Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Call of Duty: Deluxe Edition delivers a relentless, infantry-focused experience that set the bar for WWII shooters back in 2003—and still holds up remarkably well today. The core campaign thrusts you into tightly scripted missions across the European theater, alternating between paratrooper drops, infantry assaults, and armored reconnaissance. Each scenario emphasizes squad tactics and cover-based combat, forcing you to coordinate with teammates rather than lock and load in isolation.

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The expansion, Call of Duty: United Offensive, builds on the original’s foundations by introducing fresh battlefronts, new weapons, and expanded multiplayer modes. You’ll command American Rangers in the Battle of the Bulge, join Soviet forces on the Eastern Front, and even prepare for D-Day landings from the deck of a battleship. The added variety in objectives—motorized convoys, stealth infiltrations, and large-scale defenses—keeps the gameplay loop stimulating long after you’ve cleared the initial campaign.

Multiplayer remains a standout highlight. Even without modern matchmaking, the game’s fast-paced skirmishes and class-based perks (introduced in United Offensive) encourage tactical cooperation. Whether you’re sprinting to secure objectives or supporting your team with suppressive fire, the refinements in weapon handling and map design ensure that every firefight feels dynamic and rewarding. The Deluxe Edition’s inclusion of official BradyGames strategy guides in PDF form only enhances your mastery of maps, weapon unlocks, and hidden secrets.

Graphics

While aged compared to today’s standards, Call of Duty’s graphics maintain a gritty, immersive realism that few modern titles can replicate when it comes to battlefield grime and particle effects. Explosions, tracer rounds, and environmental debris are rendered with enough detail to convey the chaos of war. United Offensive enhances this further with improved character animations and additional texture variations on weapons and vehicles, making each skirmish more visually engaging.

The Deluxe Edition doesn’t include any remastered assets, but the original engine’s robust lighting and shadow work still impress. Smoke drifts realistically across trenches, and sunlight glints off rifle barrels in a way that heightens the tension of every skirmish. If you’re playing on higher resolutions or with community-made texture packs, the visuals scale cleanly without losing the game’s signature aesthetic.

Crucially, the package also contains the official Call of Duty soundtrack, allowing players to revisit the orchestral score’s stirring themes outside of gameplay. Music cues sync perfectly with on-screen events, whether you’re storming the beaches or holding a defensive line under heavy bombardment. Having that cinematic audio easily accessible as a standalone element deepens your appreciation for the game’s atmosphere.

Story

Call of Duty’s narrative structure strands you in the shoes of multiple Allied soldiers, offering varied perspectives on the war effort. From the visceral intensity of the opening Normandy landings to the bleak urban combat in Stalingrad, the original campaign is paced like a Hollywood epic—but with enough of an authentic touch to feel earned. The script avoids melodrama, focusing instead on the gritty realities of squad-based warfare.

United Offensive expands the storyline by spotlighting lesser-known operations, such as the Dachau liberation and the Siege of Bastogne. These missions aren’t mere add-ons; they reinforce the overarching theme of sacrifice and camaraderie. Briefing rooms, radio chatter, and captured diaries peppered throughout levels add context, giving weight to each objective and making the world feel lived-in.

Although the narrative never attempts high-concept twists, its commitment to frontline realism is more than adequate to keep players invested. You’ll witness the cost of war through both triumphant victories and sobering setbacks. The decision to forgo fictional factions or alternate histories lends the story an earnest quality that resonates long after the credits roll.

Overall Experience

Call of Duty: Deluxe Edition remains a must-have for any WWII shooter enthusiast or series completist. The combination of the original campaign, the United Offensive expansion, and the additional multiplayer enhancements offers dozens of hours of varied gameplay. Novice players will appreciate the included BradyGames strategy guide PDFs, which demystify weapon stats, unlock criteria, and map routes—perfect for those who want to dive deeper into tactics.

The soundtrack inclusion is more than a bonus; it’s a gateway back into the game’s cinematic score, elevating your immersion whether you’re replaying missions or simply enjoying the compositions on their own merit. This Deluxe Edition strikes an excellent balance between nostalgia and content value, presenting an all-in-one package that appeals to both veterans and newcomers looking to explore the roots of a genre-defining franchise.

With robust mod and community support still active today, Deluxe Edition players can enhance visuals, tweak difficulty, and even access fan-made maps to extend longevity. Whether you’re aiming to relive the harrowing battlefronts of WWII or experience them for the first time with guided resources, this compilation stands as an enduring testament to Call of Duty’s impact on first-person shooters.

Retro Replay Score

7.9/10