Though a great game, it's somewhat messy and crude. However, the sheer fun draws away from the lack of orginization.
Universally, there are two opposing sides. The Third Reich vs the Allies. In every single map, the German side is always present. The opposition varies from the Americans, British, and Russian. The guns, though with different names, do not vary much in function. They include the Pistol, 2 Submachine guns, a bolt action rifle, a semi rifle, and a shotgun. Sometimes, there are special weapons, such as the BAR.
In the multiplayer, it is a general run 'n' gun, with little to no strategy unless playing in small servers with numbers like 5 on 5. Though many do not like those games, it shows the true tactical side, with a more unified sense, with people working together. I feel that this is one of the major drawbacks as most servers have huge amounts of players, making to too chaotic for beginners to learn. It is often frustrating as you don't leave your spawn for 10 deaths in a row.
The single player is breath taking, with strategy, often making you plan your course of action. However, there is usually one linear path to take, and if you don't get it right the first time, just do the same thing and hope for better. Still very fun and the graphics and sound effects will draw you in and probably won't let you go until your parents are beating you from behind. More so, After your done with single player, there are hordes of enemies and friends you will meet online, ensuring a fun replay ability.
Although everything is gorgeous, the DX9 optimization is a real joke. With my machine, a 7800GT, AMD 4000+ San Diego 2.4ghz, 2GB RAM, I get a mere 40-50FPS on DX9. A good piece of advice is to run it on DX9 for single player so you get the full expierence but turn it to DX7 for internet.
All in all, Call of Duty 2 has to be one of the best World War II games ever made, with very few flaws. The major drawback in my honest opinion, is also what makes it such a good game, giving it a chaotic feel that is present in war. Though a great game, it's somewhat messy and crude. However, the sheer fun draws away from the lack of orginization.