How do you inject a shot of adrenaline into a video game franchise that is entering its second decade of existence with its 14th release? The answer is jetpacks and movie stars, of course. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare takes the popular series in a completely new direction that feels more like a sci-fi war epic than a playable history lesson.

In the year 2055, war and unrest is at an all-time high, and trying to quell the terror is Atlas, an independent army not dedicated to any one particular government’s set of rules and principles. Atlas has the most advanced technology available and an endless supply of money, thanks in part to owner Jonathan Irons. Irons is actually two-time Academy Award-winner Kevin Spacey; his likeness and voice have been used for the character, adding a dash of Hollywood to the pixels on your screen. As Mitchell, you are Irons’ personal project, a war veteran and friend of his son, who was killed in action. He takes an interest in you after a catastrophe in the opening of the game and enlists you to run and gun with the rest of the Atlas group. “We are a superpower for hire,” Irons explains. But can a superpower always be trusted?

Advanced Warfare has fun imagining all of the technology and weapons future warfare could entail, hence the title. One of the coolest innovations is the pack you carry on your back that shoots you up like a rocket. It comes in handy in more ways than one and can help you maneuver around enemy fire that may otherwise be unavoidable. The other major advantage is your exoskeleton, a strapped-on piece of technology that enhances your strength and agility, much like the one featured in the sci-fi film Elysium.

For war purists, Advanced Warfare may feel like a farce, the equivalent of a popcorn movie rather than a narrative steeped in real war history. While it does indeed stretch some boundaries, Advanced Warfare doesn’t make light of the cost of war. In fact, it contains scenes that are extremely real, graphic and often poignant. It doesn’t shy away from showing the sacrifices that are made in conflict, giving this tin man of a game a heart.

Advanced Warfare does rely on the same formula of its predecessors (they are all first-person shooter war games, after all), but there are enough bells and whistles to get your attention. It plays out like an intense movie, a vision of a possible future, and is a bold and daring leap that separates itself from the rest of the series while opening up the door for its future.

For more, visit callofduty.com/advancedwarfare.

By Jason Savio