Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the eleventh main instalment in the long running franchise and this particular entry is brought to us by Sledgehammer Games. If you need me to remind you that these games are published by Activision, I have to wonder what rock you have been living under for the last decade or so. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the granddaddy of modern military first person shooters, a sub-genre it defined and for me was never surpassed. The countless hours I spent in that game’s multiplayer honed me to at the time a nearly competitive level, one that involved clans and actual tactics.
Last year I dabbled with Call of Duty: Ghosts (and wasn’t as disappointed as some) and before that enjoyed my time with Call of Duty: Black Ops (though not its sequel) and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (though not its sequel either). I tell you this because I want to establish my pedigree a little. I have not been a serious multiplayer gamer since Halo 2 and the original Modern Warfare but I still enjoy a good FPS (such as Titanfall) and love a well told story (such as that which can be found in Wolfenstein: The New Order). As I consider my FPS history I realise I have never reviewed a Call of Duty game before, but I think this was a fantastic one to start on.
I know this might not be the norm now, but for me, the first thing you always do with a new shooter is dive into the campaign. It’s always a good introduction to how the mechanics work and gives you a good feel for the way the developer has decided to spin this installment’s basic tenants to create its take on the series and the genre. For Sledgehammer Games and its luxurious three year development cycle the campaign for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare stands out as its greatest accomplishment.
The rest of the review can be found here.