Call of Duty: World at War Review

Santa was a little late this year for me, but the big guy did come through. I recently got a copy of Activision’s newest World War II shooter, Call of Duty: World at War.

Although the game will be very familiar to fans of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (uses the same game engine), this version is anything but just a reskinning of its predecessor. There are new enemies, weapons, maps, modes, challenges and more.

Students of history know that the battles on the Pacific and European fronts were some of the most brutal in warfare history and Call of Duty: World at War reflects that. It’s a bit more grittier and altogether more chaotic. Having the likes of Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Oldman who lent their voices to the title yelling orders at you was great in a weird as well.

Things we liked about Call of Duty: World at War

• The ability to play the campaign in either single-player, two-player (split screen) or four-player (online co-op) mode was a very welcomed addition.

• Vehicle mode – Maybe it reminded us of playing Ikari Warriors back in the day, but there is something about being in a “tank” that will never get old.

• The flamethrower (aka blowtorch) was a nice weapons upgrade that we had heard a lot about.  It is indeed the signature weapon in this installment. It took a few uses to get the hang of it, but after that it was easily the weapon of choice. There are also molotov cocktails which were typical, but cool nonetheless.

• Zombie mode.  If you remember only one thing from this review, just remember that Zombie mode rules. You have to beat the game once on any level to unlock, but trust us, it’s worth it.  The first couple rounds you’ll think the zombies are dumb and slow (because they are), but as you progress the Zombies get faster, have more entry points and become that much harder to kill.  If you’ve ever had nightmares of being chased or attacked by zombies, you will find it pure entertainment purchasing new weapons and defending yourself against these zombies.

• If you are familiar with Halo’s “Skulls,” you’ll appreciate the Deathcards which are tucked away in the campaign which unlock certain modes and cheats.

Things we didn’t like about Call of Duty: World at War

• Split-screen was ok, but took up too much real estate on the screen. It might be better to just co-op online instead.

• There were times where mission objectives could have been a bit more descriptive and clear.

• Attack dogs were nice, but maybe were left a bit overpowered.  Having the pesky dogs take me out faster  than getting shot multiple times by gunfire was a unrealistic.

Overall:

Sure, the war genre is getting a bit overdone, but thankfully Call of Duty: World at War has enough enhancements and new upgrades which make it a win. If you are going to spend a month of your life trying to make commander, this is a good way to go. Now grab your M1 Garand and get in there and fight. Just don’t be surprised if you get a visit from the neighbors because of the constant roar.

Check out more reviews on Call of Duty: World at War.

Things to note about Call of Duty: World at War

• Enhanced Innovative Multiplayer: Call of Duty: World at War continues the addictive class-based multiplayer action the series is famous for. The addition of vehicle combat with tanks rounds out the highly-successful Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare multiplayer experience, and features such as persistent stats, player rankings, upgradeable weapons, squad-based gameplay, customizable classes and Perks, have been further enhanced to set a new standard in Call of Duty online warfare.

• Harsh New Enemies, Environments and Tactics:  Face off against ruthless and tactically advanced enemies that will stop at nothing to defend their homelands, from swamp ambushes and tree-top snipers to fearless Kamikaze attacks.  Play as a U.S. Marine and Russian conscript across a variety of Pacific and European locations against the fearless Imperial Japanese and elite German soldiers in epic adrenaline-filled infantry, vehicle and airborne missions.

• Co-Op Campaign Mode, Call of Duty Style: For the first time in the franchise, Call of Duty: World at War introduces co-op play, bringing fresh meaning to “No One Fights Alone”. Campaign co-op features up to four-players online, or two-player local split-screen, allowing gamers to experience harrowing campaign missions together for greater camaraderie and tactical execution. Co-op mode incorporates innovative multiplayer components such as challenges, rankings and online stats for deeper re-playability and multiplayer experience bonuses. Co-op mode also features Competitive Co-Op that will show who is really the best player on your team.

• Enhanced Innovative Multiplayer: Call of Duty: World at War continues the addictive class-based multiplayer action the series is famous for. The addition of vehicle combat with tanks rounds out the highly-successful Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare multiplayer experience, and features such as persistent stats, player rankings, upgradeable weapons, squad-based gameplay, customizable classes and Perks, have been further enhanced to set a new standard in Call of Duty online warfare.

• The Authentic Call of Duty Experience: Built using the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare engine, Call of Duty: World at War utilizes cutting-edge technology including highly-detailed character models, self-shadowing, environmental lighting and amazing special effects to deliver jaw-dropping visuals.  Depth of field, rim-lighting and texture-streaming technology bring the adrenaline-pumping combat to life, while physics-enabled battlefields and fire that spreads through environments realistically immerses players into the harrowing and dynamic combat.

• Play through Call of Duty: World at War, watch the credits roll, then try to survive the intense fanatical onslaught of the Nazi zombies. Accumulate points to open new sections and purchase weapon upgrades and ammo – which will be needed to fight off waves of Zombies that gain strength as the action escalates.