2014's COD Advanced Warfare would have aged well if not for its villain
By Brian Allen
When the trailers for 2014's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare dropped, the reaction was swift and not all kind. With the game's futuristic exosuits, COD veterans were worried the franchise had gone too far in attempts to "Halo-ize" the usually more realistic shooter.
That is, as realistic as a game can get when its plot is a few brave soldiers toppling an empire, in this case powered fully by both the military and industrial parts of the infamous complex. Advanced Warfare released Nov. 3, 2014 and is worth revisiting after a decade, although its villain makes doing so uncomfortable.
Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey chews just the proper amount of scenery as Atlas Corporation President Jonathan Irons.
"America's been trying to install democracy in nations for a century, and it hasn't worked one time," Irons monologues in the game's trailer. He notes that it's not as easy as dropping a few bombs, topping a dictator and installing America's version of an ideal government.
One of the biggest and most valid criticisms of the COD franchise is that it serves as propaganda for the American military. Advanced Warfare deals with some of the questions surrounding the US' role in policing in the world.
In 2014, getting an actor of Spacey's caliber to voice a video game villain was a huge get. After allegations of sexual assault have effectively ended his career, it adds to a list of things the creators would love to exorcise him from.
The actor brought to life characters including House of Cards' manipulative Frank Underwood and American Beauty's Lester Burnham, who lusts after his daughter's teenage friend. Jeez, Spacey's entire career feels like one long phone call from inside the house, doesn't it?