Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Call of Duty: Roads to Victory delivers a surprisingly robust single-player campaign on the PSP, featuring 14 missions that span a variety of combat scenarios. Each mission casts you in a different role—whether you’re storming the beaches as an American trooper, picking off targets as a Canadian sniper, or leading covert operations as a British commando. The shifting perspectives provide enough diversity to keep the campaign engaging, with mission objectives ranging from bunker assaults and bomb placements to document retrieval and tank takedowns.

The controls are adapted well for the handheld platform, offering four different control schemes that cater to both newcomers and veterans of the series. An auto-aim option helps smooth out the rough edges of shooting on a smaller screen, while manual aiming rewards precision. Weapon handling feels tight, and the inclusion of a mini-shooter segment—where you man the rear gunner position on a bomber—breaks up on-foot combat with some fast-paced, arcade-style action.

Beyond the solo campaign, Roads to Victory shines in its Ad Hoc multiplayer suite. You can join up with 1–5 friends in local wireless matches across Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and King of the Hill modes. Matches run smoothly, with map layouts that are lifted from the PS2 version of Call of Duty 3 but modified slightly for the portable experience. Add in a variety of unlockable weapons and bonuses, and you’ve got several hours of replayability with your friends.

Graphics

Considering the PSP’s hardware limitations, Roads to Victory pushes the system impressively. Textures are reasonably detailed, especially on character models and primary environmental assets like bunkers, villages, and hedgerow fields. While foliage can look a bit sparse up close, draw distances remain solid, letting you spot enemy positions in the distance without too much pop-in.

Lighting and particle effects stand out for a portable shooter of this era. Explosions, muzzle flashes, and smoke plumes bring a sense of scale to battlefield moments, and dynamic lighting helps set the mood during nighttime missions. The occasional frame-rate dips are almost imperceptible during gameplay, ensuring that performance doesn’t get in the way of your next headshot or grenade toss.

The game’s sound design complements its visual presentation. Gunfire echoes realistically in tight corridors, while distant artillery rumblings immerse you in the European theater. Voice acting is serviceable, helping tie mission objectives into a coherent, if straightforward, narrative. The small screen may not capture every nuance, but Roads to Victory delivers a faithful slice of Call of Duty visuals on the go.

Story

While Roads to Victory isn’t a narrative-driven tour de force, it provides enough context to motivate your missions. The story centers on the Allied push through France in the closing days of World War II, with each playable character contributing a distinct viewpoint. This multi-perspective approach helps you understand the broader scope of the conflict and the teamwork required to liberate occupied territory.

Mission briefings and in-field communications do a solid job of conveying stakes and objectives without overly long cutscenes. You rarely feel lost, as clear objectives pop up on your HUD, and radio chatter keeps you aware of enemy movements and friendly reinforcements. The storyline may tread familiar ground, but it captures the urgency and grit of battlefield operations.

The absence of deep character development or plot twists might leave story enthusiasts wanting more, yet the straightforward narrative serves the game’s primary goal: delivering action-packed missions that reflect the chaos and camaraderie of war. For a handheld Call of Duty title, it strikes a respectable balance between exposition and nonstop combat.

Overall Experience

Call of Duty: Roads to Victory stands out as a strong portable adaptation of the series, offering both a varied single-player campaign and solid local multiplayer. Its 14-mission breadth ensures a good chunk of solo play, while the diverse character roles and mission objectives keep the experience from growing stale. The mini-shooter segments and vehicle-based objectives add welcome variety to infantry combat.

Graphically and aurally, the game punches above its weight for a PSP release, capturing the atmosphere and intensity of World War II skirmishes. Performance remains mostly stable, and the multiple control schemes make it accessible to a wide range of players. The ad-hoc multiplayer component elevates the title further, providing hours of competitive fun with friends nearby.

Ultimately, Roads to Victory is a worthwhile purchase for any PSP owner who enjoys first-person shooters and wants a taste of the Call of Duty experience on the go. It may lack the depth of its console counterparts, but it delivers on core gameplay, replayability, and the visceral thrill of Allied forces pushing back the tide of war.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10