Activision have packed away the rocket boots and hung up the jet packs, taking their Call of Duty franchise back to its Second World War roots.

Ever since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision have been backing themselves into a corner. Each annual edition of their Call of Duty franchise had to be bigger and better than the last. Having wiped out North America, and then the world, the series ended up exactly where I hoped that it never would, on an alien planet.

As far as I’m concerned, as much as I enjoyed playing it, with Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare the series jumped the shark in such a spectacular manner it would make Fonzie blush. From Advanced to Infinite Warfare, they’d even ran out of suitably hyperbolic titles.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Call of Duty was well overdue for a reset.

With Call of Duty: WWII we head back to the German occupation of Europe and once again, get to fight against the most deserving of enemies. Even the staunchest members of the PC brigade would have trouble arguing against filling Nazis with lead.

Repeat after me… the only good Nazi is a dead Nazi. It was true in 1944 and it is still true now.

But, the only thing worse and more deserving of your bullets than a Nazi is a zombie Nazi. Call of Duty: WWII has that covered for you as well.

Call of Duty: WWII is a game of three parts: the story campaign, the online multiplayer game and the co-op Nazi zombies mode. For many the cinematic campaign merely serves as a training exercise to the multiplayer mode, to others, the single-player element is Call of Duty.

In the opening scenes of the first Call of Duty game’s campaign, players parachuted behind enemy lines early in the morning of June 6, 1944, just before the D-Day landings. Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty was the spiritual successor to EA’s 1999 Medal of Honor, which was created by many of the same developers. MOH had already, very graphical, covered the Normandy landings only a few years before.

For this return to the Second World War, Call of Duty: WWII’s campaign, once more, places us on a landing craft heading to the shores of Normandy. Back in 1999 I though the Omaha Beach landing sequence in Medal of Honor was a very effective way of illustrating the horrors of war. In 2017, the visuals of COD: WWII pull no punches. Players, via the game engine’s almost photo-real visuals, brutally recreates events that on that beach and the bravery of the men who, in one day, turned the tide of the Second World War.

The graphics of Call of Duty: WWII are phenomenal. The visuals for the last few COD games have really raised the bar for first-person shooters, but in returning to the mud and grime of WWII, the graphics really get to transport us back to occupied France in 1944.

Featuring the likeness and vocal talents of Josh Duhamel from the Transformers movies, the campaign goes all out to provide players with a movie-like experience. Sledgehammer Games have mixed things up a little by introducing a health bar that doesn’t automatically refill. You need to use a medikit to heal. Your squad-mates can resupply you with ammo, grenades, medikits and intel on the enemy location with just a button-press, if they are in the vicinity.

On the whole the campaign works very well. There are a few quick-time- style elements that I wasn’t too hot on and there were some areas where progression seemed more about luck than any sort of skill. Still, I found the return to WWII a reset for the series which, to be honest, was getting a bit ridiculous.

The multiplayer game pits the Allies vs. the Axis across a series of maps and game modes. There have been changes to the class system, in that player now choose to sign up to one five divisions: Infantry, Airborne, Armoured, Mountain and Expeditionary. Basically, you are talking soldier, scout, heavy, sniper and (kind of) engineer.

The multiplayer game features a social hub-come-lobby where players can hang out, visit a shooting range and challenge each other to one-on-one duels. I can’t say that I was overly excited about it, preferring to play an online match than hang about.

Multiplayer has the usual selection of modes. Of particular note is War- an objective-based team match that has one team attacking and another defending in a historic scenario, for instance, the Normandy landings with the German team defending the beachhead whilst the Allies storm the bunkers. As the attackers succeed in their objectives the defenders are force back to the next position. This could be my new favourite mode.

Kill Confirmed overtook Domination as my favourite COD multiplayer map a few years back. Collecting the dog tags of your kills adding a bit of spice to the usual team deathmatch mode. Of course, old favourites like Capture-the-Flag and free-for-all also serve to get the adrenalin pumping.

Perhaps because I’m getting older, but the return to the classic boots-on-the-ground gameplay suits me a lot better. The vertical gameplay of recent iterations put me at the mercy of wall-running, rocket-booted ninja multiplayer opponents.

As well as online opponents, you can play the multiplayer maps solo with bots, with friends over a local network and even split-screen.

The Nazi Zombie mode adds a co-op mode in the typical over-the-top sci-fi style that is usual of COD’s zombie modes. We’ve not gone up against zombie Nazis since the first zombie mode back in COD: World at War.

This time, the mode includes the voice of former Doctor Who, David Tenant, as one of the characters you can play. The gameplay is similar to previous zombie modes in that it is a wave-based game, whereby your kills equate to credits that can be used to upgrade weapons and kit. In order to progress your team needs to work together to both hold off the zombies and carry out objectives in order to unlock the next section. Nazi Zombies is an acquired taste and one best shared with friends rather than randoms.

Call of Duty: WWII may not be the return to greatness that I was expecting, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. The game is visually stunning, especially running on a PS4 Pro in 4K HDR. The single-player campaign is, for the most part, a lot of fun. Multiplayer is great- although I’m not so keen on the hub, or the loot crate thing. Zombie Nazis is Zombie Nazis. Fans of the recent sci-fi Call of Duty games may be in for a shock with WWII’s down-to-Earth gameplay, but I for one am glad the franchise has returned to it’s roots.

The post Call of Duty WWII (PlayStation 4 Pro) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Polyphony’s landmark racing series gets its first PS4 outing with the release of Gran Turismo Sport. Back in the day Gran Turismo broke new ground. The racing game landscape is rather different, today.

To say the game is entering a rather crowded genre would be an understatement. Racing game fans have been inundated with new titles recently, most notably Project CARS 2 and Forza Motorsport 7 – both of which are catering for the more serious multi-disciplined racer. We’ve also had the likes of Formula One 2017 and, more recently, WRC 7 – dedicated to open-wheelers and rallying, respectively.

It’s worth noting that this is not Gran Turismo 7. The Sport suffix refers to the game’s close affiliation to the world of bona fide motorsport and it’s esports aspirations. Anyone expecting a rich and deep single-player racing experience is going to be sorely disappointed. Gran Turismo Sport is aimed squarely at delivering a multiplayer experience.

The game’s tight online integration means that you really need an internet connection to get the most out of the game. And I’m not just talking about the racing. GT Sport is packed with extras. I’d say that the developers have spent more time on the extras than the single-player element. First off, you’ve got the Brand Central, which is a lot more than just a place to buy cars. Each marque has a visual museum showing the history of their cars, promotional YouTube videos, a photoreal animated model showcase, details of concept cars and other info. It’s a car enthusiasts dream.

Hats off to the developers from providing such a polished product. The visuals are breathtaking, especially if you are playing on a 4K HDR TV. The cars look fantastic, as do the circuits. I’d argue that they do look a little too clean, but the backgrounds are practically photo-real. Disappointingly, though, but apart from some baked in time-of-day variations, there’s no choice of weather conditions, dynamic or otherwise. This really puts the game to shame compared to some of its peers.

The game is broken down into three modes: Arcade, Campaign and Sport.

Arcade is where you will find the game’s competitive single-player and split-screen content. Here you can race against AI opponents around the available unlocked tracks, partake in a time trial event, try you had at drifting and race locally against a friend in two-player split-screen. PSVR owners can sample the tracks, racing against A1 opponents in the VR Tour (more on that later).

The Campaign isn’t the career mode that you may have thought it was. It’s more like a training course. It features the driving school of previous GT games, a series of mission challenges and circuit experience – which teaches you about the intricacies of each circuit. I didn’t find there to be a lot of fun in Campaign as it’s just getting you ready for the online component.

Before you can compete online in Sport, you need to earn your qualifications in racing etiquette. This involves watching two videos regarding sportsmanship. Polyphony’s definition of good sportsmanship is “not doing things that make you look bad”, which is not exactly right in my book. It’s not about how others perceive you, it’s more about doing what’s right and behaving in a respectful manner. I assume that this was lost in translation, somewhere.

The online multiplayer is what GT Sport is all about. Sport mode boasts “proper” FIA race tournaments against other players entering you into a global Gran Turismo Sport contest. It’s here that you will find all the races and tournaments that were once solo affairs. There are daily races for you to enter, the FIA GT Nations Cup tournament and FIA GT Manufacturers Series. There’s even a race calendar to keep track of the races.

Gran Turismo Sport takes the competitive game very serious. Each lap generates a mountain of data that, if you are so inclined, you can scour through to tweak your car setup accordingly. A lot of effort has clearing been spend trying to make GT Sport the pinnacle of online racing games.

For a more casual online experience Lobby allows you to create your own races or join others via a simple browser interface. You can filter the races to find exactly what you are looking for, or create your own room and wait for others to join you and race.

I found the car handling a bit interesting, especially for a game that touts itself as being a real racing simulator. The cars are quite forgiving, especially when compared to the likes of Project CARS 2. I was easily able to drift around bends on the gravel circuits, and perform some pretty amazing cornering on tarmac. Very enjoyable, but unless I’ve suddenly got the ability to channel Lewis Hamilton, not that realistic.

The package provides plenty for the more create player to get their teeth into. Joining the livery editor, which is not an uncommon feature in today’s racing games, is the Scenes mode. If ever there was a non-gameplay time sponge in a game, Gran Turismo Sport’s Scenes mode is right up there with the best. Scenes allows you to take your car and place it in a specially prepared 2.5D photo backdrop. GT Sport then manages to accurately match your car with the lighting of the background image, blending them both together seamlessly. There are lots of backgrounds to choose from including architecture and even some beautiful landscapes from New Zealand.

As I mentioned, the game looks amazing on a 4K monitor. But if you want true immersion, the VR Tour will blow you away. Without a doubt the best virtual reality racing experience I’ve had on a console and second only to Project CARS 2 running in VR on a $4000 PC and a $1800 HTC Vive VR kit. With a Thrustmaster T300 racing wheel and a PSVR you ARE on the track and within one of the crispest VR environments I’ve experienced. There are some unfortunate compromises that relegate this to more of a novelty VR showcase that a proper part of the game. For starters, you can only race against one opponent. Secondly, unlike in other modes, none of your wins count towards your career progress.

Despite being so feature-packed, Gran Turismo Sport is really more of a follow up to the PS3’s Gran Turismo Prologue than a true Gran Turismo sequel. To compare it to Forza Motorsport 7 or Project CARS 2, both with robust single-player career modes, really doesn’t do GT Sport any favours.

Saying that, what it does well, it does very well, it’s just that there’s not enough of it. At its best Gran Turismo Sport is a beautiful-looking online racer, but at its worst it’s a very lean game release, full of folly and unnecessary padding.

The post Gran Turismo Sport (PS4 Pro) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Boo-yah! Crash fans can rejoice as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is now available for PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro owners. Activision brings Crash Bandicoot, one of the most famous game characters in history, back into fans’ living rooms with beautiful remastered HD graphics.

Play as Crash or his sister Coco in the three games that started it all: Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. In addition, today marks the launch of the Crash Bandicoot Comeback Speech Green Screen video (above), giving fans the ability to create their own custom videos featuring the famous Crash Bandicoot character. Even the Music from Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is also now available.

“Many people around the world (myself among them) count the early Crash Bandicoot games as one of their most beloved gaming experiences.  So it has been an honour and a labour of love for all of us at Activision to bring him into 2017, looking and playing better than ever,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision. “Our team at Vicarious Visions has done an amazing job giving players the Crash they remember with all the benefits of the modern era.”

“We’re so excited the day has finally come that Crash fans can relive some of their favourite gaming memories with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy,” said Jennifer Oneal, studio head for Vicarious Visions. “We’ve strived to make this AAA remaster a fantastic experience for all gamers, whether a hardcore fan or playing for the first time.”

Also available now is Music from Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.  This all-new musical score, composed by Vicarious Visions, was inspired by the original score by Mark Mothersbaugh and Josh Mancell. Featuring 47 tracks, Music from Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is available for streaming free, initially via Spotify.

With more than 100 Levels to explore, fans will enjoy seeing their beloved ‘90s video game icons like never before in this fully-remastered game collection. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy takes advantage of PlayStation 4 features and offers brand-new lighting, animations, textures, models and recreated cinematics, all in dazzling “N. Hanced Fur-K” and PS4 Pro HD.

For the first time, fans can enjoy seeing how they stack up against their friends and other players around the world via online leaderboards. Full analog stick support and a unified save system and checkpoint system will make it easier for new fans to enjoy the classic adventures, while improved bonus Levels and time trials in this epic trilogy will challenge the hardest of the ‘Coot core!

Also new in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, players can switch between playing as Crash or Coco at the press of a button. Coco is a fully playable (and sassy) character across all three games, and both characters have an N. Sane set of special attacks – each with their own style.

Activision and Vicarious Visions are honouring the heritage of Crash throughout the trilogy in a variety of ways, including a fully remastered game soundtrack packed with all the didgeridoos, xylophones and thumpin’ bass lines you can handle, as well as newly recorded dialogue from some of the familiar voice actors who appeared in the original Crash Bandicoot games, including Jess Harnell, Lex Lang and Debi Derryberry, among others.

Developed by Vicarious Visions, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is available now on PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro.

The post CRASH IS BACK FUR REALZ! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Ubisoft has announced at E3 2017 that gamers will take command of their own warship to live the ultimate pirate experience alongside their friends and become a legend of the open-ocean in Skull & Bones.

With development led by Ubisoft Singapore, Skull & Bones will take gamers to the Golden Age of Piracy where they will create their own unique pirate captains and sail through the beautiful yet treacherous Indian Ocean filled with rich merchant trade routes to loot. Whether it is on their own or as part of a pirate gang, gamers will take the helm of their powerful warship and lead their crew into the endless battle to rule the seas and become the deadliest pirate kingpin.

Skull & Bones is an online naval game that will take players across a dynamic, shared open-ocean that reacts to their actions and evolves to continuously challenge them. Building upon the studio’s naval gameplay expertise, Skull & Bones introduces an innovative wind system that gives gamers tactical opportunities to navigate more quickly, shoot further, hit harder, escape deadly blows, and position themselves to decimate their victims. Gamers will also be able to build their own fleet of ships, which can specialize in different battle conditions using the game’s extensive customization options.

“Skull & Bones is the game that our team has dreamed of building ever since we first set sail singing along to sea shanties and we are excited to finally share our vision” said Justin Farren, creative director. “Thanks to our systemic living world, our gameplay innovations, a strong fantasy and the team’s commitment to support the game in the long term, we believe that Skull & Bones will bring players a unique experience allowing them to live the intriguing and thrilling life of pirates.”

In preparation for launch, Skull & Bones will conduct several live alphas and betas. Gamers interested in participating can sign up HERE.

Skull & Bones will launch in fall 2018 for the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X, PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC.

The post Enlists Friends and Foes to Captain Warships as Notorious Pirates! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

It’s going to be an epic blast from the past, as both your favourite marsupials from Crash Bandicoot are back!

Activision Publishing, Inc announced to us and eager crowds at E3 2017 that for the first time Crash’s smart and spirited little sister, Coco, will be playable throughout the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.

In Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, players can take a visually stunning, nostalgic ride as Crash or Coco in all three Crash games that started it all: Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped.

“We are so excited to give players the ability to play as Coco in all three games in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy,” said Jennifer Oneal, studio head for Vicarious Visions. “She’s not just Crash’s little sister, she is a force to be reckoned with. Our vision was to create a modern Coco for Crash fans and newcomers, and we think they’re going to love playing as her.”

In the remastered Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Coco has decided to hack into the Time Twister to travel back in time to help Crash in his previous adventures. Now as a fully playable (and a bit sassy) character across all three games, fans can switch between playing as Crash or Coco.  Both characters have an N. Sane set of special attacks – each with their own style!  Where Crash body slams enemies, Coco takes them out with the impact of a double leg drop! Fans will love to see all her new moves and animations, including idle moves like dancing with Crash.

“Activision recently left a nearly complete build of the remastered Crash trilogy at Naughty Dog, and I’ve played all three games,” said Evan Wells, President, Naughty Dog. “Vicarious Visions took amazing care in maintaining the feel and soul of the originals but brought the visuals up to modern day standards and added a number of new features that’s made them even more fun to play than remembered.”

Fans will enjoy seeing their beloved ‘90s video game icons like never before in this fully-remastered game collection. Developed by Vicarious Visions, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy takes advantage of PlayStation 4 features and offers brand-new lighting, animations, textures, models and recreated cinematics—all in dazzling “N. Hanced Fur-K” and PS4 Pro HD.

Full analog stick support and a unified save system and checkpoint system will make it easier for new fans to enjoy the classic adventures. And improved bonus levels and time trials in this epic trilogy will challenge the hardest of the ‘Coot core! Fans will enjoy seeing how they stack up against their friends and other players around the world via the online leaderboards.

Activision and Vicarious Visions are honouring the heritage of Crash throughout the trilogy in a variety of ways, including a fully-remastered game soundtrack packed with all the didgeridoos, xylophones and thumpin’ bass lines you can handle, as well as newly recorded dialogue from some of the familiar voice actors who appear in the original Crash Bandicoot games, including Jess Harnell, Lex Lang and Debi Derryberry, among others.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is slated to spin, jump and wump onto store shelves on June 30, 2017 and is available now worldwide for pre-order on PS4 and PS4 Pro.

The post COCO COMES TO CRASH THE PARTY! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Put some Umph in your Wump… Crash Bandicoot is back – in 4K.

Our favorite marsupial Crash Bandicoot is enhanced, entranced and ready-to-dance in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Revealed on Sunday at PlayStation Experience (PSX) in Anaheim, California, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy lets players spin, jump and wump as they take on the epic challenges and adventures from the three Crash games that started it all: Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot: Warped.

Developed by Vicarious Visions, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is being built from the ground up for the PlayStation 4 with brand-new lighting, animations, environments and recreated cinematics – all in stunning “N. Hanced Fur-K” and PS4 Pro HD.  Fans new and old alike will enjoy seeing the beloved ‘90s video game icon like never before in this fully-remastered game collection.

What’s more, the trilogy will feature full analog stick support, a unified save system and unified checkpoint system, making it easier than ever for new fans to enjoy the classic adventures. Additionally, improved bonus Levels and time trials throughout the games will make this an epic trilogy for the hardest of the ‘Coot core!

Activision and Vicarious Visions are honoring the heritage of Crash throughout the trilogy in a variety of ways, including a fully-remastered game soundtrack, packed with all the didgeridoos, xylophones and thumpin’ bass lines you can handle, as well as newly recorded dialogue from some of the familiar voice actors who appear in the original Crash Bandicoot games, including Jess Harnell and Lex Lang, among others (as appropriate).

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is slated to launch in 2017 and is available now worldwide for pre-order on PS4 and PS4 PRO.

The post The Bandicoot is Back! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Recently at PlayStation Experience 2016, Square Enix Montréal announced Lara Croft GO, the Lara Croft adventure, is now available for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita and is fully compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro. Developed in collaboration with Montréal indie studio, KO_OP, Lara Croft GO will feature a new story chapter, “Mirror of Spirits,” which includes new puzzles, mechanics, achievements, trophies and more—available first for PlayStation.  

“We’ve partnered with the talented artists at KO_OP to deliver a new Lara Croft GO chapter all while retaining the spirit of the Lara Croft franchise,” said Antoine Routon, lead engineer and co-creative at Square Enix Montréal. “Extending Lara Croft GO beyond the mobile platforms is a testament to the game’s success and our team is incredibly proud.”

In Lara Croft GO, Lara uses her wits and weapons to delve into dangerous chasms filled with mystery, artifacts and peril. Featuring an ambient, mesmerizing soundtrack, stunning art style, and didactic turn-based puzzle solving that made the game a critical and commercial success on mobile platforms last year, the new console version features finely tuned controls, trophies (including a platinum), as well as cross-buy and cross-save functionalities so you can purchase and play it on both platforms without losing progress.

“This has been a momentous time for Lara Croft, as the industry and gamers worldwide have joined us in celebrating The Year of Tomb Raider,” said Rich Briggs, Global Brand Director at Crystal Dynamics. “Lara Croft first appeared on PlayStation in 1996, and 20 years later it’s exciting to pay homage to this legacy by bringing Lara Croft GO to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita first.”

Lara Croft GO is available with an added 20 percent discount for PS Plus Members. The game is also available on Steam as of Sunday, December 4th, 2016, featuring all of the original content with the ‘Mirror of Spirits’ story chapter following three months later. Additional platforms will be discussed at a later date.

The turn-based puzzle adventure game casts players as the iconic Lara Croft as she explores the ancient ruins of a long forgotten civilization. Over the span of seven chapters and 115 puzzles, players must help Lara fight menacing enemies, overcome dangerous obstacles and traps, and ultimately, uncover the myth of the Queen of Venom. Along the way, players can collect ancient relics hidden throughout the game world to unlock additional outfits for the most nostalgic fans.

The post Lara Croft is GO on PlayStation 4 & PS Vita appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is many things. It’s a top-class first-person shooter, it’s a visual feast, it’s a triumph of single-player narrative adventure, it’s a pant-wettingly exciting multiplayer game, but it’s not Call of Duty.

It’s a sci-fi shooter with more in common with Microsoft’s Halo and EA’s Titanfall series than the classic military FPS franchise that it is aping.

To be fair, though the Call of Duty series went off the reservation after Modern Warfare 3, narratively backing themselves into a corner that could only be solved by channeling Michael Bay. Over the last thirteen years the series has taken us from the D-Day landings to dogfighting in space.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is the first game from the franchise’s original developer, Infinity Ward, since 2013’s Call of Duty: Ghosts. It’s really three games in one. First you have the single-player campaign game, then you have the Zombies in Spaceland distraction, and finally the multiplayer game.

If you purchased the Legacy Edition (which I recommend you do), you also get the superb Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. This addition is worth the ticket price, alone, if you’d never played it before or want an awesome bit of nostalgia.

Whilst EA have taken their Battlefield series back to the First World War, Activision have continued the Infinity Ward Call of Duty storyline, pushing the game even further into the future.We have jetpacks, we can wall run and we now have a grapple as well. If this sounds a little like the pilot modes from Titanfall 2, you’d be right.

There is no doubt in my mind that Infinite Warfare is a sci-fi shooter. Although, whilst we may have jet-boots, the developer has, thankfully, stopped short of giving us laser guns. The idea is to project present technology into a future setting. The guns, whilst futuristic, behave the same as contemporary weaponry. Even your capital ship, the Retribution, has an old-school battleship vibe about it. Also, the game is constrained to our solar system, so there’s no aliens.

The Call of Duty formula has, however, been tweaked to give us zero gravity shootouts and, perhaps the biggest departure yet, aerial battles in the Jackal fighter craft. Yep, space-ship battles. Some of the missions have you blasting defences from the cockpit of your Jackal, before landing and continuing the assault on foot. This is all seamless and pretty impressive, adding another dimension to the campaign.

In the future Earth’s resources, have been depleted. The people of Earth now rely on colonists mining the solar system for survival. Protecting Earth’s interest is the United Nations Space Alliance (UNSA). Unfortunately, the Settlement Defence Front, led by Kit Harrington, playing one of the most unconvincing bad guys ever, wants to mess it all up.

Cue Commander Nick Reyes, all-American hero and Captain of the UNSA Retribution. He and his rag-tag crew set out to take down the SDF and its leader Admiral Salen Kotch.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare ought to win an award for the amount of stunt casting employed in the single-player game. I’ve already mentioned Game of Throne’s Kit Harrington, but the cast also includes Babylon 5’s Claudia Christian, Aussie Farscape/Stargate/everything sci-fi veteran, Claudia Black, F1 champ Lewis Hamilton and Irish UFC fighter Connor McGregor.

Moving away from the linear path of previous titles, once aboard the Retribution, you can choose your missions. These take the form of optional aerial-base Jackal Strikes and Ship Assaults.

There’s still a main mission structure for game progression, but it’s up to you how you proceed. Whilst I see what they are trying to do. I found the carefully scripted movie-style progression of the Call of Duty games part of its charm. Now we have a load of missions that, whilst being very good, don’t really add anything to the story.

Thankfully, the Infinite Warfare plot, whilst a bit hocky, is engaging and the campaign is full of great set pieces. Of particular note is the mission Operation Dark Quarry, which has you and your team assaulting a mining colony on an asteroid that has been knocked out of position. The rapidly rotating asteroid’s surface is periodically being boiled by the sun. You must stay in the shadows and avoid the “daylight” period if you don’t want to be cooked. There’s also something pretty awesome with stealthily approaching a starship by zero-G EVA within an asteroid field.

For many, it’s the multiplayer aspect of the Call of Duty games that is the main draw. And in this respect, Infinite Warfare does not disappoint.

The incredibly popular Zombies mode returns. Whilst the appeal of this now tongue-in-cheek co-op mode is beyond me, teams of friends can take on a Zombie-infested theme park with a distinctive 80’s retro feel, including an appearance by the Knight Rider, himself, David Hasselhoff. You spend your time boarding up windows, shooting waves of zombies whilst upgrading your weapons and opening up the level. If you’ve enjoyed previous COD Zombie game modes in the past, you’ll like this one.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’s multiplayer mode is about as polished a multiplayer shooter you can get. As a multiplayer game, all my whinging about jet packs and wall running go out the windows. The finely honed vertical gameplay allows for some spectacular gunfights. It’s the Call of Duty multiplayer that you remember, but on steroids. It’s fast and unforgiving.

All your favorited game modes return including Kill Confirmed and Domination with the addition of Frontline (players spawn at their base) and Defender (capture the drone). Customisation is carried out via your combat rig, a tactical combat suit build for a particular role. You can also craft your own prototype weaponry.

The visuals do not disappoint and, on the PS4 Pro, are crisp and with absolutely no sign of any jagged edges. The framerate is flawless running at what I’d guess to be 60fps. The graphics are pretty breathtaking and polished beyond believe, but you’d expect nothing less from Activision’s flagship franchise.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is a formidable package, especially if you pick up the Legacy Edition with the Modern Warfare Remastered. The single player campaign is a lot of fun and packed with excitement. I’m not sure how much more future warfare the series has in it, though. The multiplayer game is excellent as ever and the zombies, well it’s there is you like a bit of left-field undead slaughtering co-op.