A Journey Through the Many Lives of Activision’s Iconic Franchise
The Journey So Far
Can you believe it? The Call of Duty franchise is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Born in 2003, the series has come a long way since its debut. “Considering that Activision has published 20 games in 20 years, there’s a lot of ground to cover,” and we’re here to do exactly that.
“It’s hard to believe that the Call of Duty franchise is 20 years old now. Since debuting in 2003, the shooter video game series has continued to make headlines, for better or worse.”
If you’re a fan eager to dive into the Call of Duty universe or just a gaming aficionado wanting to know how Modern Warfare 3 aligns with the sprawling series, we’ve got you covered. So, brace yourselves for a trip down nostalgia lane with some detours through the modern-day gaming world.
A Time Traveler’s Guide: Playing CoD in Release Order
An astute gamer might want to experience the franchise in the order the games were released. We’ve got you covered:
And the list goes on. But why stop at just playing? Why not devour our new gaming podcast, One More Life, to enrich your Call of Duty experience?
“Listen to our new Gaming podcast, One More Life.”
Reality Bites: Playing CoD in Historical Order
But what if you’re a stickler for historical accuracy and want to play the games in a sequence that reflects real-world timelines? Well, it’s more complex than it sounds, thanks to some games spanning multiple years and timelines.
Your journey would kick off with Call of Duty: WWII, followed by games like Finest Hour, World at War, and stretching all the way to the futuristic landscapes of Modern Warfare III.
“Call of Duty 3 takes place around the events of Operation Cobra, which involved the Allies battling their way out of Normandy.”
“Modern Warfare 3 serves as a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2 (2022), again following Task Force 141 as they attempt to thwart a global threat.”
Time vs. Rewards: The Longevity of Call of Duty Campaigns
“Call of Duty campaigns average from around six to eight hours in length,” making the overall commitment between 120 to 160 hours if you’re going for the complete set. In comparison to expansive titles like Baldurs Gate 3 or Starfield, this might not seem like a marathon.
“Now, don’t get us wrong, that’s a lot of time, but compare it to something like Baldurs Gate 3 or Starfield – which can easily surpass the combined duration – and it doesn’t look that huge of a task.”
Hall of Famers: Noteworthy Installments
Some CoD titles are more memorable than others. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, for example, veered away from the worn-out World War 2 settings, revitalizing the franchise. It was a gamble that clearly paid off.
“This was the first game in the series, in release order, to move away from World War 2 and it came at the right time as this felt like the reinvigoration that the games needed at this point.”
And who could forget Call of Duty: Ghosts? With its bombastic storyline, it’s one of the most action-packed titles in the series.
The Future Looks Warfare-Ready
As the series welcomes its latest addition, Modern Warfare 3, fans get to “thwart a global threat” yet again, with familiar characters returning to the fold. This 20-year-old franchise shows no signs of slowing down, keeping gamers on the edge of their seat, joystick in hand, ready to fight another battle.
“The cast will be made up of Captain John Price, Sergeant John ‘Soap’ MacTavish, Lieutenant Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley and Sergeant Kyle ‘Gaz’ Garrick, along with the return of fan favorite villain Vladimir Makarov – who will serve as the main antagonist.”
So here’s to 20 years of Call of Duty, a franchise that continues to entertain, innovate, and sometimes even educate. And who knows? Maybe in another 20 years, we’ll be discussing the virtual-reality iteration of Call of Duty! Until then, game on.
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