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Call of Duty: Ghosts set out to be a fresh start for Infinity Ward. In some ways it is just that – Ghosts introduces a brand new story line that will undoubtedly take them a few titles to complete as well as a few game types in multiplayer that are new to the Call of Duty mold. When all is said and done though, this latest entry doesn’t draw me back to the series and if anything, it only proves why the formula has grown so stale over the past few years.

Even though I had multiple “been there, done that” moments, functionally the game operates much like the previous entries – a very good thing. The game still runs at a smooth frame rate, and manages to keep multiplayer matches fast paced and frantic. There’s still something very satisfying about getting a batch of well-placed kills.  Game types like Kill Confirmed and Search and Rescue are highlights, as they both provide just enough of a higher-level objective to go with the overwhelming itch to just shoot some enemies.

Ghosts introduces some new game types, like the previously mentioned Search and Rescue, a modified version of Search and Destroy. The spin in this mode is that, your team members can revive you if they recover your dog tags. There is also Cranked, a Statham-esque mode where after killing an enemy, you have thirty seconds to get another kill, or you explode. Cranked in particular is pretty fun, but I found the mode flawed. Maybe it was the skill level of the players in my lobby, but it seemed like everybody was getting killed way before the thirty seconds was up. The pressure from the timer ticking is quite a rush, but it's quickly diffused after being taken down seconds later.

Other than that, multiplayer also feels odd because of the new leveling and unlocking system. Ghosts employs a leveling system that allows you to unlock whatever guns, perks, or kill streaks you desire as long as you have the points to do so. This system is effective, as it allows players to carve their own play style, but it is a big shift from what we’re used to from the series.

One of the other new, yet smaller additions is the more wide open maps and the destructible levels. While not on the level of Battlefield, Ghosts has areas in most maps that alter the landscape in one way or another, whether by destroying a building or causing a massive explosion. In my experience, the destructible levels barely add anything to the gameplay, and might as well have been left out. Also, while the bigger maps were nice to explore from time to time, the fast pace of Call of Duty would have benefited from tighter, more condensed areas. I spent way too much time in matches simply looking around for opponents to shoot.

Complementing multiplayer mode this year is Extinction mode. Replacing Infinity Ward’s previous Spec-Ops game type, Extinction takes more cues from Zombies by placing up to four players against hordes of aliens. In some ways, I found Extinction to be the most enjoyable part of Ghosts, as teaming up with a bunch of friends always leads to a good time. While I still feel that there is more depth and personality to Zombies, Extinction was still fun.

Rounding out Ghosts is the requisite campaign mode. This four hour adventure puts you in the shoes of a soldier named Logan as he and his brother fight against an opposing force known as The Federation, which has taken over the United States after a huge terrorist attack at the beginning of the game. As expected, the Ghosts campaign is full of huge set pieces and action-packed sequences. I constantly felt like the game was trying to impress me and it did manage to succeed a little. That said, each successful sequence was forgotten after the next extreme incident played out, leading me to grow annoyed with how exaggerated every situation was. One mission towards the end was filled with so many explosions, I felt like I was part of a Michael Bay movie – not a good thing.

Many of the levels attempt to go big so often, but still devolve into shooting galleries that have minimal interest. One level in the game was so boring, that it actually put me to sleep. It’s ironic that with all of the attempts to stay visually appealing, I dozed off. In the end, the campaign came down to follow your squad, shoot the enemy, rinse and repeat.

Amazingly, I was impressed with the actual story. Ghosts manages to bring some characters and situations into the mix that I didn’t expect to be so interesting. The main enemy, Rorke, and the overarching narrative of the “Ghosts” and their significance did leave a lasting impression. The ending was a great set up for the next few games in the Ghosts series and I am definitely a bit curious to see how it shapes up.

In the end, I feel like Call of Duty: Ghosts is underwhelming, despite some promise sprinkled in. The campaign is good, but not great. Extinction mode is fun, but not as deep as it could be. Multiplayer has spots of fun, but is weaker overall and not as addictive as it has been in the past. As someone who has played at least a little of every Call of Duty title since Call of Duty 2, I find it hard to recommend Ghosts unless you need a Call of Duty fix every year or have skipped the past few entries and want to return to the same familiar formula.