CALL OF DUTY: WWII

The return of the MAC (.32) Format PS4 ETA 3 Nov Pub Activision Dev Sledgehammer Games

When it comes to shooting people into ribbons online, COD has always been a safe bet for a good time. But between the future flavourings of Black Ops III and Infinite Warfare, it also felt like the loved series was coasting a little, catering increasingly to twitch-shooter players with near-impossible dexterity. Fortunately, Call Of Duty: WWII remedies this in a multitude of ways.

Take new mode War, for example. It’s a huge asymmetrical mode where each team will have different objectives to complete, with a set of attackers and defenders. For our hands-on, we’re fighting Operation Breakout as the Allies in a crumbling French town, which starts off with our team having to capture a control point before graduating to building bridges and planting bombs… If we can get that far.

This multiplayer match is an excellent showcase for the slightly slower playstyle being introduced to COD: WWII. As we clamber through debris around the manor that houses our objective, we notice there’s a path by the side that allows us to flank enemies hiding behind stone walls in front of the house. We crouch and rush around before unleashing a torrent of lead at anything that moves. Already the map design feels geared towards smarter play like this, and it’s exhilarating.

There’s also a change to classes, with the addition of Divisions; each has specific skills that you can tailor to suit style of play. COD: WWII’s director of product development Aaron Hanlon explains: “You can get access to specific weapon skills, like the bayonet charge, the silencer on the Airborne Division, or mounting up heavy machine guns.”

When it all comes together, COD: WWII is shaping up to reclaim the series’ crown as king of the online shooters.