Every now and then a game comes along that raises the bar for first-person shooters, but "Call of Duty" not only raises the bar, it gets a big running start and pole-vaults right over it. Despite the glut of World War II-themed games, "X-Play" can't help but answer the call.

Band of brothers

If "Medal of Honor: Allied Assault" is the Saving Private Ryan of videogames, then "Call of Duty" is Band of Brothers. The game takes the predictable mission structure we've seen a million times in first-person shooters and adds one very, very important detail. You are not alone.

In "Medal of Honor" you usually played as a one-man Nazi-killing machine. "Call of Duty" puts the emphasis on being part of the team. Through most of the single-player campaign, computer-controlled squad mates constantly surround you. They lay down covering fire, move carefully from place to place, and do a pretty good job of taking on the enemy. This is all so convincing, you begin to behave similarly. Yes, you can charge ahead of your squad and try to be the hero, but you'll likely be cut down before you know it. Sticking with your men greatly increases your chances of survival.

All about action

Although teamwork plays an important role in "Call of Duty," this game is all about action. You don't control or issue tactical orders to your squad. They move and react on their own. The nearest comparison is the space marines in "Halo," but in "Call of Duty" the effect is far more convincing. Since you don't have to baby-sit your squad, you can focus on keeping yourself out of harm's way.

"Call of Duty" relies on the proper use of cover more than most shooters. The importance of crouching or going prone becomes painfully obvious from the very first mission. Equally important is using the lean keys to peek around corners and take potshots at the enemy. Surprisingly, this doesn't slow down the action. The pace of the game remains remarkably brisk -- even when you're hiding behind a pile of rubble, waiting for a break in the gunfire.

Battlefield experience

You don't play "Call of Duty" so much as experience it. Every mission is a masterpiece of level design mixed with brilliant AI and superbly scripted events. You can play missions for the American, British, and Russian armed forces, and each one feels unique.

The American missions are filled with wide-eyed, gung-ho heroics. But it's clear that most of the soldiers are in over their heads. The British missions focus a little more on stealth and subterfuge. There's a fair amount of document stealing and sabotage. And more often than not, you go it alone or in a very small group. These tend to be the weakest missions of the bunch.

The Russian missions are the most interesting and poignant. The opening sequence -- taking place in a crowded boat crossing the Volga River into Stalingrad -- will remind many gamers of the Omaha Beach mission from "Allied Assault." But this opening sequence eclipses all previous attempts to re-create a wartime experience in terms of sheer spectacle. Being forced at gunpoint to charge up the riverbank with hundreds of frightened and poorly armed Russian soldiers is horrifying. This is a moment in gaming that will be talked about for years to come.

Online warfare

The single-player experience is very short -- even for a shooter. But every detail of the single-player mission is so expertly crafted, it holds up to repeated play, especially at the harder difficulty levels. For players itching to get online, "Call of Duty" offers standard death match and capture the flag modes. In addition, there are three special modes. The behind enemy lines mode pits a vastly outnumbered Allied team against an overwhelming force of Axis players. Retrieval has one team stealing documents from the other team and returning them to a safe zone. Search and destroy has one team out to destroy certain objects on the map while the other team defends. This is good added value, but the star of the show is still the single-player game.

Answer the call

It's hard to find fault with "Call of Duty." It has it all: harrowing missions, top-notch graphics and special effects, and convincing audio and voice acting. Few games in this genre approach the level of polish and design seen here. Playing through the game as part of a team is no gimmick -- instead, it turns a good game into a great one. Do yourself a favor. Buy this game. Just don't forget to keep your head down.

"Call of Duty" (PC)