The original Call of Duty (COD) proved successful because of its terrific level design, atmospheric soundtrack and one of the best multiplayer modes in any first-person shooter – so it’s fair to say its successor, Call of Duty 2, has a lot to live up to.

From the outset, it seems little has changed for COD2; you play the game from the point of view of various soldiers representing different allied factions.

You start as a Russian soldier fighting off the German invasion of Moscow, before moving to represent the British Desert Rats in North Africa, finally ending up with the Americans in missions that include a D-Day raid on the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc.

There are notable improvements in COD2. For a start, the game has far better graphics than the original. It isn’t as good looking as F.E.A.R, but it incorporates some great spot effects and a more polished overall look.

Other changes include the lack of a health meter. Whereas COD required you to collect medikits from fallen soldiers, getting shot in COD2 simply alters your vision slightly and increases your rate of breathing. Even if you’ve just taken a bullet to the face, you simply have to find somewhere to rest while your health is restored.

Some gamers may find this factor (plus COD2’s lack of a cohesive plot) quite unappealing. However, there are several enjoyable and memorable moments in each campaign and the fairly regular change of scenery as you represent different allied factions ensures you don’t get bored with one situation too quickly.

If you liked the original game, you’ll love COD2. It doesn’t greatly advance the FPS genre, nor is it as good as F.E.A.R or Half-Life 2, but it is certainly one of the best World War 2 FPS games to date.

System requirements:
1.4GHz processor
512MB of Ram
Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP
64MB video card 1.1pixel shader