E3: Call of Duty 2 for Xbox 360 duly impresses
by Ben Zackheim 
{ May 18th 2005 at 8:04PM }
Underneath the Xbox 360 booth are actual 360 games, including a Call of Duty 2 demo, being played by a trained professional. No one else can touch the egg-white controller, lest Jon, the mild mannered security guy gets on their butt. I had just pulled out my camera when he pointed to the "No pictures" sign. Oh well, this is what it looks like on the 360 though.
Yeah, it's a press pic. Yeah, it really looks like that. If you can imagine a camera view that shakes with every round of fire, and wisps of smoke that randomly flash past your view, then you get the idea. You can look at the game clips online, but you won't get the full effect (sorry, but it's true). If you have an HDTV you will NOT be disappointed by the look of the 360's titles. I'll give you a nickel if you're not satisfied. Okay, not really.
The gameplay looks to match the last one, with immersive audio and attention to detail that will probably not let us down. I saw the PC version as well, and it’s clear that the 360 matches or exceeds the image quality. It’s just that time in the cycle again, where the consoles make PC fans apprehensive.
The other impressive aspect of this next generation of games is that the characters are much less jerky when they move. You know what I’m talking about, right? That fast, unrealistic movement, while still there, is not as obvious. We’d be really curious to hear what the developers out there have to say about this. Could it be that we’ll actually see a basketball game where people move like real people?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Drakonen @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
You call yourself a reporter, of ENGADGET... wheres the spy work, the long telescopic lenses, the hidden cameras....
Or maybe its just that this security guy is two feet taller and a hundred pounds heavier that makes you jerk like our current AI.
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Yeah .... you should have acted like you trying to make a phone call ;-)
Dralt @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I already played Call Of Duty on the PC. I know what the gameplay is about, it's the same as Medal of Honor, Return to Castle Woflfenstein, Brothers In Arms, and 200 other war shooters.
Anything new besides the same old concepts with new graphics?
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Dralt: "Anything new besides the same old concepts with new graphics?"
Nope. How many more war games must we endure though? Fight fight fight! Kill kill ki.....*yawn*
Dralt @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
#4
I don't know how many more we will have to endure.
Publishers take us for granted, clearly.
As long as people will blindly buy these cookie-cutter creations, I guess they won't feel compelled to deliver anything else.
Yet, if people stop buying these reruns, I don't know if they will remember how good games are created.
Did you know that many top managers at leading video game publishers used to have senior roles at Kraft, Coca-Cola, etc. where they were marketing things like Cheetos and Lays potato chips?
For them, everything is junk food. Produce it industrial quantity and spend a lot money on hype and marketing...they'll buy it.
Brian @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I haven't played a ton of WWII FPS, but when Medal of Honor came out, I thought it was an absolutely amazing game. The next FPS I bought was Call of Duty, and I thought that was amazing. But not because it had good graphics, but because of the experience it created. For once it just wasn't one guy taking on the world (as happened with Medal of Honor) and you got an experience where you weren't the sole focus but part of something greater. If they can build on that with better graphics and a better experience, I'm all for it.
But yeah, in general consumers are taken for granted. The slew of copycats clearly shows that. But if the best game in that niche comes out with a sequel (that deals with a different aspect of WW2 I might add) I don't think it should be shot down.
H @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Dralt, you have a right to your opinion, but you are a true drama queen.
Dralt @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
#7
That must be a compliment.
Are you a drama queen too? Or, are you a lemming who will buy anything they push out?
It's time to be a little more demanding, don't you think?
RM @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I happen to like WW2 FPS.
But you are right Dralt
RM @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I happen to like WW2 FPS.
But you are right Dralt
Dave @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Look the war games aren't stopping until Uncle Sam's conquered the galaxy. Now admit it--you feel like blowing something up for America, don't you? Come on. It'll be something "evil"--I promise.
CaptSnuffy @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Who dares insult Call of Duty?! It is NOT the same as medal of honor and not at all similar to BiA. CoD won many game of the year awards and has a huge amount of fans. While it's graphics aren't that great, the gameplay was fun and immersive.
RM @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
#12 You actually got to PLAY Broth IN Arms ?
I could not get past the Piracy Protection
Using a Brand New Alienware :(
Call Of Duty Was Good, But so was MOH.
Everyone knocks WW2 FPS, but online it
looks like they buy them but the thousands.
KingKeyboard @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
All these people, like dralt, criticize games like CoD. Obviously people like these games, or they wouldn't be making "reruns". As you so intelligently put it. If these WW2 FPS's are not good enough for you,or anyone else who thinks this way, then just fuck off. If these games arn't good enough, then tell us what YOU think should be put into a game.
Big Red @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Y'know, it's always the same. Every new game that comes out, Some asshole is knocking it a YEAR before it comes out. Funny how they always buy the game anyways though. And it's these same assholes who dis on all the new Star Wars movies,Halflife 2's, COD 2's but were the first in line to see or buy them so they can flame and be above it all and blase' in forums like these in an attempt to make themselves sound insightful. Here's the thing. If you don't like a particular genre or family of games, or feel it has reached the pinnacle of its evolution, you dont HAVE to play them.
alex @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
if u dnt like call of duty then dont buy it 4 god sakes