Call of Duty used to be known for its stunning settings that redefined the destruction of war. Today, that’s not the same; Call of Duty has moved into ultra-realism, leaving those grandiose campaigns behind and new players missing out on that experience.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (2011) has one of the most iconic scenes in the franchise that isn’t tied to the death of a beloved character or a shocking betrayal. The destruction and fall of the Eiffel Tower in France really showcased the stakes of the story and offered a sense of scale to the narrative. New players who grew up with MW2019, Vanguard, and MW2 (2022) won’t be able to experience these campaigns, where the story constantly reminds you that the world is at stake – not by telling you, but by showing you the capital of the United States of America being invaded.

The OG CoDs aren’t the only ones to continue this trend, as up until Infinite Warfare the campaigns were still throwing out massive set pieces to wow the player base. Whether you loved the IW campaign or not (I certainly did), it still had enough punch to put the world into perspective as a player. Seeing the Olympus Mons appear out of nowhere and realize how outclassed you were was an incredible moment in the game’s story.

The Black Ops series, unlike Warfare games, were more akin to spy movies with lots of intrigue and plot twists to keep you guessing. They still had their grand scale, but focused more on their characters and plot. Warfare games were once action movies where you broke down a door and shot enemies and then witnessed the destruction of a famous landmark.