Call of Duty: Roads to Victory is a PSP World War II shooter that delivers far more than expected from a handheld. Three campaigns cover the US, Canada and Britain across fourteen levels, from Normandy to Arnhem and the Rhine, with the US the longest by far.
Mission-type variety outpaces Medal of Honor Heroes, which offered only a couple of different types. The turret-gunner bomber mission and the target-lock system, which can be disabled, add welcome depth, and the absence of tank or driving missions is a relief.
Aim assist, target lock and regenerating health combine into a forgiving combination that suits the platform. Weapon handling is a pleasure, with the MP44 and the scoped rifles standing out alongside the satchel charges.
The Canadian campaign is a welcome change of theatre, covering the Scheldt, Walcheren and Operation Veritable. Britain’s Operation Market Garden and the Arnhem bridge defence close out a solid tour, with decent visuals and generous checkpoints throughout.
The control scheme is the weak point, a first-person shooter without a right stick, though a remap makes it tolerable. The game runs about three hours, short even by handheld standards, and slow movement speed is noted repeatedly.
A lockup at the end of the Canadian campaign and occasional hitbox clipping mar the stability. Friendly fire pushes the player into enemy fire, and reused character models appear everywhere, along with a grenade that never detonated.
Overall, mission variety and the forgiving combat systems make Roads to Victory a decent PSP shooter. The awkward controls and the short length are the main caveats.