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Call of Duty: WWII, developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision, marks the series’ return to World War II after nearly a decade. This highly anticipated title promised a gritty, visceral, and authentic wartime experience. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s delve into the campaign, Nazi Zombies mode, and multiplayer to see if this return to the past delivers on its potential.

A Brutal, Dark, and…Occasionally Silly Campaign

Sledgehammer Games promised a brutal and realistic portrayal of WWII, and in many ways, they deliver. The visuals are stunning, with meticulous detail in the cutscenes and environments. The sound design is equally impressive, immersing the player in the chaos of battle. From the crumbling buildings to the realistic gore, the game successfully captures the visceral nature of war.

The campaign follows Private Ronald “Red” Daniels through the European theater, beginning with the harrowing D-Day landings. The narrative attempts to balance intense action sequences with moments of human drama, showcasing the camaraderie between soldiers and the horrors faced by both combatants and civilians. However, the story sometimes struggles to find its footing, wavering between gritty realism and over-the-top action. While some scenes effectively portray the brutality of war, others feel jarringly out of place, undermining the overall tone.

One of the campaign’s standout missions is the infiltration of a German garrison in Paris. This level offers a refreshing level of player agency, requiring careful navigation, strategic dialogue choices, and stealth gameplay. It’s a stark contrast to the more linear missions that plague the rest of the campaign, where scripted sequences and restrictive gameplay mechanics often limit the player’s freedom. While the game’s visuals and sound design shine, the campaign’s inconsistent tone and linear structure ultimately hold it back from reaching its full potential.

alt: Soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day landings.

Nazi Zombies: A Surprisingly Engaging Cooperative Experience

Nazi Zombies offers a surprisingly engaging cooperative experience that stands out as one of the game’s strongest features. The mode blends traditional wave-based zombie survival with puzzle-solving and exploration. Players must work together to complete objectives, unlock new areas, and uncover the secrets of “The Final Reich.”

The map design is intricate and encourages teamwork, with interconnected rooms and challenging puzzles that require coordination and communication. The mode also features a light resource management system, adding another layer of strategy to the gameplay. Players can earn Jolt by killing zombies and completing objectives, which can then be used to purchase weapons, upgrades, and consumables.

alt: Players battling zombies in the Nazi Zombies mode.

The character progression system allows players to customize their loadouts with unique mods and special abilities, adding depth and replayability. Unlike some previous Call of Duty titles, Nazi Zombies avoids overwhelming players with complex mechanics, striking a good balance between accessibility and depth.

Multiplayer: A Missed Opportunity

The core gunplay in Call of Duty: WWII is excellent, offering a satisfying and responsive shooting experience. However, the multiplayer suffers from a number of questionable design choices that ultimately hold it back.

The new Divisions system, intended to encourage diverse playstyles, feels unnecessarily restrictive. Limiting certain weapons and attachments to specific divisions forces players into predetermined roles and hinders experimentation. The Basic Training system, which replaces the Pick 10 system from previous games, further limits player customization. While intended to balance gameplay, these systems ultimately result in less flexible and less interesting class creation.

alt: Intense firefight in a war-torn European city during multiplayer.

The limited number of maps at launch is also a significant drawback. Furthermore, the quality of several maps is subpar, with unbalanced layouts and frustrating chokepoints. While the new War mode offers a refreshing objective-based experience, it’s not enough to compensate for the shortcomings of the core multiplayer experience.

Conclusion: A Mixed Bag

Call of Duty: WWII is a visually stunning and aurally impressive return to the series’ roots. The Nazi Zombies mode offers a surprisingly engaging cooperative experience, while the core gunplay in multiplayer remains satisfying. However, the campaign’s inconsistent tone, linear structure, and the multiplayer’s restrictive customization options ultimately prevent the game from reaching its full potential. While it offers glimpses of greatness, Call of Duty: WWII ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.