His snake-like demeanor manages to spark fear despite looking quite a bit like a fascist Elton John. On the other side of the coin is Lost and Lord of the Rings’ Dominic Monaghan, who plays the quieter but cunning Jannick Richter. Dan Donohue’s Chief Gestapo Interrogator Freisinger provides a chilling presence and commands every cutscene he stars in. Two high-ranking German officers serve as a one-two punch in this regard and have a lovely time chewing the scenery whilst dancing the (Christoph) Waltz. Even so, Vanguard’s campaign is over quickly, and its small series of battles are all too rarely memorable high points.Īny story is only as good as its villains, and with these Nazis you really can’t go wrong in that department. Its tale of a small group of expert soldiers on a secret mission to stop the Third Reich may sound familiar to anyone who has seen the 2009 movie, but Vanguard plays it with a much straighter face than Tarantino ever could. No shadow hangs heavier over this latest Call of Duty World War II story, however, than Inglourious Basterds. It’s a cinematic opening to a game that wears its film influences proudly whether that be the tense behind-enemy-lines aspects of D-Day in The Longest Day or the vivid depictions of the Pacific in Terence Malick’s The Thin Red Line. An explosive train sequence through a burning Hamburg, Germany thrills as you jump between carriages, fending off dozens of angry Nazis on your way to a submarine base. Ĭall of Duty: Vanguard’s campaign starts off on the right track – literally.

For our thoughts on the other two modes, check our our Call of Duty: Vanguard Multiplayer review and our Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies review. Note: This review covers the single-player campaign of Call of Duty: Vanguard.

Call of duty boots on the ground