As a seasoned gamer with decades of combat under my belt, let me tell you about my journey through the Call of Duty universe. From the gritty realism of World War II to the futuristic battles of Infinite Warfare, this franchise has been an integral part of my gaming life.
Over the past two decades, the Call of Duty franchise has undergone a remarkable transformation from its roots in World War II. Today, we’ll explore the diverse time periods and themes it has tackled throughout this journey. This is not an in-depth analysis of the series, but rather a brief overview of its lore. We won’t delve into the history of the series in this discussion.
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Without any more delay, let’s move on to 2003. Gamers celebrated the launch of Call of Duty, a game that significantly shaped the first-person shooter genre and eventually outshone the Medal of Honor series a few years down the line. Interestingly, a significant part of its development team were the same individuals who had previously worked on Allied Assault.
In the initial installment of the series, Call of Duty, World War II was portrayed in a unique manner compared to other shooting games available then. Unlike being a solitary figure victoriously ending the war on your own, you were required to collaborate with AI-controlled teammates to accomplish tasks, seek cover, and lay down intense gunfire to neutralize enemies.
For a while, this series continued with a World War II theme, exploring various battlefronts like Europe, Soviet Russia, and North Africa. Many games offered multiple campaigns, each highlighting distinct characters and aspects of the war. This pattern persisted until 2007, when Call of Duty underwent a significant transformation.
Modern warfare is where it’s at
2007’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare shifted focus from historical conflicts to a fictional, future-set one (at least at the time of its debut). Players were given the reins to guide six distinct soldiers through a narrative that traversed multiple countries and locales, including Russia, the UK, and the Middle East. It marked the beginning of a trilogy, introducing a fresh plotline and an extensive array of characters, effectively creating an ensemble cast.
2009’s Modern Warfare 2 resumed the story of tracking down Vladimir Makarov, the leader of Russian Ultranationalists. The game didn’t just confine you to Eastern Europe or Western Asia; it also transported you to the U.S., in a situation reminiscent of Red Dawn. Additionally, there was a section set in space, hinting at some intriguing developments for the series (which we’ll discuss further down the line).
In 2011, the concluding chapter of the trilogy, Modern Warfare 3, depicted a scenario where World War III was underway, transporting players across diverse continents such as Europe, Russia, Africa, and Asia. The narrative wrapped up the saga of Task Force 141, only to be revisited in 2019 with a fresh start for the Modern Warfare sub-series. This new trilogy unfolds within the Black Ops timeline, offering more authentic settings and characters. Some beloved characters have made a comeback as well.
Cold War shenanigans
Call of Duty: World at War (2008) not only marked a significant point during World War II but also initiated the Black Ops series by introducing specific characters and story arcs that were further developed across subsequent games.
As a passionate gamer, I was thrilled to embark on my first adventure with Black Ops (2010), a journey that transported me back to the tumultuous 1960s. In this gripping narrative, I found myself stepping into the role of CIA operative, Alex Mason, tasked with thwarting a chilling plot by Soviet sleeper agents aiming to unleash lethal chemicals, potentially crippling the United States.
In Black Ops II (released in 2012), the storyline leaps to the 1980s, setting the stage for another international conflict. This time, you’ll face off against a character named Raul Menendez, who is both an arms dealer and a terrorist. Remarkably, part of the campaign unfolds in the future – specifically, the year 2025 – where a Second Cold War has broken out. What sets this Call of Duty game apart is its non-linear structure, complete with multiple endings that are influenced by both your decisions and your success in the Strike Missions.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War adheres to its Cold War setting, immersing players in an ’80s storyline. What sets this game apart is the ability for players to customize their own character, as well as engaging in non-linear missions and planning future operations from a personal base of operations where you can interact with NPC characters.
In keeping with the tradition, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 carries on, as its single-player mode is based in the early ’90s.
The tales of advanced warfare: futuristic and sci-fi installments
The majority of Modern Warfare games, including Call of Duty: Ghosts from 2013, were primarily set in the not-too-distant future. Black Ops II, released in 2012, took us to the year 2025 and showcased advanced weaponry, gadgets, robots, and drones. Black Ops III (in 2015) and Black Ops 4 (in 2018) offered glimpses of even more remote futures: the 2040s for Black Ops 4 and the 2060s for Black Ops III.
In the following two spin-offs, the series took a turn for the extraordinary with futuristic elements. Between 2054 and 2061, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (released in 2014) focuses on private military companies, cutting-edge technology, and Exo Suits that enhance soldiers’ capabilities, making them even more formidable.
2016’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare marked a daring leap into the world of science fiction for the franchise, offering an immersive space-themed adventure instead of its traditional war settings. The game transports you to various planets within our Solar System, allowing combat in zero-gravity scenarios and piloting a starfighter known as the Jackal. Quite intriguing, isn’t it? However, the initial response was overwhelmingly negative. Fans strongly disliked the reveal trailer, making it one of the most disliked videos on YouTube at that time. The game itself was decent but many Call of Duty fans felt disgruntled with the series’ shift towards a futuristic narrative.
Zombies
Interestingly, unlike most game features, the Zombies mode in Call of Duty: World at War didn’t start off as part of the main narrative. Initially, it was additional content where players had to survive endless hordes of zombies, either alone or with others. Over time, however, this extra feature transformed into a standalone storyline or even a mini-universe within the game.
The whole plot behind this is too complicated to explain briefly, so we won’t delve into any of that here, but there were attempts to sum up the whole thing in, like, 60 seconds or so. More robust videos on that are usually around an hour long or even longer. This is how complex the Zombies’ backstory has become. You can also find some pretty curious fan summaries and theories on Reddit and the like, if you’re interested. And it’s not going to end anytime soon, as Black Ops 6 will introduce a brand-new chapter in the Zombies epic tale.
Overall, if you love pulp stories of the 30s and such, you’ll be in for quite a wild ride here.
Periods which ultimately weren’t tackled
Did you realize they were developing a Call of Duty game titled “Call of Duty: Roman Wars,” which would transport players into Julius Caesar’s era and let them experience his life as well as that of his commanders and soldiers? Regrettably, this project was canceled due to Activision finding it unusual to label it under the Call of Duty franchise. Interestingly, they didn’t seem to find such inconsistency with the series’ sci-fi installments…
Additionally, a Call of Duty game themed around the Vietnam War was being developed but ultimately cancelled. Remarkably, this version was intended to be a third-person shooter, not the typical first-person perspective. Regrettably, it remained unfinished due to Infinity Ward’s focus on completing Modern Warfare 3. However, Black Ops and Black Ops Cold War do include missions set in that time period, offering a glimpse of it nonetheless.
Heed the Call of Duty
It appears that modern combat is experiencing a resurgence, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 taking place in the ’90s, yet the franchise has witnessed a return to World War II motifs in games like Call of Duty: WWII (2017) and Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021). Additionally, there is an intriguing history behind the free-to-play titles, Warzone and Warzone 2.0, which have since been collectively referred to as simply “Warzone”, as the original game has been phased out in favor of its sequel.
Glance at it, and you’ll notice it’s quite a vast universe filled with captivating lore to explore. Whether you’re a history buff drawn to World War II and other historical conflicts or a fan of contemporary military matters, there should be something appealing for you in Call of Duty, as the series appears to appeal to diverse interests. If you’re intrigued and wish to dive in, check out some fantastic deals on assorted games within the franchise at G2A.COM. Enjoy your gaming adventure!
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2024-10-28 19:12