Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Call of Duty’s gameplay stands out by seamlessly blending scripted set pieces with open-ended combat. Across 24 interconnected missions, players switch between infantry encounters, stealthy commando operations, and vehicle-based engagements. Each mission is carefully paced to build tension—one moment you’re clearing a bombed-out village with your squad, the next you’re navigating a tank through hostile Soviet checkpoints.

One of the most notable features is the variety of perspectives. Rather than focusing solely on an American GI, Infinity Ward introduced a British Special Forces campaign and a Soviet tank division chapter. This multi-angle approach not only diversifies objectives and environments but also keeps the experience fresh as you adapt to different weapons, tactics, and squad behaviors.

The AI teammates and foes are surprisingly competent for the era. Friends hunker down, call out enemy positions, and attempt to flank—while enemies respond dynamically to your movements, using cover and coordinating suppressive fire. Although modern standards have outpaced it, the balance between scripted events and reactive AI still makes each firefight feel engaging and unpredictable.

Graphics

At release, Call of Duty raised the bar for World War II shooters by refining the engine used in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. Textures are sharper, lighting effects—such as muzzle flashes and burning wrecks—feel more realistic, and environmental details like ruined buildings, muddy trenches, and flickering fires heighten immersion. The overall color palette leans muted and gritty, reinforcing the brutal atmosphere of wartime Europe.

Character models and weapon details also received an upgrade. Infantry uniforms show realistic wear, rifles sport subtle wood grain textures, and tanks carry dents and battle damage that convey a lived-in world. Cutscenes transition smoothly into gameplay, minimizing the jarring load-screen breaks common in other titles of the period.

For players on consoles, the later-released Call of Duty Classic enhanced these visuals further—tweaking lighting, texture resolution, and particle effects to better suit TV displays. Though it still bears the hallmarks of a 2003 engine, the Classic edition remains proof that thoughtful optimization can breathe new life into an older title.

Story

The narrative in Call of Duty is delivered through the eyes of three allied forces operating on different fronts. You start as an American paratrooper in the Normandy landings, witness sabotage and reconnaissance missions as a British commando, and finally assume the steel-clad perspective of a Soviet tank commander pushing toward Berlin. This structure gives an epic, globe-spanning scope to the campaign.

Each mini-campaign is tightly scripted, featuring cinematic moments like strafing runs, silent night raids, or high-speed tank chases. Briefings before each mission lay out historical context, and in-mission dialogue from squad members provides emotional weight. The lack of excessive cutscenes keeps players in control while still delivering the drama and urgency of frontline combat.

While the story doesn’t dive deep into characters’ personal backgrounds, it excels at portraying the collective experience of WWII soldiers. There’s an unspoken camaraderie in exchanged radio chatter, and the varied viewpoints—grappling with fear, duty, and loss—lend the campaign a genuine sense of sacrifice rather than a single-hero narrative.

Overall Experience

Call of Duty’s debut remains a watershed moment in first-person shooters. Its combination of varied mission design, solid AI, and multi-national campaigns offered a fresh take on a crowded genre. Even today, it’s worth exploring for anyone curious about the franchise’s origins or seeking a tightly constructed historical shooter.

The single-player campaign is concise but memorable, demanding strategy and adaptability more than run-and-gun prowess. On the multiplayer side, modes such as deathmatch, team deathmatch, behind enemy lines, retrieval, and search and destroy laid the groundwork for the series’ robust online community. For fans willing to navigate older servers or local LAN setups, these modes remain entertaining.

While subsequent installments have refined and expanded upon the blueprint laid here, Call of Duty’s original offering still captures the chaos, heroism, and tactical depth of World War II combat. It may show its age graphically, but the core mechanics—teamwork, pacing, and mission variety—underscore why this title launched one of gaming’s most enduring franchises.

Retro Replay Score

8.3/10