All the brutality comes from the difficulty, which makes no compromises even on the easiest setting. You will die, and it will happen a lot. The Halo-like health regeneration feels out of place, but if you're in trouble, you won't have a chance to make a recovery. Developer Infinity Ward have created a continue system that should be used for every first-person shooter to follow as well. When taken out, you have a few minor seconds to regain your composure, and you're tossed right back into the game without warning. It keeps the game flowing and frustrations stay low.
Levels are incredible, and not just for their uncanny look and visual variety. They're linear, usually bordered off with barbed wire or debris. Rarely can you tell though, and there's freedom given to the player as to how they can approach the situation. There's no wrong or right choice here, and aside from a few helping hands along the way (how is there always a rocket launcher available when a tank rolls in?), each level is an experience you can't possibly be disappointed with.
That's not to say they're perfect. The scenarios are designed with similar ideas. There are numerous sections of the game where you're only goal is to defend an enemy counter-attack for five minutes or until the opposition is depleted. The game is also picky about friendly fire, and in a few missions (especially into the opening Stalingrad levels) it's nearly impossible to distinguish friend from foe. You'll be repeating numerous sections after picking off a squad mate. The on-screen identifiers don't always pop-up in time to make the save.
Multi-player fans are in for a treat, and the only thing missing is a co-op mode. Four players can try to take each other down on a single console, eight players can go at it on Xbox Live, and 16 can play via LAN. Modes are typical for this style of game, from deathmatch to a "defend your home base while taking theirs" mode. Maps are a little on the large side, so if there are only two people available, you'll spend too much time looking for each other.
Article comments
1 - Ken Edwards
Matt, now I am gonna' have to get this game. Well, I can now blame you at any rate :P
I just wonder when Infinity Ward will get that patch out for the CoD2 problems.