War II shooters of the era. However, the pacing is tight, with minimal filler content. Each mission offers multiple difficulty levels and hidden collectibles in the form of intelligence documents, providing some replay value for players.

Multiplayer options are limited compared to the PC version of Call of Duty 2, with support for up to 16 players online and 4 players in split-screen. The available modes cover standard team deathmatch and objective-based gameplay, though the player base is naturally limited today. At its current pre-owned price point of £12.99, the game offers reasonable value despite its brevity.

Technical Performance

Big Red One maintains a relatively stable performance on the Original Xbox, with the frame rate generally holding steady during infantry combat. However, larger battles and vehicle sequences can cause noticeable slowdown, particularly when multiple explosion effects are on screen. Loading times between missions are reasonable, rarely exceeding 20-30 seconds.

The game demonstrates good stability, with crashes being rare. The save system uses both checkpoints and manual saves, providing reliable progress protection. Some texture pop-in is noticeable, particularly during fast-moving vehicle sequences, but these issues rarely impact the gameplay experience significantly.

The Verdict

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One succeeds in delivering a more personal and focused World War II experience than its predecessors. While it may lack the technical sophistication of its PC counterpart, the strong narrative focus, solid gameplay mechanics, and excellent audio design create an engaging and respectful tribute to the First Infantry Division. The game's character-driven approach and historical authenticity help it stand out in the crowded World War II shooter genre, even if its brief campaign and limited multiplayer options somewhat restrict its long-term appeal.

Pros

• Strong character-driven narrative
• Excellent voice acting and sound design
• Varied mission objectives and locations
• Solid shooting mechanics

Cons

• Short campaign length
• Limited multiplayer features
• Occasional performance issues
• Dated graphics

Final Score: 8/10

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One delivers a compelling and personal World War II narrative that overcomes its technical limitations. While brief, the campaign offers a memorable journey through history that honours its subject matter.

By OGXbox Archive