In Defense Of Treyarch

Every year without Infinty Ward's outing, it is set in stone that Treyarch develop a Call of Duty title. Their titles apparently ''suck" and Infinity Ward is better. This article intends to look at Treyarch's Call of Duties, and them more as a studio and less of a list of developers that you likely avoid. I can see now that you're already clicking away in absolute ignorance, but hear my plea; Treyarch does not suck. They get flak for going back into the past and showing us the true face of history, a brutal retelling, and maybe that doesn't show in one of their titles; they deserve better.

[OGharryjoysticks]

A+

[NecrumSlavery]

Two Words: NAZI ZOMBIES

And although Treyarch has taken flak, NZ is badass and that is something IW can never take away, even though I thought they would.

[Bubbles_Kitty_Cat]

I have enjoyed all of the Call of Duty games so far, but World at War's multiplayer left me a bit cold (had a blast with the single player, however).

It's the only game in the series that I haven't purchased (I rented it and ranked up to 44, though) so I am a little concerned about their next game.

Looking forward to it, though!

[-Seven-]

Nazi Zombies is awesome. Treyarch should develop a massive zombie game on the COD engine that's something like L4D, that would be epic.

[Millah]

Nazi Zombies was the only good thing in WaW. WaW's multiplayer otherwise was terrible. Not because it went back to WW2, but because it just sucked.

Spiderman was also a pretty good game. Didn't Treyarch also play a part in the original Tony Hawk games? For some reason I thought they did, I can't remember.

[BattleAxe]

- Playing through Call of Duty Classic(PSN)and I really like it. The best part is that there are no respawning enemies, so once you clear out an area, it stays clear. This makes the game more like a Rainbow six style where it feels more tactical.

- Played CoD 3(PS3) a fair bit and really like it aswell.

- CoD 4(PS3) was awesome.

- CoD: WaW(ps3) was awesome aswell and very well supported.

- CoD: MW2(ps3) Is a great game by most standards, but I actually enjoyed the online muliplayer of CoD: WaW alot more. I'm starting to get burnt out on Modern Warfare and so I've started to lose interest already. Not having 4 player Co-op really brings this game down. BattleField: Bad Company 2 should be a breath of fresh air.

It would be awesome if Activision were to release CoD2 on the PSN. I suppose that if CoD Classic sells well that they would consider doing it.

[badz149]

that one over there made me chuckle a bit. zombies are 'real' huh?

just kidding but Treyatch is not THAT bad. they are decent!

[Shotgun_Roamer]

1 map pack vs. 3 map packs, patches, and nazi zombies. I felt more cared for under Treyarch even if the game as a whole wasn't as good as the IW entries

[vickers500]

"It would be awesome if Activision were to release CoD2 on the PSN. I suppose that if CoD Classic sells well that they would consider doing it."

They need to patch CoD:Classic's crappy control scheme on the ps3 first though. It's like they didn't even try with it, and just ported the 360 version over to the ps3 version without much effort. Seriously, who the f*ck likes using L2 to aim and R2 to shoot? It's horrible, and just feels awful to use. Some games can use that scheme well (BioShock I didn't mind it on) but not a call of duty game. It just sucks, and they need to add a patch to improve the controls.

[rockleex]

But I don't even like MW2's multiplayer map layouts either.

COD4 had MUCH better map designs. Good vantage points, great counterpoints, harder to camp, not too many unnecessary clusters of buildings that only get in the way, etc.

[Elven6]

Treyarch always gets shafted by everyone, in COD 3 with a limited development cycle they tried something new by giving the game an actual story with characters, more competitive multiplayer mode (24 players :O ), etc yet COD fans cried "we don't want change, give us what 2 had".

Along came COD 4, Treyarch used that formula because people didn't like the changes they made to 3. "bu bu bu you just reskined 4, we want change!".

I loved all of Treyarch's Call of Duty games, I still play 3 on Xbox Live from time to time. (alot of people have been playing that game recently, plenty of full houses to go around).

Poor Treyarch, I hope for Call of Duty 7 they come out with a inhouse engine.

[-Seven-]

In my opinion the best thing about Treyarch is their post release support, look how heavily they supported World at War compared to Infinity Ward and Modern Warfare.

Plus they recently patched Modern Warfare on the Wii, nobody bothers to patch Wii games! and that's a game that they ported because Infinity Ward wouldn't.

Plus finally, they don't run their mouths!

[SpoonyRedMage]

In my opinion the best thing about Treyarch is their post release support, look how heavily they supported World at War compared to Infinity Ward and Modern Warfare.

Plus they recently patched Modern Warfare on the Wii, nobody bothers to patch Wii games! and that's a game that they ported because Infinity Ward wouldn't.

Plus finally, they don't run their mouths!

[reintype]

I think Treyarch should create a new IP and distinguish themselves, before people can accept them. Until then, they will continue to live in the shadows of IW.

[Elven6]

Reintype: Treyarch made the Quantum of Solace game last year, they also make the Spiderman games. I don't think Activision would really give Treyarch that kind of a break, hopefully 7 is different and gives them the break they need. I loved World at War but it felt like they played it too safe in the end by sticking more to the Infinity Ward formula than their own.

[reintype]

You're right, I don't think they have Creative Freedom. Treyarch is pretty much like Microsoft's Rare, they basically just fill in the blanks whatever Activision decides for them.

That's why I think they don't get credit they are due, because they are too much of a lapdog in most people's opinion. In fact they are a quite talented, considering that they could churn out solid games, in a such a short amount of time, is nothing short of exceptional. Most people fail to take notice that Treyarch usually works on multiple IPs each year, and that they do it on a small budget, on a tight schedule unlike IW.

[Droid Control]

Infinity ward all the way!

[Elven6]

Why? Please explain what makes Treyarch so horrible and Infinity War so god like.

[PlayStation X]

dont hate on treyarch

[mindedone]

the grammar in this introduction paragraph is horrible.

[Blow Out Your Brains]

Nazi Zombies is awesome. Treyarch should develop a massive zombie game on the COD engine that's something like L4D, that would be epic.

[qwertyuiopasdfghjkl]

MW2 weapons > W@W's

MW2 SP moments > W@W's

W@W overall story > MW2's

W@W MP architecture > MW2's

W@W MP gametypes > MW2's (NZ FTW)

If I were to break down Call of Duty games in general, it'd go something like this...

COD4 > CODW@W > MW2 > COD3 > COD2 > COD1

Yes, I am one of the very few people who thought COD3 owned. A PC version would have been nice though :/

[Grandreaper9999]

A brutal telling of war and history, but it's the same damn story. Hey, they make money from it, and people still buy the games despite them "sucking". Who can blame them for their success with such a worn-out story?

[Bloodshedder]

who are these guys:S!

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

Sarcasm or ignorance?

Either way, if you don't know, they're the guys who make Call of duty every other year along with Infinity Ward.

They made the console ports of COD1-2, they made Call of duty 3, and World at War.

[Knightofelemia]

Shame Treyarch is under Activision they are a good developer. I like World at War I still play it time to time on my Ps3 even thoe I have not tried out the Nazi Zombies. One thing World at War has that beats Modern Warfare is bigger maps wide open not small like a box. Treyarch also supports their games I mean howmany mappacks did World at War get when compared to Modern Warfare I think CODs only got 1 mappack. I like the modern feel of COD 4 but I like Cod 5's game play.

But WW2 games are getting to over played everybody is doing them I think Treyarch should put it as what would happen if Germany invaded the states and take the fight to North America. Thats what i liked about Modern Warfare 2 is they brought the war here more. Still a shame Treyarch is under the banner of Activision.

[bigrudowsky]

Next game should be titled "The Killer Jew" it can be a world war 2 game set in germany through the eyes of Jewish Rebels that sabotage Hitler's plans and take down very strategic points. Not only that they Save an onslaught of innocent jewish people from being executed and ultimately they are the ones who end up killing hitler. That would be great or something like it

[bigrudowsky]

Treyarch released two games last year i dont follow their work enough to know if they do it all the time.Considering how much work they have to do I think they do a great job.

[-Alpha]

The one thing I can't understand is how Treyarch gets no heat for literally Copying and pasting ever mechanic from COD4 and adding tanks plus co-op, yet IW gets a whole bunch of heat for MW2 when the MP was miles modified than Treyarch's efforts.

I mean, you don't have to like IW, but COD4 to MW2 is much different than COD4 to WaW. WaW was a copy and paste, MW2 took their game and made a lot of aspects different.

I think it's Activision that tells the devs how they want a game, but I don't understand the hate IW gets in relation to Treyarch.

If MW2 is generic/a rehash, what did that make WaW?

[bigrudowsky]

People only started criticizing the game after they found out the pc version had no dedicated servers. The ps3 fanboys did it to defend their precious killzone 2 I dont see the point in bashing either game. I personally think they did a great job with mw2 i dont really play the online portion much but it does look improved.
Wait till killzone 3 drops and is almost exactly the same as the part 2 no one is going to complain. I'm sure that infinity ward could get the same visuals as killzone but they dont want to drop the framerate as designers they find it very important. I would have love to have seen what gears,killzone,halo and uncharted would have looked like running at the same framerate as mw probably not nearly as good as cod.

[Pumbli]

Now think of Treyarch and IW as brothers for a moment and Activision as the dad. Activision tells IW to go build a nice wooden house in the backyard, he can get all the lumber he wants and take all the time he needs. Now when that's done, he tells Treyarch to build a house too, but Treyarch can only use his brother's leftovers and has limited time to do so.

Treyarch has so much to work with, it's admirable how good their games are even though they're such a busy dev. But of course WaW wasn't perfect so many people will hate it.

As for me, I loved it.

[bigrudowsky]

Well said dude they do the best we can with what they have available which is not nearly as much as IW and they still manage to put out a quality game.
But you know the more popular games get the more haters they acquire
everyone is a critic but these games dont seem to suffer from all the negative gamer press so its good to see that people will still pick up a game they like and not get taken by fanboy bullsh!t.

[Pumbli]

bigrudowsky - Indeed, they managed to make a great story, some awesome new features (Nazi Zombies, 4 player co-op campaign) and get the MP right. (imo)

If someone asked me if I'd rather play CoD4 or WaW, I'd most likely go with WaW, don't get me wrong, CoD4 has an awesome story and awesome MP, but WaW has that too and Nazi Zombies. :P

[-Alpha]

and that is how I generally saw things with IW and Treyarch.

But even if that is so, WaW didn't get much heat, and people blame IW when it's Activision ultimately controlling them.

One of the biggest complaints people have with MW2 is that it feels to casual-friendly. I am wondering if this is because of Activision or if it was IW's choice.

You know who is great though? Sony. They let their developers have freedom AND they give them the funds to do it.

It's like getting paid to eat cake... or breathe.

[Quadrix]

All I can say about Treyarch is that they're "trying". I can tell they want to get better.

[Dtoxz]

I don’t think W@W sucks. Its actually quite good. Ok so they stand in the shadow of the mighty Infinity Ward but hey, those are big shoes to fill!!!!

Ok so Nazi Zombies wasn’t realistic, but neither is getting hit 5 times before dying. Neither is killstreak rewards. Or running around with a Ranger, Akimbo style. Or grenade indicators or respawn.... But thats the point of video games isn't it? We play video games as an escape from everyday realism and sit down to ENJOY them. To me, and many others, Nazi Zombies was a VERY enjoyable experience. It doesn't take away from the multiplayer experience either. It was an add-on that hit big with alot of people.
Another thing is that Treyarch seems to treat both PS3 and Xbox360 equal. Something you don’t really see today. I was pretty impressed with the quality of W@W. I thought the story was very well told, the acting/casting was great and the game was all around well done. Was it better than Modern Warfare? Hell no.....
No, I don't think they are better than IW but like I said, they have big shoes to fill. So hats off to Treyarch for a job well done even in the shadow of the mighty IW….

[Digitaldude]

Everyones just IW fanboys for no good reason.

[LostCypher11]

MW1>W@W>MW2. thanks come again

[R_A_LEE20]

For me, i love Military History, patically WW2. And thats why over the years i have played the most popular WW2 games inc. COD & MOH.

When Treyarch said that they going back to WW2 in WAW with the same formula of MP as MW, i was quite happy for them to bring it on.

I for one hate the MW setting. Its to overrated and highly unpredictable on whats going to happen next.

In WAW the only thing i worried about was the Dogs & Artiliary. I dont want to be caught up in Nukes, EMPs & AC130s. Call me old fashion but thats what i prefer.

I want to know what happened. Not how its going to happen.

And for some reason theres always something that makes me want to go back to WAW but i dont know what.

For me Call of Duty: World at War is better in many ways compared to both MW & MW2.

[Rocket Sauce]

The only good things they ever did were Spiderman 1 and 2. I'm pretty sure those were flukes, though, because everything they've done with the character since then has been weak. I wish somebody would wrestle that franchise away from them.

World at War was alright. Quantum of Solace should have been 10,000 times better.

[awesomeperson]

In my uncared of opinion, it SHOULD be easy enough to make a better game than MW2, do one thing, make a beta for goodness sake! Mw2 was a huge letdown from the hype for me...

[N2NOther]

I think World at War was a very fun experience. I liked Nazi Zombies and MP was decent. What I really dug was the single player/co-op. Treyarch is a good developer and I can't wait to see what they with the COD series next.