Games

Best of 2009 | 08 |07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Call of Duty

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.5 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 44 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 124 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Infinity Ward

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action

Players: 32

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 29, 2003

Summary

Call of Duty delivers the gritty realism and cinematic intensity of World War II's epic battlefield moments like never before - through the eyes of citizen soldiers and unsung heroes from an alliance of countries who together helped shape the course of modern history. Play through the chaos of battle as part of a well-trained squad, that lays down covering fire and pulls its wounded to safety. In addition to authentic squad movements and tactics, each soldier's distinct personality and training comes out on the battlefield. No one soldier or nation single-handedly won the war. For the first time, Call of Duty captures the war from multiple perspectives, through the eyes of American, British and Russian soldiers. Battle through 24 missions spanning 4 interconnected historical campaigns. Take on mission objectives ranging from sabotage and all-out assault to stealth, vehicle combat and rescue. Authentic weapons, locations, vehicles and sounds of war all contribute to the realism. [Activision]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Call of Duty 2 Call of Duty: Game of the Year Edition Call of Duty: United Offensive

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide GameSpy Strategy Guide

Also On The Web: Games Domain Preview GameSpot Preview GameSpy Preview IGN Preview Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Play Magazine

An extraordinary game that any action fan will go nuts over. Everything from the graphics to the sound to the action itself, Infinity Ward and Activision have taken the genre to an all-new level and it's truly something special. [Dec 2003, p.88]

100

G4 TV

It has it all: harrowing missions, top-notch graphics and special effects, and convincing audio and voice acting. Few games in this genre approach the level of polish and design seen here.

Read Full Review >

100

2404.org

The most realistic war games I have ever played. Not only are the graphics stunning, the sound effects, music, dependence on teammates, weapons, and the overall feel of the game is amazing.

Read Full Review >

100

Electric Playground

Call of Duty can be summed up in one word. Intense. Yes, lots of shooters have provided many, many hours of intense situations before but none, including crowded games like "Battlefield 1942," have ever made me feel the insignificance and fear a soldier must feel while watching the slaughter of hundreds of his countrymen.

Read Full Review >

100

GamePro

Packs the power to astonish with its next-level A.I., absorbing mission design, and mesmerizing presentation.

Read Full Review >

Gamers' Temple

No game puts you closer to being on a field of battle in World War II than Call of Duty.

Read Full Review >

GameBiz

The most intensive war action first person shooter combat title yet. I have not played a single-player experience that is as immersive and intense as the one in Call of Duty.

Read Full Review >

Game Chronicles

This is the online game of 2003 with a single player experience that will be talked about and used to measure all future FPS military games for a long time to come.

Read Full Review >

Gamer's Pulse

I was absolutely blown away by Call of Duty. It’s a rare occasion when a game can make you feel as tense as this one manages to do; it’s also pretty rare to find an FPS that just feels so much different from all the rest.

Read Full Review >

netjak

The AI in the game is rather incredible. Most titles’ AI enemies are either idiots or precognitive, with no real middle ground. Call of Duty manages to get to that middle ground.

Read Full Review >

GameSpy

A brilliant action game from beginning to end, and is packed with so many amazing moments that it's my leading candidate for the best PC game of 2003, and there's a good argument to be made that's it's the best WWII shooter ever.

Read Full Review >

Gamezilla!

Call of Duty can be described in one word: intense. There are no complicated mission objectives, no key-fetching to open doors (in fact, there aren’t even any doors to open), no squad-command signals - none of that. It’s all about edge-of-your-seat action, and it’s executed remarkably well.

Read Full Review >

PGNx Media

An intense singleplayer experience. It has awesome visuals and sound, epic game play and great multiplayer.

Read Full Review >

GameZone

During some of the battles it’s hard not to get emotional since some of the writing and voice acting is so well done.

Read Full Review >

PC Gamer

It's the 24-mission single-player experience that you'll remember for years. Call of Duty is a first-rate achievement. The sensory overload is amazing, and the interaction with intricately scripted action set-pieces is a big step forward in the art form. [Dec 2003, p.88]

FiringSquad

The new "Medal of Honor." Squad combat, iron sights, the incredible tactile feel of the game, the sound effects, the graphics, the intense levels - it’s done for first-person shooters in 2003 what "Medal of Honor" did two years ago.

Read Full Review >

Gaming Nexus

It’s also one of the few first person shooters that made me jump from ambushing Nazis.

Read Full Review >

IGN

You have to love a game that glues you to your seat and keeps you interested... A thrilling piece of software that action fans should grab a hold of and love fiercely.

Read Full Review >

ActionTrip

Infinity Ward has restored my faith in gaming by producing a very mature, complete and meaningful project. Call of Duty is action at its finest, but told well enough not to offend those of us looking for a little more meaning and substance in our gaming.

Read Full Review >

Armchair Empire

Without a doubt the finest WWII game released this year, and if other gamers agree a prime contender for the PC Game of the Year.

Read Full Review >

VIA Gamers Arena

Combining an authentic look, sound and feel with a simple interface and innovative game play mechanics, this game is a tough act to follow. Not only is Call of Duty the new leader of the pack when it comes to WW2 based FPS games, it is also clearly one of the best FPS games available, period.

Read Full Review >

Game Revolution

With such simple and smart gameplay, Call of Duty rocks in all the right ways. It looks outstanding and plays well without any needed patches. The single-player is very engrossing, really the best thing since "MOH:AA."

Read Full Review >

Gamer.tv

If you’re into war games, but not usually an FPS player, you should definitely give Call of Duty a shot - you’ll be gobsmacked. If you are into FPSs and you liked Allied Assault, you’ll have exactly the same reaction.

Read Full Review >

GameNow

Despite its brevity and lack of good multiplayer, though, Call of Duty is easily one of the most fun shooters I've played all year. [Jan 2004, p.66]

Computer Gaming World

Probably the best shooter I've played all year. The only real knocks against it are that it's a relatively short game (I finished in about 10 hours) and the multiplayer is lackluster. But let's be honest: If you're into playing a World War II game online nothing compares to "Battlefield 1942" or Day of Defeat.

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

An all-around excellent game that confidently challenges, head-on, all the other WWII-themed shooters out there and comes out on top.

Read Full Review >

1UP

As close to artery clearing, frantic action movie warfare as we've yet come.

Read Full Review >

Worth Playing

One of the best WWII-themed games ever released... Despite minor flaws with the story's continuity, length of game and odd mission choices, the game stands strong as one of the best of this year.

Read Full Review >

Adrenaline Vault

A cinematic and thrilling experience. The ability to take part in the last century’s most defining and destructive war through the perspective of three different sides is quite engaging.

Read Full Review >

Game Over Online

A riveting action piece from start to finish.

Read Full Review >

Xequted

Now that we’ve ended our time with Call of Duty, we’re confident enough to call this one of the top WW2 games on the market right now –despite its relative age- and quite possibly one of the most complete and engrossing WW2 shooters ever.

Read Full Review >

Game Informer

A fantastic title...I would have liked more depth to the single-player experience and a little bit more story, but that's nitpicking really. [Dec 2003, p.176]

Read Full Review >

PC Arena

However, taking away all the glamour, polish and hype this title has, what you’ll be presented with is rather linear game with fairly limited replay ability. We did however find the single player campaigns surprisingly short.

Read Full Review >

Computer Games Magazine

Call of Duty is going to turn heads. It looks amazing, the action is fierce, and the multiplayer game is balanced, with plenty of diverse settings. [Jan 2004, p.58]

Gamers Europe

It might not have the normal mapping people expect and love so much, but has plenty of style, textures, realistic character models and superb lighting and explosions.

Read Full Review >

Yahoo! Games

It's cliche to say those with heart conditions should stay away, but the game is truly one of those rarities that has you so caught up in the action, you don't realize that you were holding your breath until the mission ends.

Read Full Review >

PC Format

The Red Army levels are stunning.

Read Full Review >

TotalGames.net

Add in the camaraderie and chat, the shouts of alarm and the odd comedy moment to lighten the tension and you have a cracking game that would be perfect if only there were a couple of branches down the very straight and narrow.

Read Full Review >

Cincinnati Enquirer

An intense, gritty World War II-themed action game played from a vertigo-inducing first-person perspective.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

Where I fell out with CoD was the fact that however many cool things I could think of, it was all too easy to peel away the layers of glitz and gloss and come up with frustratingly long list of inconsistencies, flaws and slightly irksome design decisions that remind you that there's plenty of work to be done before the definitive World War II shooter gets made.

Read Full Review >

GamerArchive

It may be nothing new, but it does each part so incredibly well that you cant help but feel the overall polished feeling of the game is something innovating in today’s world of rush releases. If you need yet another shooter, buy this and you’ll fall in love all over again.

Read Full Review >

GMR Magazine

Instead of cramming three divergent threads into one game, the developers should have split them up. The Russian campaign could have stood on its own, but it feels like an afterthought.

Read Full Review >

games(TM)

One of the game's greatest achievements is in how the heavily scripted action manages to escape the feeling of linearity that blighted MOH. Most probably due to the sheer intensity and urgent pacing of proceedings, it feels surprisingly fitting for players to be swept along at the mercy of the situation. [Christmas 2003, p.110]

Edge Magazine

Undersized and profoundly linear, but that cannot shake its solidity and the sheer intensity of the spectacle it creates. The most fun thing you'll get on the PC this side of Christmas. [Christmas 2003, p.108]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 124 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

gave it a10:
This game is the best out of every single call of duty. Why? This one took skill to beat. Beating this game on veteran was the hardest thing I've had to do on Call of Duty. Modern Warfare is a pushover compared to this.

jon v gave it a10:
For its time it was truly one of the best shooters ever made.

[anonymous] gave it a10:
It didn't bring much new to the table out-of-the-box, but it did perfect the PC (arcade-influenced) shooter.

Ken S. gave it a10:
It is simply the best Multiplayer Game ever. There isn't a game who can even nearly copy the style of it.

Joe M. gave it a10:
First let me say that this game is way better than any Medal of Honor game. It has awesome graphics and control. Enemy AI is okay. They're not the brightest but when they get you in their sight you'll know it. The gameplay flows smoothly with very little stuttering. The checkpoints you come to are placed where they are supposed to be and make since. Most missions you will have allies. Your allies can die! The first game where your allies actually can die but are of use. Unlike in Medal of Honor where your allies couldn't die but didnt do anything right. This game is great with a great story and awesome environments. There is an awesome array of environments to enjoy. Everything from the jeep rides to the sabatoge missions will keep you playing and playing for hours. The online is also great. There is a great variety of areas to fight in. BUY THIS GAME!!!

Mike R. gave it a7:
This game really needs two ratings: one for its singleplayer and another for its multiplayer. I would give its singleplayer a 9 because it was really well done and overall really well done (with the exception of the Stalingrad part, where the only research done was watching Enemy at the Gates). The storming of the Reichstag was a lot of fun and overall a really great ending for the game. As for the multiplayer, I would rate it a five since it's not horrible, but really bland. However, it should be noted that the expansion fixes this and makes it a lot of fun. Overall, a great game.

Adrian gave it a10:
A great game, both Single and Multilayer. The game doesn't need a high-spec PC, and the graphics still look as good as some latest games.

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Call of Duty

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases