Released in November 2014, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare represented a significant shift in the long-running Call of Duty series. Developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision, it was the first Call of Duty title from Sledgehammer as the primary developer. The game took a bold step away from the franchise’s traditional near-modern and historical warfare settings, diving headfirst into a futuristic vision of combat.
With its innovative gameplay mechanics, compelling narrative, and next-generation visuals, Advanced Warfare aimed to redefine what fans could expect from Call of Duty. This blog post explores the game’s story, gameplay innovations, multiplayer features, and its impact on the series.
A New Era: The Story and Setting
Unlike previous Call of Duty entries rooted in World War II or modern warfare, Advanced Warfare catapulted players into the year 2054, where technology and warfare had evolved dramatically. The backdrop is a future dominated by private military corporations (PMCs), which have essentially replaced traditional national armies.
The Rise of Atlas Corporation
The central antagonist and driving force of the game’s narrative is Jonathan Irons, the charismatic yet ruthless CEO of Atlas Corporation, the most powerful PMC in the world. Played by renowned actor Kevin Spacey, Irons delivers a memorable performance that adds gravitas and complexity to the story.
Players take on the role of Jack Mitchell, a former U.S. Marine who joins Atlas after losing his arm in combat. Equipped with advanced technology and exoskeleton-powered abilities, Mitchell becomes embroiled in a global conflict orchestrated by Irons’ ambitions for power and control.
Campaign Highlights: Cinematic and Futuristic Warfare
Advanced Warfare delivers a cinematic campaign that blends emotional storytelling with high-octane action sequences. The narrative tackles themes such as the morality of privatized warfare, technological dependence, and the consequences of unchecked corporate power.
High-Tech Combat
The campaign features a variety of mission types, ranging from stealthy infiltrations to explosive firefights, all enhanced by futuristic gadgets and exoskeleton suits. These exoskeletons grant players superhuman abilities like boosted jumps, sprinting, and enhanced strength, radically changing the traditional Call of Duty gameplay formula.
This technology allows for vertical movement, dynamic cover systems, and rapid tactical repositioning, making combat more fluid and fast-paced. Missions also incorporate drones, automated turrets, and advanced weaponry, creating an immersive sci-fi battlefield.
Storytelling and Character Depth
Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of Jonathan Irons stands out as one of the strongest narrative elements in the game. Irons is a multifaceted villain—visionary, manipulative, and unapologetically ambitious. The game explores his motivations and the consequences of his corporate militarism in a way that resonates with contemporary concerns about private military power.
Jack Mitchell’s personal journey—from a grieving soldier to a key figure in the fight against Atlas—adds emotional weight, with moments that highlight loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption.
Gameplay Innovations: The Exoskeleton Revolution
Advanced Warfare’s most significant contribution to the series is its reimagining of player movement and combat through the exoskeleton system.
Boost Jumping and Mobility
One of the most noticeable changes is the introduction of boost jumping, which allows players to leap great distances and reach high vantage points previously inaccessible in the Call of Duty series. This verticality revolutionized map design and combat tactics.
Alongside boost jumps, players gain enhanced sprinting and sliding abilities, enabling rapid flanking maneuvers and dynamic engagements. These mobility options require players to think three-dimensionally, making gameplay faster and more intense.
Tactical Use of Exo Abilities
The exoskeleton also provides tactical abilities such as cloaking for stealth, energy shields for defense, and exo-based melee attacks that add a layer of strategic depth.
Players can customize their exoskeleton loadouts, choosing perks and abilities that suit their preferred playstyle—whether aggressive frontline assault or cautious sniper.
Multiplayer: Fast-Paced and Customizable Combat
The multiplayer mode in Advanced Warfare embraced the futuristic theme wholeheartedly, introducing new mechanics and customization options that set it apart from previous Call of Duty titles.
Specialist System
Replacing traditional killstreaks, the Specialist System rewards players with unique abilities and weapons as they progress through the match. Players choose from specialists like Nomad, Reaper, and Phantom, each with distinct powers such as cloaking, holographic decoys, or advanced combat rigs.
This system encourages players to develop strategies around their specialist’s strengths, adding variety and replayability.
Extensive Customization
Advanced Warfare offers extensive weapon customization options with a vast arsenal of futuristic firearms and attachments. Players can tailor weapons to their liking, enhancing accuracy, range, fire rate, and more.
Additionally, the game introduces a robust create-a-class system with new perks, grenades, and equipment tailored for the exoskeleton-enhanced battlefield.
Dynamic Maps and Movement
Multiplayer maps are designed with verticality in mind, featuring multiple levels, zip lines, and boost pads that complement the exoskeleton’s mobility. Fast-paced gameplay emphasizes fluid movement, quick reflexes, and map control.
The multiplayer experience feels fresh and exhilarating, requiring players to adapt quickly to opponents who can appear from unexpected angles or elevations.
Exo Zombies: Cooperative Survival Mode
Building on the popularity of cooperative modes from earlier Call of Duty games, Advanced Warfare introduces Exo Zombies, a sci-fi twist on the traditional zombie survival experience.
Intense Team-Based Action
In Exo Zombies, players team up to fight waves of increasingly difficult robotic undead enemies. The mode combines fast-paced gunplay with the exoskeleton’s movement mechanics, creating an adrenaline-fueled survival challenge.
Unique Story and Challenges
Exo Zombies includes a storyline separate from the main campaign, featuring characters voiced by popular actors such as John Malkovich and Rose McGowan. The mode offers a variety of maps, unique objectives, and evolving enemy types, keeping the gameplay engaging over multiple sessions.
Graphics and Audio: Showcasing Next-Gen Power
Advanced Warfare leveraged the power of the then-new PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, alongside PC, to deliver stunning graphics and immersive sound design.
The game features detailed character models, realistic lighting, and dynamic environmental effects that bring the futuristic world to life. Animation quality, especially for exoskeleton movements, is smooth and believable, adding to player immersion.
The soundtrack and sound effects contribute to the intensity and cinematic feel, with a score that complements the game’s epic scale and emotional moments.
Critical and Player Reception
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare received generally positive reviews from critics and players. Praise centered on the game’s fresh take on movement and combat, engaging story, and strong multiplayer innovation.
Kevin Spacey’s performance as Jonathan Irons was widely highlighted as a standout element. The campaign’s mix of emotional storytelling and high-tech action appealed to many fans looking for something new in the franchise.
However, some longtime players were divided over the futuristic direction, preferring the traditional boots-on-the-ground combat of earlier entries. Others felt the game’s fast-paced movement could be overwhelming or less balanced in multiplayer.
Legacy and Influence
Advanced Warfare paved the way for future Call of Duty games to embrace more experimental mechanics and settings. Its exoskeleton gameplay influenced titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops III and Infinite Warfare, which further explored advanced movement systems.
The game also demonstrated that Call of Duty could successfully combine blockbuster storytelling with gameplay innovation without losing the core shooting mechanics that define the series.
Final Thoughts
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare stands as a bold and exciting entry in the Call of Duty franchise. By pushing the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and multiplayer design, it challenged traditional conventions and offered players a glimpse of what future warfare could look like.
Its blend of cinematic storytelling, futuristic technology, and fast-paced combat makes it a memorable experience for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Whether you’re drawn to the gripping campaign, innovative multiplayer, or cooperative Exo Zombies mode, Advanced Warfare delivers a thrilling journey into the next generation of combat.
If you haven’t played it yet or are considering revisiting, Advanced Warfare remains a landmark title that helped redefine the Call of Duty experience.
