Infinite Warfare Takes The Call Of Duty Series To New Heights

In Star Trek, Captain Kirk described space as “the final frontier.” In Infinite Warfare, man’s constant desire to explore the uncharted reaches that lie above the Earth rings true. Space seems like the logical step in this technologically advanced series, and it works perfectly.

The vast and empty starscape is like something out of a Star Wars movie. Different planets require players to stand back in awe. The visuals are among the best in the series, with character models looking very realistic, and the environments beautifully designed.

The story compliments the design very well. The struggle between the Settlement Defense Front (SDF) and the Special Combat Air Recon (SCAR) is something of epic proportions, similar to great science fiction authors like Frank Herbert or Orson Scott Card.

Aside from the conflict between the two factions are the internal struggles between protagonist Nick Reyes and his crew at the Solar Associated Treaty Organization (SATO). His sudden promotion to a higher rank creates tension in an enjoyably fresh campaign.

It’s a well-written story full of action, drama and tension, but with a bit of heart. Like a darker and grittier version of the Halo games, it’s an epic tale told with grief and the struggles of man trying to take over the galaxy.

Plus, Game of Thrones fans should be happy to know that Kit Harington plays a pretty cool villain, though he gets less screen time than Kevin Spacey’s character in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

The campaign still plays like the same CoD game we’ve played every year (or hated on YouTube way before it came out) with corridor shooting levels and grand set pieces. The changes come in the form of some cool zero gravity levels and a surprisingly fun spaceship level.

Unfortunately, none of the interesting gameplay translates into the multiplayer mode. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun. It’s infuriating. It’s probably going to occupy your time in between other games, but it feels exactly the same as the past.

Despite this, the excellent pick 10 system returns, allowing for endless combinations in loadouts. Feel like only using perks while going full commando with a knife? Do that. Feel like only carrying two pistols and a ton of explosives? Yeah, you can do that too.

But even with these options  the maps feel uninspired and boring. The ability to run across walls adds verticality, but traversing the map is confusing and frustrating when someone gets a kill because you can’t execute a run right.  

For those looking for a little humor in this gaming package, they should check out the zombies mode. Infinity Ward’s take on Treyarch’s long-running mode from the Black Ops series features an 80s style story with a hilarious voice cast. Oh, and David Hasselhoff is in it.

That’s pretty awesome.

Overall, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare does not change things significantly to move the series forward, but it’s a step in the right direction. A definite improvement over Infinity Ward’s previous effort, Ghosts, Infinite Warfare is a fun, frantic and well written first person-shooter game.