We get to see things go from bad to worse in the best way possible.
If you scour the ole’ interwebs enough, you’ll find two very divided camps when it comes to the upcoming Call of Duty . Advanced Warfare will definitely take the series in a very different direction. Drawing from a strong sci-fi vibe, the next game isn’t just going to paste a futuristic level of polish over the old game. Here, we’ll get all new gadgets and abilities that could change the very nature of how we play this classic FPS, right down to its core. Some are excited about this possible new future. Others, not so much. However, one thing is certain: there’s no stopping the wheels of progress, as Activision is committed to seeing where this new route takes the franchise upon its release in November.
During Microsoft’s E3 conference, we got a first-person perspective of exactly what to expect from our next ‘ Duty .
The footage drops you onto a war torn street, right in the heart of a Tokyo-esque city. Now when I say drop, I really mean that. At the start, you find yourself inside a pod hurtling towards the ground. The level of high-tech sophistication is immediately apparent, as screens above you map out your trajectory (injecting a very Star Wars y feel right away). After crash landing, you can instantly tell this campaign will be equal parts new and old when it comes to experience. Even though the game takes on a certain technological flair, there were other elements that made me feel immediately at home. Honestly, for all the new that Advanced ’ is rolling with this time, I easily felt at home once the gun’s triggers were pulled and they began unloading their magazines. Something about it just SCREAMED Call of Duty !
Overall, the trailer was impressive. For someone like me (who likes the new tech side of the game), this simply made me want to play it even more. So let’s take a look at a few of the highlights I took away from the new E3 gameplay footage.
Giving new meaning to the term moonwalking…
One of the most anticipated aspects of the next C.o.D. is how your exo-suit will affect the mechanics. While Master Chief has been jet-packing around maps for a few years now, this is a completely alien concept for this franchise. In the footage, the jetpack/jetboots were utilized as a means of traversing obstacles. It’s not exactly what I’d call “flying,” but more moon bouncing. It seems to give you just enough momentum to get where you need to go. Not sure what their capacity will be until we actually get our hands on them, but don’t count on many frequent flyer miles.
“Time to introduce them to old painless” – Blain from Predator
The bread and butter of any shooter is your weaponry. Personally, I think they’ve struck just the right balance between innovation and an “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. While your rifle will have some advancements throughout, it pretty much stuck to the basics. You’re not going to see laser beams or plasma bursts here, just good old hot lead flung at high velocity. Of course, I’m sure you’ll be able to pick up alts along the way to inject a more Halo -esque feel. There’s no doubt that traditional weapons are what will keep this next sequel grounded in the franchise’s roots (which is an important factor to some).
Does this mech make my butt look big?
I hate to end on a bit of a sour note, but there was one part of the footage that didn’t exactly thrill me. When I heard “ Advanced would be venturing into vehicle based combat (like its FPS counterparts before it) I was pretty psyched. When I heard it would come in mech form, I was even more excited. However, having seen a quick glimpse of one in action, I’m less than enthused. Frankly, these things look clunky and slow as hell. Call of Duty has always been about fast-paced action and the frenetic energy of a fight. If this is what I have to jump into, I don’t know that I’m looking forward to it. I’m not sure the extra firepower is worth turning myself into a large sitting duck (and a metal duck at that). Perhaps the final multiplayer version will be improved.
There is more to see than just what I describe above, but these are the few key areas that really stick out in my mind. I would like to give honorable mentions to the sweet rocket-powered grenades, the digital enemy tracking (that outlines them in red a lá a wall hack) and the freaky stream of drones depicted in the footage. Incidentally, they are EXACTLY like those found in Matrix: Revolutions . And I don’t mean kinda’. I mean a 100% rip off. Watch for yourself if you don’t believe me.
I for one am optimistic regarding the new frontiers a departure like this can bring to a tried and true franchise like Call of Duty . Advanced ’ could be a long overdue breath of fresh air.