Nerd Nook Review: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Nerd Nook Review: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Price: $59.99
Rating: M
Genre: First-person Shooter
Modes: Multiplayer, Campaign, Co-op
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, PC
Released by: Sledgehammer Games
Release date: November 3rd & 4th, 2014

Initial Rating: 9.1/10
Final Rating: 9.4/10

+ Smooth play style
+ Graphics
+ New loot system
+ Player customization
+/- Map layouts
+/- Exo Suits
– No weapon variation
– 50GB download, really?
– Spawn System

With the release of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Sledgehammer Games is working slowly to change the game style of Call of Duty. The addition of exo suits is making a huge mark on the game’s play style from boost jumping to turning invisible. I was amazed at the moment I put the game into my console.

From the first day of the game’s release, Advanced Warfare is an phenomenal  game, mostly because Sledgehammer Games is introducing something never seen before in COD that brings something new to be excited about. Exo suits are a biggest change by far in the game. They’re very intuitive, fun to use, and almost needed to get the most out of the game. Although with exo suits changing the game dramatically, they do take a while to get used to. I often found myself not being able to climb through a window because of my exo suit going off the entire time. However, can the exo suits be too much for COD? They bring a lot of new expectations to the FPS world with how different it is and possibly going back to regular FPS gameplay in new games in the future could be a huge down step.  Another huge change in the game is the new loot system, known as supply drops. You get supply drops randomly as you play the game. From these supply drops, you are able to get custom gear for your player, custom weapons, and in-game perks. To me, the whole loot system feels like its Christmas all the time.

The new campaign in Advanced Warfare brings a lot to the table for COD. Advanced Warfare takes place in 2054 America and doesn’t fail to show how futuristic it is, even with its tie into 21st century warfare. Sledgehammer ties the game into real time events and it almost makes me feel like this could happen any minute of the day. Another thing that makes Advanced Warfare stand out from most CODs, is the way they implemented real actors into the game. Kevin Spacey and Troy Baker play their roles spot on and with the graphics, I felt like I was watching a real movie. Although with the campaign being mostly amazing, every game has its cons. Not being able to use most of my exo abilities made me feel like I was missing out on what the game was really supposed to be played like. The campaign itself is also very predictable at times.

One very underrated mode in the game is the new Exo Survival. I caught myself becoming very frustrated playing the game mode a lot mostly because it is extremely difficult to complete the task in this game mode as well as finding a lobby in the first place. However, one thing that Sledgehammer did a tremendous job on is the plot the mode has. You can go from fighting guard dogs to fighting enormous robots which made it extremely hard to complete as little as 10 rounds. Although, those who play this mode have their hearts set to one prize, and one prize only: zombies! I mean, who doesn’t love zombies? However, getting able to get the zombie customization is the most difficult thing in the entire game.  In order to get the zombie customization pack, you must have completed at least 200 rounds of the Exo Survival, and a player like me that can barely complete 20 rounds, I found this very challenging to do.

Now to answer the real question every gamer has: Is this game really worth your $60? and my answer to that is, yes! It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Call of Duty fan or not, Advanced Warfare is a complete different game than any other COD released. Advanced Warfare is an amazing game for anybody that just loves to play FPS games and along with an amazing campaign and co-op mode, Advanced Warfare is at the top of my list for one of the best video games of all time.