Call of Duty: Ghosts released stateside today, and while I'm sure it'll no doubt be another hot commodity for publisher Activision, it seems as though the game is falling a bit short then previous CoD titles, at least as far as the reviews are concerned.
Black Ops 2, the previous game in the series wowed all comers, but it seems as though Ghosts is meant for only the most hardcore of CoD fans. How the mighty has fallen. Read why for yourself...
Destructoid, 5/10 - "Black Ops II was a step forward...an earnest attempt to inject fresh life into a flagging idea. By comparison, Ghosts is not only a failure to capitalize on the goodwill Black Ops II earned, it's a disappointing step backward...The campaign isn't exactly bad, but it is a banal shooting gallery without the remarkable setpieces or memorable moments to carry it. Very much a COD-by-numbers affair, players quickly blitz through the usual tasks with dutiful obligation. Indeed, "obligation" is a fitting word to use when talking aboutGhosts' solo missions -- the obligatory bit where a temporary player character dies, the obligatory aircraft sequence, the obligatory escape while shooting things from the back of a vehicle, the obligatory sniping part, the obligatory chapter where you're walking quietly in grass. More than any other Call of Duty, there is an overwhelming sense of having been there many times, and having done that more than you can count."
GiantBomb, 3/5 - "As Call of Duty does every year, Ghosts changes up the way you unlock the same sorts of guns, perks, and create-a-class options. This year, you have a squad of ten different soldiers, each of which can be visually customized with a variety of different heads, hats, and clothing. These serve as different sets of custom classes, in a way, since you can't change soldiers mid-match, but you can choose from a collection of loadouts and unlocks specific to that soldier. The choice between Assault, Support, and Specialist strike packages returns from Modern Warfare 3, and the perk limits feel a bit like Black Ops II's points-based class system in that you can opt to remove items from your loadout in exchange for more perk points. Each perk--these are the character modifiers like 'don't take fall damage' or 'be invisible to SAT COMs,'in case you forgot--has a number of points associated with them, and you're free to choose any perk you like, provided you don't go over your points total. There are no 'pro' versions of perks this time out. Care packages are relegated to a new 'field orders' system that asks you to complete specific tasks to earn a Care Package drop. Some of these are simple, so when you pick up a field order briefcase it might tell you to kill one enemy from behind or get a melee kill. It also might tell you to kill one enemy while jumping or, yes, 'humiliate' the next enemy you kill. Yeah. The game actually rewards you for teabagging. This might be the lamest thing to ever appear in a Call of Duty game."
Polygon, 6.5/10 - "Call of Duty: Ghosts is mired in a distinct lack of ambition. Outside of the stellar Extinction mode, Ghosts follows more often than it leads, bringing with it familiar missions, modes and experiences. Ghosts feels like an accountant's sequel, with just enough content to justify a new installment. It just never goes beyond that."
Joystiq, 3.5/5 - "Infinity Ward - along with a handful of other developers, including Neversoft and Raven - has delivered a largely by-the-numbers installment in Call of Duty: Ghosts. It layers a fresh coat of paint over a tired design document; a document that brings players down a rote campaign path before landing them in a multiplayer mode that abandons many of the creative advancements seen in Black Ops 2. While even a routine Call of Duty still brings with it a blockbuster ride through exciting engagements, and its multiplayer experience can compete with the industry's best, Call of Duty: Ghosts is a step in the wrong direction for the series and a stumble into the next generation."
Gamefront, 74/100 - "Given the volatility of consumer behavior surround next-gen console launches, you might expect Call of Duty: Ghosts to play it safe and lean heavily on past formulas. Instead, it goes in the complete opposite direction and crafts its own path. In some areas, like the Campaign and Extinction, that works exceptionally well, but in others, such as the Squads mode, it falls woefully flat. Multiplayer is serviceable and fun if you aren't looking for high level play and just want to have a good time, but it's severely lacking in competitive features and customization that the series needs. When you take a step back and look at the additions and changes to the core functionality of the game, it's quite clear that, despite everything Call of Duty: Ghosts does right, it's a step backwards in some regards. There's some extreme positives, like the campaign and Extinction, but squads and issues with online multiplayer hold Ghosts back from being something special. Instead of a great next-gen transition title, we're left with something that we'll likely look back on and say "Huh, remember how great that could have been?"
Gamespot, 8/10 - "...whereas Infinity Ward's recent work on the Modern Warfare series was weighed down by bewildering plot twists and an affinity for restricting its most exciting moments to noninteractive set dressing, Ghosts tells a lean, straightforward story that throws you into plenty of spectacular situations, but with more breathing room to appreciate the action. Along with the outstanding new Extinction co-op mode and an abundance of clever refinements to competitive multiplayer, Call of Duty: Ghosts is a refreshing and thoroughly satisfying entry in the blockbuster shooter franchise."
IGN, 8.8/10 - "Like a good sequel should, Call of Duty: Ghosts doesn't ignore the formula of fast, fluid gameplay that has made the series famous, but introduces a unique new premise, unprecedented player personalization, and sweeping changes that breathe new life into the multiplayer experience. It's over-the-top and at times unnecessarily complex, but serves both current and next-generation consoles with ambitious new ideas and tremendous replay value...[it] isn't a reinvention of the franchise, but proves there's still room for innovation within its existing formula. Though at the risk of overcomplicating things at times, its robust multiplayer gameplay, surprisingly fun co-op modes, and lengthy, challenging, and varied campaign makes Ghosts one of the best Call of Duty games to date."
Call of Duty: Ghosts is out now for PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and the Wii U. It will be available as a launch title for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One when the consoles release later this month.