Call of Duty 2

someone out there made their grandfather play this because they thought he'd like to be in the war again

The best of the early Call of Duty's, this game has a good eye for detail of it's real locations and a great story through a dark time in humanities past. If you want fancy mechanics and an in depth multiplayer experience this one isn't for you but if you enjoy an accurate and exciting depiction of a terrible war this game is great. The silo mission is an absolute high point.

Not very different at all from the first game, mostly. They're not really trying as hard for a "plot" this time, and lean a bit more into the series's arcadey nature mechanically, what with the abundant ammo and new health system (don't take too much damage at once, and taking cover for a few seconds for a deep breath will fix everything). Also does a nicer job of making the levels "feel" less like the trip through a carnival dark ride they are. Particularly helpful friendly AI this time, too.

Another decent entry into the franchise but still just another in a series of military shooters which were ever-prevalent in the early 'aughts.

Cool campaign.

Probably the peak of the Call of Duty series. It introduced back in 2005 most of the features that made the series successful, and managed to have both a fun and competitive multiplayer mode AND a solo campaign that justifies the price of the game and explores fascinating historical events; especially these which aren't usually covered by WW2 games, like the North African theatre. A shame that the Soviet part of the campaign is scenaristically and visually weaker than the rest.

Not yet great, but a game moving in the right direction.