Experience the front lines of World War II on the go with Call of Duty: Roads to Victory. Released on March 13, 2007, for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), this title serves as a portable spin-off of the console-based Call of Duty 3. Developed by Amaze Entertainment and published by Activision, it stands as the third portable entry in the legendary franchise, following previous iterations on the N-Gage and Pocket PC.

Fast-Paced WWII Action

As a first-person shooter, Call of Duty: Roads to Victory focuses on delivering the high-intensity, adrenaline-pumping combat that fans expect from the series. The gameplay is designed for handheld play, offering a streamlined experience that emphasizes fast-paced action. Players are thrust into various military operations, engaging in intense firefights against enemy forces across diverse environments.

The game features several notable mechanics and modes, including:

  • Multi-campaign Structure: The game follows the American, British, and Canadian armies through different stages of the war.
    • Offline Versus Multiplayer: Engage in combat with others via multi-cartridge multiplayer support.
  • Mission Navigation: Each mission is accompanied by maps showing attack routes and brief notes to help orient players within their objectives.

A Sweeping War Narrative

The setting of Roads to Victory spans multiple years of the Second World War, exploring a variety of significant military operations. To enhance the sense of historical authenticity, each chapter is bookmarked by Full Motion Video (FMV) cutscenes that narrate real-life events from the war. While the gameplay focuses heavily on combat, these cinematic touches provide context to the missions at hand.

Players will find themselves stationed in iconic wartime locations, ranging from small occupied European villages to sprawling forests. While the narrative is primarily driven by action rather than deep character development, the scale of the conflict is presented through impressive background elements, such as bombers and planes flying overhead during combat encounters.

Presentation and Performance

For a PSP title, the game achieves a respectable level of graphical spectacle. The presentation includes decent character and NPC modeling, with allies capable of ducking and weaving between cover to navigate the battlefield. Although performance quirks exist—such as enemies despawning to maintain frame rates—the game successfully captures much of the atmosphere found in its console counterparts.

The audio design complements the combat, contributing to the "bombastic action" that defines the experience. While some players may find the lack of a central narrative thread or deep character rapport a drawback, the game excels as "gaming comfort food," providing a solid, mission-based shooter experience for fans of the genre.

Who is this game for?

Call of Duty: Roads to Victory is ideal for fans of the Call of Duty franchise looking for a portable experience. It appeals strongly to players who enjoy classic WWII settings, arcade-style shooters, and those seeking intense, mission-driven gameplay during handheld sessions.