Activision’s “Call of Duty” series has regained its claim as the king of first-person shooters. “Call of Duty: WWII” has taken the gaming community by storm.

In recent renditions, “Call of Duty” has featured many futuristic aspects to their game, like advanced movement and laser weaponry. Although the franchise tried something new, the majority of the fans hated the change and felt that it strayed too far from the game’s roots.

After three years of sub-par games, Activision called upon Sledgehammer Games to bring the depleting series back to life.

Sledgehammer decided to bring COD back to where the game started, World War II. The first “Call of Duty” was set during the second World War back in 2003. This will also be the first version of the game to take place in the 1940s since “COD: World At War”, in 2008.

Released on Nov. 3, COD may be the most purchased game of the year when it is all set and done. When midnight hit, so many players were trying to login that the servers crashed and didn’t come back online until roughly 3 a.m.

As COD returns to boots on the ground combat, the multiplayer experience has returned to form. Featuring fast-paced and competitive game modes, it is what COD fans have been asking for.

First things first, thankfully, there won’t be any jet packs and futuristic weapons in a game about WWII. The past few years have been brutal and just seeing players running on the ground is a relief. With that being said, the changes Sledgehammer have made are enough to make it feel like a brand new experience on some levels.

The biggest change this year is the “Divisions” system. In the past, players would build their character’s load out using Call of Duty’s “Create-A-Class” system.

Now, players will choose a specific division to enlist in before entering the battlefield. Gamers can play as the airborne division, who have perks that allow them to be the first into the fight. Or the mountain division, which suits players that like to snipe and wait for their opponents to come to them.

Although it may seem the divisions could limit the player, there is still room for customization. With new outfits, skins and an extra basic training slot, players should adjust quickly.

In regards to the maps, they do seem to be relatively small. After years of boost jumping and speedy movement, it appears the developers didn’t want this version of the game to feel slow and boring. This has lead to the overuse of submachine guns and automatic weapons.

Another massive change is the new headquarters. This is essentially a lobby where players can connect and party up with each other. Each player’s avatars can interact and play minigames and explore while they are waiting for a match.

Other than a few minor issues in the early release, “COD WWII” has been fantastic. If you want to feel like you’re back in your bedroom playing Xbox 360 (or PS3) with your high school friends, go on and pick it up.