$30 Billion Video Game Franchise Ranked 'Most Overrated' of All Time
The Call of Duty franchise has been ranked the "most overrated" video game series of all time, according to a ranking compiled by TheTopTens.
The series began with the self-titled first installment in 2003, before branching out with several sequels and spin-offs that have diluted the franchise's reputation for many long-term fans.
'Call of Duty' Revolutionized First-Person Shooters
While video game fans are less eager to praise Call of Duty since its underwhelming sequels and repetitive game structures have weakened the franchise, there's no denying that it's one of the most influential series ever made.
Shooters were already popular by the time Call of Duty came around in 2003, but it wasn't until Call of Duty: Modern Warfare arrived in 2007 that the franchise truly pushed the genre forward and triggered a whole new wave of bold, inventive shooters in its wake.
Call of Duty: Black Ops arrived in 2010 and brought a whole new wave of popularity to the genre again, blending the layered storytelling of the original games with the updated visuals and gameplay of the Modern Warfare subseries.
'Call of Duty' May Have Overstayed Its Welcome
Despite how drastically and irrevocably Call of Duty clearly impacted the video game world, the oversaturation of sequels and spin-offs has left a poor taste in many fans' mouths. There are now 22 games in the series, and it's admittedly hard to describe exactly what distinguishes one from another.
"I know people may like the campaign for its graphics and never-ending waves of enemies," one commenter wrote on TheTopTens' ranking, "but a video game should engross the player in its story, not give them a massive headache and a $60 hole in their wallet, not including DLC."
"The first generation of the series was decent," another claims, "but at some point, probably when the publishers realized its selling power, it became one of the most bland, cut and dry, repetitive series in all of gaming."
One user sums up the fan base's thoughts succinctly: "Same thing every year. That's Call of Duty."