In the Spotlight: Brotherhood in War (Call of Duty WW2)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – It is, indeed, a rare occasion for me to cover a video game. The majority of the stuff I write about is mostly about anime and its community. However, something as interesting as Call of Duty WW2‘s release was to good to be ignored. After binging through videos of the game’s walkthrough, I can see that it can contend with its rival, Battlefield 1.

The game’s campaign is set in the second world war and follows the struggles of a twelve-man squad within the US First Infantry Division during the 1944 – 1945 European Theater, a time where Allied Forces where starting their push from Normandy to the heart of Nazi Germany.

As the player, you will be living through the eyes and ears of a soldier named Ronald Daniels, accompanied by his best friend Robet Zussman. Together with your squad of twelve, you will be embarking missions within notable WW2 battles such as the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

As I look at the various first-person shooter games within the gaming industry, there seems to be this drive to find a campaign set in an untouched historical conflict. The game, Battlefield 1, was set during the first world war and you, as the player, would control characters fighting in the different theaters of that war.

In Battlefield 1, you would go to places such as the Ottoman Empire as a rebel fighter under the command of the Lawrence of Arabia, a tank driver in the Battle of Cambrai, and many more.

Essentially, that game’s campaign was divided into different war stories and gave the player an insight on the men and women behind the triggers and gun sights. However, I think, in comparison to Call of Duty: WWII, the campaign in Battlefield 1 lacked enough time for a big deal of development in those individual characters.

In the case of Call of Duty: WWII, the player would feel and breathe the sights and sounds as consumed by the character they were playing with. The game allows much more character development and thus, makes each and every character within that twelve-man squad compelling and somewhat real.

The game allows you to feel that sense of urgency and importance as you are the spearhead of the Allied Forces’ advance in the European Theater. You get to feel that role as you get into the missions you take in the game.

As I watched this walkthrough of Call of Duty: WWII, there is that feeling of sympathy and that urge within to cheer on for these people who did not know the sheer level of hell they were about to go through as they signed up to fight in this war.

In history, we hear praises and positive remarks regarding these individuals who participated in this great war. However, in Call of Duty, we get to feel that all of these soldiers have their own faults and errors.

Every single day, they fight the enemy and as well as among themselves. The line between good and bad gradually blurs out day-by-day.

In this game, I felt the weight of every action, word, and event that happened to these individuals and how, as you play through their lives, they change in personality. They either grow too weak, or too hurt to the point that their entire being feels numb.

In terms of story, I believe that Call of Duty: WW2 has done a great job at depicting the emotional toll it had for soldiers who participated in this war.

For these people, there was “no mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great” and their “duty first.”