Some people claim that the Call of Duty series has always been a rehash of the previous title that was released a year before, and indeed, Call of Duty: Advance Warfare gives players the same core CoD experience they’ve enjoyed since CoD 4.
But as Jonathan Miller, a frequent first person shooter player, points out, Sledgehammer Studios’ latest addition to the franchise gives the series a refreshing overhaul and new styles of play.
“Don’t get it wrong though, it still follows that old CoD formula,” Miller said. “Point, shoot and mow down enormous swarms of enemies like you’re Rambo, but it gives a little something new on top of that.”
Advanced Warfare pulls in influences from other games in a way that no previous CoD game has done before. New to AW is increased mobility, a feature of titles like Titanfall or Halo, including double-jumping, wall-climbing and dashing. These new mechanics open up new ways of defeating opponents or escaping from tight situations, and add a new twist to the run and gun style that CoD players are accustomed to.
Jacob Robinson, a competitive Halo player, believes that although keeping the same formula can sometimes be detrimental to some franchises, it works for the CoD.
“Everyone can harp all they want on the Call of Duty series being the same gift, but with a newer bow every year,” Robinson said. “But that’s what they’re good at, and it’s working for them. In the end people will still enjoy the game, and it’ll keep selling copies.”
Brandon Redman, an avid gamer, believes that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
“What do people expect when they play every new CoD,” Redman said. “I learn not to expect much, but I always keep an open mind because I enjoy playing the game with my friends.”
Though Advanced Warfare has updated graphics due to it being on the Xbox One and PS4 and updated game mechanics, the core CoD formula is still there. And as Redman believes, that’s what’s important.
“It’s Call of freaking Duty,” Redman said. “I play it to shoot the breeze and just have fun with all my friends.”
