Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Activision
Three stars
Kevin Spacey can't save Call of Duty from itself. But perhaps an Iron Man-like "exoskeleton" can. The Hollywood actor plays the egomaniacal leader of a private military corporation in the single-player story mode of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Activision, for the PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One).
Despite the often-choppy animation of his performance-capture acting, Spacey lends smarmy gravitas to his character, the highlight of an otherwise rote, self-serious, globe-trotting campaign.
Longtime CoD fans may find themselves yawning as various commanders guide the player-controlled soldier Jack Mitchell on familiar missions revolving around multiple terror attacks and shifting allegiances. The levels are built with immense graphical polish and meticulous attention to detail, but too often feel like they're simply ticking boxes required in a modern first-person shooter.
You’ll snipe from afar, get a “sitrep” (situation report) and be advised to “let them pass”. You’ll fight on a bridge, on an aircraft carrier and at a fancy resort. You’ll fly a plane, rappel, zip line into battle and command a turret gun.
Despite the futuristic setting – the plot kicks off in 2054 – players only get minor iterations on core game mechanics that have changed little since 2007's Modern Warfare. I had hoped for more from the new lead developer Sledgehammer Games.
The key innovation – an “exoskeleton” armoured suit – is woefully underutilised in the single-player story. Fortunately, it’s indispensable and highly customisable in the online multiplayer mode, where most people spend the vast majority of their time.
Movement through maps is fundamentally changed by the exo-suit’s ability to swiftly double-jump and dodge, both accompanied by a pneumatic whoosh sound and cool onscreen blur effects. Unlockable perks include temporary cloaking, health or speed boosts.
On the surface, it’s stuff that space shooters such as Halo have been doing for years, but there’s a weightiness and sheen to the execution here that more than makes up for the less-than-stellar single-player mode.
Another interesting graphical change stemming from the exo-suit: multiplayer is refreshingly bloodless, with the bonus option of spattering walls and other players with paintball effects.
Advanced Warfare is a big step up from last year's undercooked, muddled Ghosts. Here's hoping for more innovation next time around.