Well, something of a CoD3 love-in in this very thread made me decide to buy it. Originally it didn't feature in my November list of essential purchases, but the glowing reports here twisted my arm, and I went for it.
And I have to say, though I seem largely alone, I think it's an intensely disapointing game. Firstly, the good points - some of the environments, and environmental effects are very good. The sound is well done too. However the character models are awful, still the same old angle poised muppets, with lip syncing from a Brazillian B-movie. It also seems to have increased Call of Duty 2's propensity to insert you in a big firefight, but not really make you feel like you're taking part, or important in any way. Probably like being a real soldier, granted, but this is a videogame. The aiming is tedious, and wayward, still feeling spongy and imprecise. There is little viceral thrill in the kill, as bullets seem to hit the enemy with all the impact of stroking a shed door with a peanut butter sandwich.
There's more: The vocal samples at times repeat maddeningly, and it's easy to become impaled on the environments. It also just isn't... well... interesting enough. After an hour of screaming people, booming bombs, tanks exploding, bullets whizzing, you just sort of think... meh. The pacing obviously has to be kept fast to stop you whipping off the gaudy facade and finding the deeply average, linear, FPS underneath. Slap enough makeup on a pig, and someone will kiss it.
Someone else also mentioned that CoD2 seemed to span more environments, and was fundamentally better thought out, and I'd have to agree. This is a tarted up CoD2 for sure, but in the tarting a little bit of the brain and soul got left out.
These are single player impressions, I will spend some time with the multiplayer - which could be the title's saving grace. At the moment, CoD3 has been shelved until I can raise some enthusiasm.
And I have to say, though I seem largely alone, I think it's an intensely disapointing game. Firstly, the good points - some of the environments, and environmental effects are very good. The sound is well done too. However the character models are awful, still the same old angle poised muppets, with lip syncing from a Brazillian B-movie. It also seems to have increased Call of Duty 2's propensity to insert you in a big firefight, but not really make you feel like you're taking part, or important in any way. Probably like being a real soldier, granted, but this is a videogame. The aiming is tedious, and wayward, still feeling spongy and imprecise. There is little viceral thrill in the kill, as bullets seem to hit the enemy with all the impact of stroking a shed door with a peanut butter sandwich.
There's more: The vocal samples at times repeat maddeningly, and it's easy to become impaled on the environments. It also just isn't... well... interesting enough. After an hour of screaming people, booming bombs, tanks exploding, bullets whizzing, you just sort of think... meh. The pacing obviously has to be kept fast to stop you whipping off the gaudy facade and finding the deeply average, linear, FPS underneath. Slap enough makeup on a pig, and someone will kiss it.
Someone else also mentioned that CoD2 seemed to span more environments, and was fundamentally better thought out, and I'd have to agree. This is a tarted up CoD2 for sure, but in the tarting a little bit of the brain and soul got left out.
These are single player impressions, I will spend some time with the multiplayer - which could be the title's saving grace. At the moment, CoD3 has been shelved until I can raise some enthusiasm.
but they're not TEH NEXT GEN and look a little fugly on my HDTV.
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