Activision have donned the Santa suit and started delivering presents early, sitting under the tree (in the app store) waiting for gamers everywhere is the brand new Call of Duty: Heroes. Finally the world has a COD themed modern warfare (no dragons please) strategy game and it’s completely free, and it rocks. The fast paced touchy feely strategy game can of course be played on Windows devices with a mouse but it really shines when played via a touch screen interface.

Many have described Heroes as Call of Duty meets Clash of Clans but more accurately its Command and Conquer Red Alert with a Clash of Clans make over and a dash of Call of Duty. Designed from the ground up with touch in mind Hero’s drops players into a 3D isometric world with your new military base occupied by hostiles, it’s straight to work clearing the decks and taking control. In classic strategy style your base can be expanded and customized with defenses, barrack, vehicle depots and resource generating buildings. The base expansion and management features are an important aspect of the game but in Heroes it’s a means to a end, war.

Your primary weapons in Heroes tend to be fire and forget controlled soldiers and machines but there are also the Heroes, fully controllable characters from Black Ops and Modern Warfare. The animations and graphics of the Hero’s, soldiers, military machines and base are all detailed with satisfying explosions.

Many social aspects have been built into Heroes with alliances being formed, support troops lent to friends, fight one on one battles against enemy clans or just chat away. To keep solo players busy Heroes features a lengthy campaign of solo missions split across five continents. To test your metal there is even a survival mode that sees wave after wave test your bases defenses, a valuable source of experience.

From the Call of Duty: Heroes homepage “Experience the excitement of Call of Duty® like never before. Command an army of legendary heroes, elite soldiers, and devastating drones straight from the Call of Duty franchise in this 3D combat strategy game. Customize your base and train elite forces to dominate your enemies in fierce battles featuring fully controllable heroes and epic Killstreaks, like the first-person chopper gunner.

Take command of a small outpost and build it up into an impenetrable base. Then go on the offensive, launching attacks against your enemies. Take direct control of heroes such as Price, Soap, and Harper, wreaking havoc with game-changing Killstreaks. Create deadly alliances with your friends, competing for in-game rewards.”

As a strategy game COD: Heroes is as good as many AAA title especially considering how well it works on touch screen devices. Its free to play, has great graphics, additive gameplay and will destroy any free time you may have. Suffice as to say here at Highpants there is no talking or idle chat to be heard, only the incessant tapping of screens.

Call of Duty: Heroes is available now on iOS and Windows devices (must have for Surface Pro owners), just visit the appropriate app store to get tapping. Android and Amazon owners haven’t been forgotten and their version will be available from the Google Play Store shortly. Players prepare to don you COD piece once more as its time to go to war, this time one tapping battle at a time.

Score: 8/10

Reference: Call of Duty: Heroes
Reference: Windows Store Download