If Nintendo wants to attract non-gamers with the Wii, it needs to keep them away from Call of Duty 3. Activision's latest World War II first person shooter makes the system look terrible, thanks to lackluster graphics and disappointing controls; a shame, since this game contains the same levels as its amazing Xbox 360 counterpart.
To be fair, this version comes with a steep learning curve. Unlike the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, which use the standard issue dual analog stick control scheme, Call of Duty 3 on the Wii employs the use of Nintendo's motion sensitive remote and nunchuk attachment. You move characters around with the nunchuk's analog stick and shoot Nazis by aiming the remote at the television screen. The set up seemed like a great idea, but unfortunately, the developers failed to capitalize on the technology. Instead of being able to nonchalantly aim weapons while sitting on the couch or even the floor, the Wii requires you to hold the controller level with the TV. Otherwise, the camera points towards the ceiling. However, even when controller and screen on are the same plane, the cursor moves much too fast. It's nearly impossible to get a good bead on some thing. Not only does this suck for hitting targets, but it also results in lots of damage. Since the game's artificial intelligence has excellent aim; it capitalizes on every single opportunity, even ones in which hapless players are busy fumbling with the ultra sensitive controls.
Sometimes, the controller fails to work altogether, though it cannot be determined whether this is an Activision or a Nintendo problem. Every once and awhile, the analog stick gets screwed up and fails to move left and right. Thankfully, disconnecting and then reconnecting the nunchuk to the remote solves this nasty issue.
If you've never seen Call of Duty 3 on the Xbox 360 and still want to check out the Wii version, resist the urge to play the game on Microsoft's more powerful hardware. On 360, Call of Duty 3 blows away the competition with stunning graphics and special effects. The Wii port, on the other hand, resembles something that belongs on the GameCube. That makes a lot of sense, seeing as how the Wii lacks the processing muscle of its competitors, but Activision doesn't help matters by showing the same intro -- the one that features Xbox 360 caliber graphics. At first glance, it appears that this Call of Duty 3 will look amazing. Then the first level begins as players enter a world with blurry textures, unimpressive weapon detail and ugly backdrops.
At least the game contains the same levels as the PS3 and Xbox 360 games. You still experience the Normandy Breakout Campaign through the eyes of American, Canadian, British and Polish soldiers. You'll ride on the back of a tank, barrel down dirt roads in jeeps, shoot Nazis with a large assortment of WWII weapons (pistols, machine guns, and bolt action rifles) and chuck grenades. Despite its terrible looks, the game still provides an intense shooting experience, one that takes some patience to beat, thanks to Call of Duty 3's ability to flood its maps with scores of enemies. The soundtrack also fits the time-period, the weapons do a great job making things dead, and the action rarely lets up. If you don't care about snazzy realistic graphics, Call of Duty 3 will give you a semi decent WWII fix.
Then again, the controls just don't work, and for whatever reason (most likely fearing real life injuries), Activision failed to include a multiplayer mode. While the Wii may be a truly revolutionary product, it won't do it with first person shooters like Call of Duty 3.
Related Links
Reader Comments (0)