The Easiest Call of Duty Campaign: A Veteran’s Perspective
So, you’re looking for the easiest Call of Duty campaign, eh? After countless hours spent dodging bullets, planting claymores, and screaming obscenities at my monitor (for research purposes, of course), I can confidently say that Call of Duty: Ghosts reigns supreme in the land of forgiving firefights. While often criticized for its story and overall gameplay, Ghosts stands out as the most accessible and manageable Call of Duty experience, especially when tackling it on the Veteran difficulty setting. Its forgiving mechanics, combined with predictable enemy AI, make it a surprisingly breezy run compared to some of the series’ more brutal offerings.
Why Ghosts Takes the Crown
Several factors contribute to Ghosts‘ status as the easiest Call of Duty campaign.
Slide to Victory
The introduction of an enhanced sliding mechanic is a game-changer. While sliding has become a staple in later Call of Duty titles, Ghosts presents it in a way that feels almost overpowered. You can rapidly close distances, evade enemy fire, and flank unsuspecting opponents with ease. This maneuverability drastically reduces your vulnerability and makes navigating firefights significantly simpler.
Cover is Your Best Friend (and Easily Exploitable)
Ghosts heavily emphasizes cover-based combat, but it doesn’t punish you as severely for leaving cover as some other CoD games do. The lean and peak mechanic allows you to pop out, take a few shots, and quickly retreat, minimizing your exposure to enemy fire. Furthermore, the enemy AI isn’t particularly aggressive about flushing you out of cover, making it relatively easy to pick them off one by one.
Enemy AI: More Predictable Than a Hollywood Plot
Let’s be honest, the enemy AI in Ghosts isn’t exactly groundbreaking. Their movement patterns are often predictable, and they tend to follow established routines. This makes it easier to anticipate their actions, plan your attacks, and avoid getting caught off guard. They are also less aggressive and accurate than in some other installments, leading to fewer frustrating deaths.
A Generous Checkpoint System
Ghosts is known to have an incredibly generous checkpoint system. Even if you do happen to fall in battle, you’re likely to be respawned very close to where you died, minimizing the amount of progress you lose. This reduces the frustration of replaying large sections and allows you to experiment with different strategies without significant penalty.
The Loyal Canine Companion, Riley
Of course, who can forget Riley, your canine companion? Riley is more than just a furry friend; he’s a valuable asset in combat. He can scout ahead, alert you to nearby enemies, and even take down opponents on his own. While not invincible, Riley can provide a crucial distraction and give you the breathing room you need to advance.
Alternatives and Honorable Mentions
While Ghosts is generally considered the easiest, other Call of Duty games offer relatively manageable campaign experiences.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019): As the article suggests, while it reinvigorated the franchise, 2019’s Modern Warfare actually had one of the easiest Veteran modes in franchise history.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009): Many find the campaign in MW2 to be manageable on higher difficulties.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War: While short, the gameplay isn’t overly challenging.
Why Difficulty Matters (or Doesn’t)
Ultimately, the perceived difficulty of a Call of Duty campaign is subjective. It depends on your skill level, your familiarity with the series, and your personal preferences. Some players thrive on the challenge of a punishing Veteran mode, while others prefer a more relaxed and forgiving experience. There is also educational games to choose from, which can be found on Games Learning Society.
The Educational Side of Gaming
Believe it or not, even Call of Duty can offer valuable learning experiences. Problem-solving, strategic thinking, and teamwork are all skills that can be honed through gameplay. Plus, exploring different historical settings (albeit fictionalized) can spark an interest in history and different cultures. For more information on the educational benefits of gaming, check out GamesLearningSociety.org.
Conclusion
While opinions may vary, Call of Duty: Ghosts undoubtedly offers a more accessible and forgiving campaign experience than many of its counterparts. Whether you’re a seasoned CoD veteran looking for a relaxing playthrough or a newcomer intimidated by the series’ reputation for difficulty, Ghosts provides a solid entry point. So grab your controller, leash up Riley, and prepare for a surprisingly easy ride.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the hardest Call of Duty campaign?
Call of Duty: World at War is widely regarded as the most challenging Call of Duty campaign, particularly on Veteran difficulty. The enemy AI is relentless, and the constant grenade spam is enough to drive even the most seasoned players insane. The Heart of the Reich mission is especially notorious for its brutal difficulty.
2. Which Call of Duty has the shortest campaign?
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has one of the shortest campaigns in the series, clocking in at around 5.5 hours.
3. Which Call of Duty has the longest campaign?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 technically has the longest solo content, but it’s broken up into individual missions rather than a unified campaign narrative.
4. Which Call of Duty has no campaign?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is the first Call of Duty game to forgo a traditional single-player campaign, focusing instead on Multiplayer, Zombies, and the Blackout battle royale mode.
5. What difficulty should I play Call of Duty on?
- Recruit: For players completely new to first-person shooters.
- Regular: The standard difficulty for a balanced challenge.
- Hardened: For experienced players who want a tougher test.
- Veteran: The most difficult setting, designed to push even the most skilled players to their limits.
6. Is Call of Duty easier than Battlefield?
Generally, Call of Duty is considered more accessible and easier to learn than Battlefield. Battlefield often requires more strategic thinking and teamwork, while Call of Duty tends to focus on fast-paced, individual skill.
7. What Call of Duty is best for offline play?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 and Call of Duty: WWII are excellent choices for offline play, offering strong single-player campaigns and bot support in multiplayer and/or zombies modes.
8. What is the most popular Call of Duty ever?
Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) is the best-selling Call of Duty game of all time, with over 31 million copies sold.
9. Who is the best Call of Duty campaign character?
Captain John Price is a consistently popular and iconic character, appearing in multiple Modern Warfare titles and earning the adoration of fans worldwide. Captain “Soap” MacTavish and Frank Woods are also highly regarded.
10. How long does a Call of Duty campaign usually take?
Most Call of Duty campaigns typically last between 6 and 10 hours.
11. Which Call of Duty has the most realistic campaign?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) is praised for its realism, incorporating photogrammetry and performance capture to create incredibly detailed environments and characters.
12. What Call of Duty should I play first?
If you want to experience the series in chronological order, start with Call of Duty (2003). However, many recommend starting with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) as it revitalized the franchise and set the standard for modern Call of Duty gameplay.
13. What is the least liked Call of Duty game?
Opinions vary, but Call of Duty: Ghosts and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare are often cited as among the least popular entries in the series.
14. Are there educational benefits to playing video games like Call of Duty?
Yes! Video games like Call of Duty can enhance problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and teamwork abilities. They can also introduce players to historical settings and events, sparking an interest in learning more.
15. Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of gaming?
The Games Learning Society is a great resource for information about the intersection of games and education. Check out their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.