With the next generation of gaming finally on the UK shelves, the developers at Infinity Ward thought it would be a top idea to have Call Of Duty 2 launch not only for the PC, but for the Xbox 360 as well. With the game taking place in Europe, Asia and even parts of North Africa, Call Of Duty 2 is the first WWII shooter to make it to the Xbox 360 and it has most certainly set the bar very, very high. With incredibly impressive visuals, rip-roaringly fast paced gameplay and some of the most involving missions yet seen in this series, Call Of Duty 2 is a must-have title for any Xbox 360 owner.

While there's been a deluge of half decent WWII shooters in the last few years, the Call Of Duty series has always been a cut above the rest and its outstanding pedigree continues into this title. You start the game as a young Russian conscript and you're introduced to the control system by running through some simple objectives. Movement and looking is performed via the dual analog sticks, whilst the left trigger utilises a gun's sights and the right trigger fires. The game also uses the new left and right shoulder pads which let you throw smoke and frag grenades. One of the coolest features is when you press the left trigger and it brings up your gun's scope, be it a pistol or a sniper rifle you're using at the time. If you press in the left analog stick whilst looking down the scope, your character holds his breath, steadying his aim so you can take down the Jerries easier. The control system is spot on and you'll soon find that to progress through the game you'll need to constantly use every facet of the system to survive the Nazi onslaught. Whether it's sniping retreating German soldiers from cover or deploying smoke grenades to advance, Call of Duty 2's control system is so beautifully designed you can't help but admire it.

The single player campaign in Call Of Duty 2 is nothing short of completely and utterly enthralling. From the very start, a certain bond is developed between the main hero and his comrades, because each and every one of them is looking out for each other. Instead of feeling like you can take out all of Nazi Germany on your own with just a Thompson machine gun, it will take all of your available resources to survive. Typically, missions involve your squad either being forced to push through enemy lines or defend a certain location and in both instances the battles are epic.

While a majority of the troops become involved in head-on confrontations, the computer A.I. is smart enough to sneak around back and flank the opposition when possible. Whether you prefer to sit back and pick off baddies one by one or if you love getting right into your enemy's face, your squad will always be right by your side. As a result, you must act as a leader and take your team deep into the heart of enemy territory, because they'd be too afraid to do so otherwise. Even though the entire single player segment of the game is based on constantly moving from one point to the next, the intricate level designs and diversity between the nations keeps the campaign feeling fresh all the way through.

From the massive cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to the harsh wintry setting at Stalingrad, the environments and available weaponry are constantly changing to rid this game of repetitiveness. In one mission you need to take down endless waves of incoming soldiers with turrets and moments later you're sneaking behind enemy lines to assassinate a pesky sniper. Utilising your environment is crucial to survival, so a change in scenery is easily noticed. Best of all, just in case you decide to run in front of a turret or jump on top of a grenade, a checkpoint is saved after every major firefight to help make the more challenging missions a little less frustrating. Despite some of the levels feeling a bit linear at times, Call Of Duty 2's single-player campaign as a whole is definitely worth playing through.

Call Of Duty 2 can be played split screen and over Xbox Live, and the shooter experience translates very nicely from the PC to the Xbox 360. The typical game modes are present, including Deathmatch, Search and Destroy, and Capture the Flag. In addition to the Russian, British, and American soldiers you can control in the single-player mode, you can also take role of your favourite Nazi in this Axis vs. Allies brawl. It is a little disappointing that only 8 players can be in a game at a time, but having 16 players could have its fair share of problems as well. 8 player games can be extremely laggy right from the start, to the point where the game isn't playable at all. There isn't any lobby for you to select a game room; instead you can choose to participate in a ranked or unranked match, then you'll randomly be placed with other players.

Still, once you manage to get into a steady server with at least 6 people, the game is loads of fun. The maps are big enough to accommodate snipers, yet small enough to allow foot soldiers to do some major damage. The best part about the online play is that there is always more than one path to take to get to the back of your enemy's base. Because of this, a bothersome sniper may think he has the upper hand once he kills a few oblivious troops, but there's nothing more satisfying than beating him to death with the butt of your rifle. Playing online or split screen with your friends is a fantastic experience, especially if you don't feel like following objectives.

While the gameplay in Call Of Duty 2 is commendable in itself, the outstanding presentation value makes the entire experience memorable. The Xbox 360 truly shows off its next generation capabilities, which are all the more enjoyable if you have an HDTV. The character models have lifelike movements and are heavily detailed, although the textures can look a little grainy if you get too close. The particle effects are stunning; the muzzle flash from a gun will light up the screen, while a smoke grenade can safely shadow your squad from hailing turret fire. The environments also look top notch, no matter how closely you scrutinise the textures, and there aren't any rough edges to speak of.

Likewise, an intense war game wouldn't be complete without a sufficient audio performance. As expected, the chaos on the battlefield isn't only seen, but it is heard as well. Comrades chant together as they rush out in their last hurrah, while some shriek as the first bullet pierces their skin. The blaring machine guns, powerful sniper rifles and heavy grenade explosions are all accompanied by a dramatic soundtrack that suits the mood perfectly. Being on the battlefield in Call Of Duty 2 is an enthralling experience that will leave your heart pounding in awe.

Call Of Duty 2 is a great title to help usher in the next generation of gaming. The impressive presentation and intuitive gameplay make a surprisingly enjoyable WWII adventure, despite this being a member of a tired genre. This game clearly sets the standards for what a next generation first person shooter should be like and this is definitely a must have for any Xbox 360 shooter fan.

Reviewed by Ross Alexander for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).