Metareview: Call of Duty [Update 1]
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Mar 16th 2007 at 1:00PM }
Just like the other WWII FPS game on the PSP, Call of Duty has been getting some spectacularly mixed reviews. Who to believe? Are the controls really that great? Are they really that terrible? Message boards across the internet have been producing quite a variety of responses. For once, the critics reviews may not actually inform anyone on the "correct" purchasing decision for this game.- UGO (87/100) loves the incredibly generous auto-aim: "Call of Duty: Roads to Victory is one of the few must-own titles for the handheld. If you've ever gotten a kick out of picking up a gun and killing evil people in a video game, look no further."
- IGN (66/100) hated the controls and the gameplay: "The sluggish and somewhat delayed controls wouldn't be so bad if the gameplay accounted for it, but it doesn't."
- Gamespot (62/100) thinks the game feels more like a free mod than an actual game: "The poor AI, combined with frequent respawning of soldiers, makes it feel as if you're playing some sort of WWII-themed shooting gallery at times."
[Update 1: Added Gamespot's review.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kade Storm @ Mar 16th 2007 1:40PM
ARE THE CONTROLS GREAT?!
What the hell is wrong with this world. You only have the option to free-look/aim with the face buttons. There is no option for using the analogue nub as a freelook control. In short: The controls are hideous, and this game plays much like Ghost In The Shell!
It's an absolute disaster. Not to mention, there is no infrastructure mode.
Really, I think only the IGN review tells some degree of truth, and even their rating's too generous in my opinion.
Beavo @ Mar 16th 2007 1:58PM
i am really scared to buy a FPS on the PSP b/c there are so many sucky ones out already. i dont think i am gonna buy this one. but aslong as PSP games keep coming out i am happy, it means the PSP is proving the DS lovers that the PSPisint going down the drain
Hater2040 @ Mar 16th 2007 2:08PM
A)-Kade Storm opinion doesnt counts.Ever.
B)-Beavo,What the Ds has to do with Call of duty?.That was totally uncalled.
With that said,i dunno MoHH rocks da house and if i know something is that call of duty is "Always" better than MoH.I cant believe this is the exception.I will wait for GS review or i would go to BLockbuster and rent it and tell you how that did go.Right now im too busy,also im playing Dead rising,Geow,Killzone liberation and yugioh GX Tag force and im aming at Mgs:opd or maybe ratchet.
Peace.
txa1265 @ Mar 16th 2007 2:11PM
I have it ordered but it hasn't arrived yet ... but I've heard that the only decent controls just happen to coincide with my preferred set ... so I win I guess :)
But I've heard pretty mediocre things - and the lack of Infrastructure has some people frothing ...
Pete @ Mar 16th 2007 2:49PM
PGNX? UGO? for real? Who are they? i would figure for a metareview you'd use big name things like IGN(which you did), 1-UP, PSM Magazine(though thats not online sooo), Gamespot, or Gamepro. Something that isnt just a random place. i know that on gamerankings.com (which is where i think you guys got this from) it only has 4 reviews, and 3 of them are those and the forth is Hardcore Gamer Magazine.
You should at least wait until some reputable places give their review.
ProPorn @ Mar 16th 2007 3:09PM
I really don't understand why IGN gave it such a low score. The controls aren't what I'd call great, but they are responsive. It is hard to like the controls during the first two missions, but then they work fine.
It looks like IGN wanted a 360 experience, and the game isn't taken as a portable iteration (not meaning inferior, but with a different set of rules.
However, I'm not saying the game is excellent, but the IGN review feels like a free bashing.
@Pete: 1UP and GS still don't upload their reviews.
And you really don't know UGO? Jeez.
thatpspkid @ Mar 16th 2007 4:29PM
WTF.
I have this game and it is great, so far. I have played trough the first 5 levels of the USA.
UGO has it right with the controls. it is so easy that sometimes it feels too generous. it is way better than MOH. I usually agree with IGN, but this time they are wrong.
PS. Why can't we make our own dam passwords for these dam blogs.
pete @ Mar 16th 2007 5:52PM
ok i didnt know they didnt put reviews up. i just have them bookmarked and go to them. my bad on those two.
Kade Storm @ Mar 16th 2007 8:51PM
A - Hater2040's opinion is about as relevant as used diaphrams, which puts this silly spastic in no position to berate mine.
B - Yes, it is a matter of opinion. However, people require a more challenging scheme of actually having smooth freelook. It has been executed on the PSP with ease = MOH; Syphon.
However, the face-button-only freelook is a sad alternative to what I consider a proper FPS experience. Of course, mentally challenged frothing shmucks like Hater2040 are free to disagree in the most classless of mannerisms possible, and further pronounce their already obvious lack of intellectual capacity. (Let's just avoid each other's paths, because I don't like to insult the handicapped.)
vR @ Mar 17th 2007 12:38AM
Kade, just because you don't agree that it rocks da house, your remarks were uncalled. The guy is aming at Mgs:opd, so how that did go?
Hater2040 is my new favorite commenter! PAYCE!
saketkutta @ Mar 17th 2007 12:59AM
hey i got this game today
not checked it nicely but it is better than MOH heros
i also got BIA and when compared to it the graphics are little inferior but contorls gr8 i mean its like childs play it has auto aim which directly points to enemy(i will turn it off
but it has gr8 call of duty intense firefight feelins which all did
whereas MOHH didnt have any game play or story i mean the single player was like a multiplayer no life in the game as used to be in pc or console version..
if u got cash get it now if u got open edition fw u know what to do.
Kade Storm @ Mar 17th 2007 6:38AM
"Kade, just because you don't agree that it rocks da house, your remarks were uncalled. The guy is aming at Mgs:opd, so how that did go?
Hater2040 is my new favorite commenter! PAYCE!" - vR
- He is a funny *resists urge for another nasty name* person, but he sorta' debased and generalised my opinion, and so I reacted back. I mean, he could always declare that the controls are better.
Honestly, I have to make my position clear. The game isn't bad. The auto-lock feature makes up for the face-button freelook. It is fun with the simplistic scheme, in a way. I mean, you have auto-aim, so why fret? However, it's just not my cup of tea, because now I'm groomed to the standards set by MOH, Syphon, and games with an analogue-based freelook (even Socom 2).
KingNathan @ Apr 5th 2007 8:27AM
I just rented this game and ACTUALLY think its pretty good. the controls do suck pretty bad but the auto aim makes up for it. Its also very sad, being that call of duty has such great multiplayer, that roads to victory just has ****ing ad hoc. the graphics in this game are pretty amazing and beat alot of psp games. Since there is no second stick for aiming, some of the intensity COD is know for is brought down. Overall i think this is a very good game.BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!