Return

 It's been a very traumatic two years. I'd entirely forgotten about this blog. Trauma does that--it eradicates everything that went before, making you a stranger to yourself.

To get back:

I've played three Call of Duty campaigns this year. I'm not sure if that's healthy.  The three in question were the new Modern Warfare II, Cold War, and Vanguard. 

The one thing that unites all three of them is that they focus a lot on guns, bullets not really hurting until maybe the fifth or sixth one hits you, and being too long. There is always one or two extra sequences that are not needed in terms of plot but sure do help pad out the game. This doesn't detract overly much from enjoying the campaign, but some merciful editing would be helpful.

Of the three, Modern Warfare II is the most brave. It's your standard grim military story, with grim men being terse while saving the world. It's bravery lies in the game's choice of bad guy. In a tense political time, it's surprising that they went this route. It elevates the standard story with that choice. Without that, it's just another by the numbers COD campaign.

Of all the characters, most are standard grim COD guys. But the only real lights are two Mexican characters, one a cop, the other a cartel leader. The latter has proven to be a popular operator in Multiplayer, which is interesting.

The unnecessary added scene here is a cat and mouse game that makes the player assemble weaponry while hiding. It's fine, but at this point, I just wanted the game to end.

Cold War offers a more interesting story. Set in the 80s,  you play as an agent on a strike team chasing after a Soviet villain. Being part of the Black Ops subgenre, there is a psychological angle added to the running and gunning. The realization of 80s Europe and Moscow are well done and add a lot to the experience. The lighting especially is wonderful, especially in Moscow. If it's possible to capture the Eighties in sunlight, they did it.

Again, the characters remain samey and forgettable. One character looks like James Spader from Pretty In Pink, which I guess is something.

Here, the unnecessary scene is of a psychological nature that runs on way too long. To say you're hammered in the head with a plot reveal would be to fall prey to understatement. Still, it's a game not afraid to embrace its own cynicism, and boy, does it.

My favourite, though, was Vanguard. 

Set during the end of the Second World War, it focuses on an international team striking into enemy lines. Aside from the main story, we are also get to experience the backstories of the team members. The game ends with a thrilling chase across Berlin to stop the formation of the Fourth Reich.

The stand out character from the usual cast of stereotypes is Lady Nightingale, a Soviet sniper. Of all the back stories, hers was the most interesting, especially in her final battle in a destroyed dress makers shop. Much of this is down to voice actress Laura Bailey, who brings her to life in a way the other characters do not. 

The unnecessary scene here was a Desert Rat battle that just added drama to a character who really wasn't that distinguishable from anyone else. 

Still, it was the best of the campaigns. The lighting and sets had a lot to do with this, from the aforementioned dress shop to the cold winter light in Stalingrad. It was clear that the creative team loved the time period, and it really shows.

So, that's some of what I've been up to. I hope I remember to come back here.