YMMV / Call of Duty 2

• Aluminum Christmas Trees: On release, several players and reviewers complained about the "inaccuracy" of Normandy landings being depicted, as there is very little beachfront and the player has to scale a steep cliff. However, the level is not set in Omaha Beach as popularized by WWII media such as Saving Private Ryan and Medal of Honor, but the lesser known Pointe du Hoc close by, evidently to prevent reuse of the scenario after Medal of Honor: Allied Assault used it.
• Contested Sequel: While by no means a bad game, many have complained about how 2's multiplayer didn't feel as fleshed-out as its predecessor and especially United Offensive, the latter of which featured large maps with usable setpieces, hidden weapons scattered throughout the map, and even drivable vehicles. Many PC players also complained about the removal of save anywhere and the addition of regenerating health, features which became standardized in the later entries.
• Disappointing Last Level: "Crossing The Rhine" It is set in a broad daylight, has sparse enemy encounters, and the two Tiger tanks are easily beaten by either fixed gun emplacements or by planting a Satchel Charge on their backs. The preceding chapters in the American campaign were far more climactic in comparison.
• Even Better Sequel: In the single-player campaign department, at least, both critics and fans will acknowledge that this game's campaign is superior to its predecessor in length, pacing, and challenge.
• Memetic Mutation: "These are potatoes, Comrade Commissar. Why are we using potatoes instead of real grenades?"^ExplanationA line from the tutorial mission set in the Eastern Front has a Red Army soldier question his superior about using spuds instead of actual grenades; Commissar Letlev explains that the latter are far more costly to make than to recruit and train a typical soldier. The hammy delivery has unsurprisingly inspired a dozen or so parodies and YTPs based on that scene back in the day.
• That One Level: "Assault on Matmata" has several almost-inescapable ambushes, German machine-gun nests, and finally constant attacks by German planes. On higher difficulties, almost always expect to be killed at some point by any one of these.