Call of Duty: World at War

10 Review to this product

• 

  Steven Voelker
  November 13th, 2008 on 5:36 pm

  Rating

  My friends and I had some hands-on time with the new COD last night. First impressions are good. It did take some getting used to. There are no more laser sights and it is a bit darker than before, which can make it tough to spot and kill enemies. Overall it just seems less polished and precise than COD4. It is very solid, but will probably not blow people away the way COD4 did. Is it the best game I’ve ever played? No. But it still belongs right up there with the best in my collection.

  That being said, here is why everyone should get it right away:

  The multiplayer rocks.

  I know that is where I spent most of my time in COD4. For everyone who complains, “Not another WWII game!”, the story and setting don’t really matter once you get into the online play.

  The maps are great and seem well thought out. There is a good deal of variety and you never seem to find yourself too far from the action,

  There are tanks! There are not jeeps and motorcycles everywhere to cause every idiot to go zipping around the boards like hummingbirds on crack, just a well-placed tank here and there to add some spice to the open areas.

  You can tell your party members apart from the crowd! When we played, I noticed that the people in your party show up as a different color (blue) than everyone else. This makes it easy to tell exactly where they are and actually join up with them. It made it much more enjoyable to be able to get in on the action and actually play with my friends instead of just talking to them while I went off on my own. Gone are the days of, “Where are you?” “I am over by that abandoned building” “Which one?” ” The one with the caved in roof” ” You mean the factory?” “I think it is a warehouse” “By the machine gun?” “Never mind, I just got killed.”

  Add that to the new ability for eight person private chat, and you will actually be able to play together with your friends without ever hearing another annoying 12 year old!

  Co-op campaign seems awesome. You can actually play through the story mode online as a four person squad instead of just by yourself. You can even set it to be competitive and keep track of each player’s stats so you can compare kills and such. You can also use some cheat cards you find during the game to keep it interesting. There are even multiplayer achievements.

  I haven’t unlocked the flame-thrower yet, so we’ll see if it is as awesome as it sounds.

  If you have gotten through this whole review without ordering the game, here is one more thing for you to wrap your mind around: ZOMBIE NAZIS

  Google it and see for yourself!

  That is all.
  
• 

  Matthew Kunka
  November 14th, 2008 on 3:11 pm

  Rating

  A lot of people are saying this is strikingly similar to COD4: Modern Warfare, and it is. That’s what’s good about it. COD4 was one of the best games. There were so many battles of WW2 that they need to keep making games like this. All in all, this is a very fun game, of course the single player is a little easy, but still fun. The multiplayer online and even coop are amazing features. Really, I’d suggest this to someone who got burnt out on COD4 but still wanna have just as much fun playing it with a new feel.
• 

  Corey Turner
  November 25th, 2008 on 6:05 pm

  Rating

  Call of Duty: World at War is a first-person shooter taking place in the WWII setting once more. I’ve written many long game reviews in the past few weeks, many great games are sprouting their heads. Long awaited and overall great titles have not only sprinkled the holiday season, but draped it. With power house titles left and right, one must really conserve and pick the best. So I’ll keep the details simple, and hopefully you can decide by this.

  Fan of “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare”? If so you’ll be in for a warm welcome, this game uses the same interface and multiplayer setup. Expect a pretty good frame rate, and a devastatingly hard campaign mode (for players on the ‘Veteran’ setting that is). In this title you’ll fight as both the Americans and the Russians. Take on admirable Japanese soldiers, or destructive German Nazi troops.

  Campaign features two fronts, and a few interesting non-typical levels (a rail based flying level, and a tank powerhouse level). From islands soaked in sun, to rainy city streets you’ll be fighting in a all out war. Additional features included are the ability to use bayonets on rifles, and the all new powerful scorching flame thrower. Bayonets play out basically the same as your standard melee (knife), and the flame thrower can burn up terrain with a decent range. You’ll become acquainted with the staple World War 2 guns once more (M1 Garand, Thompson, PPSH, MP40, Nimbu, Type 100, MG42, BAR, Browning).

  Online seekers will find some perks added and some changes in names. Rest assure it’s still the same frantic multiplayer combat, but with some more open ended maps. For players not familiar with ‘perks’, these are implementations to ones character that give additional abilities (and are allowed up to three, ranging in different classes). Dropping grenades upon death, carrying two primary weapons, and having more health, just to name a few. One can pit themselves against a myriad of players and game types to achieve higher ranking, and more weaponry at their disposal. Maps are based off the campaign, and are pretty open ended, but maybe a bit too confusing at times. Tanks have now returned, similar to CoD 3′s tank, except it is a little bit harder to defeat. If you’ve maxed out your rank and feel their is nothing left to do, enter ‘Prestige Mode’. Removing all weapons gained along with perks, and beginning a new with a higher rank symbol. Challenges will be depleted too. Multiplayer has now added dogs in place of helicopters at the seven kill mark. Players can obtain special help after benching the three, five, and seven kill mark without dying. One may find the rigors of battling pros to be frustrating, hop into ‘Boot Camp’ to readily play other beginners. Keep in mind vet players, some perks (cough Juggernaut cough) are just as annoying as ever.

  Also available to the multiplayer experience is co-op campaign, and the addicting zombie mode. Co-op campaign is great fun, but be warned achievement junkies, some achieves are nullified in this mode. Zombie mode brings you into less a horror and more a adrenaline rushing doomsday. Up to four players can join and unite themselves in defeating zombies in a worn down base. A currency is used to buy weaponry, and enable usage of other locations in the base. More opened up areas though more zombie accessibility. These staggering zombified Nazis strike in waves. Making things even more difficult and tense is their ability to break in to your base! After each wave players can book it to the nearest entrance/window and board them up for currency and brief security. Once all players have died the game ends and tallies up scores, players can revive fallen team mates though before calling it quits. To say the least, this is one of the funnest options any Call of Duty or game has ever included. It’s also one of the reasons you have to complete the campaign, as it’s only available after completion (oh boy!).

  So really World at War doesn’t break any new territory like the previous title had done. Yet it glazes the plateau over with a few new features, and another reason to continue playing multiplayer day after day. You may of noticed a longer description dedicated to multiplayer segments. Essentially this game plays out well in solo go a bouts, but is destined to remain a multiplayer investment. If you are a single player person, hopefully a rental will suffice. In the mean time, thousands of players have made the move to this games online and are definitely enjoying it. So maybe it didn’t go above the call of duty again, but it sure is a fun worthy purchase.

  EDIT: I just wanted to add that there are actually four perks available in multiplayer. The additional perk not available in Cod4 is a vehicular perk slot. Also now having logged in a hefty figure of hours, multiplayer overall still seems to be standing as enjoyable. Some glitches have been located, and people are exploiting them. Mainly a glitch that enables a player the ability to get underneath certain maps.
  
• 

  R. Jackson
  January 7th, 2009 on 9:28 pm

  Rating

  I have not seen my son since he got this game for xmas..He just loves it,and he plays against all his friends which is cool..Thanx Santa.
• 

  Marco B.
  January 9th, 2009 on 12:17 am

  Rating

  As a gamer who only plays Call of Duty and a little bit of Gears of War I have to say that Call Of Duty World At War is the best title to date. The campain story is a 10 out of 10 and the online multiplayer is a 11 out of 10. The game is that good. Also if you beat campain mode you unlock Nazi Zombi mode where you and several friends have to fight off wave after wave of nazi zombis. Enjoy
• 

  Anonymous
  January 9th, 2009 on 8:26 am

  Rating

  Ok. When I heard that CoD was going back to WWII, I didn’t understand all the gripe. I don’t mind WWII games, despite the overwhelming # of them. I was dissapointed to hear that Treyarch was doing this one. I understand that Infinity Ward takes longer to make games, but they end up better. But anyway, this is a great game. If you are looking for a game that blows your mind, puts CoD4 to shame, and redefines shooters, get your fix somewhere else. But if your looking for a solid, intense, and impressive shooter, here ya go. The great thing about this game, if your a fan of previous games in the series, is that it’s no different in terms of controls and style, but it has a much different feel to it. This is felt especially in the multiplayer. Bullets have more stopping power, there are tanks, and it just feels different. This is great because it makes it feel like a different game than CoD4 in 1945. The single player is great, with flamethrowers, molotov cocktails, and the works. The multiplayer is exellent, with the CoD4 formula, with extras. So here’s a little rundown.
  
  PROS
  
  -the single player campaign is great
  
  -It has a different feel for veteran players of the series so it doesn’t feel the same as previous games
  
  -ITS FUN ( this game is addicting)
  
  -The multiplayer kept the same formula as CoD4 with some extras (like a new custom slot every time you prestige. Those new to the series won’t get this but in time they will)
  
  -For those of you who love blood and gore, this game delivers, not like Gears of War, but with plenty of severed limbs, which is a forst for the series.
  
  -In my opinion, the best game on WWII
  
  -FINALLY set in the pacific

  CONS
  
  -Not really a step forward for shooters, like nothing revolutionary or experimental
  
  -The graphics won’t blow your mind like #4, but are impressive
  
  -The voice acting is weak, if you care about that kind of thing, some people do
  
  -If you love pinpoint accuracy, i’m srry. It’s 1945, and guns aren’t that accurate, which is realistic, but can be frustrating

  Hope this was useful
• 

  J. L. DIBIASI
  April 27th, 2009 on 4:01 am

  Rating

  I am not a huge fan of video games, I buy maybe 2 a year but I am glad I bought this one. I have played the Call of Duty series since X-Box 360 came out and was a huge fan of Call of Duty 4 (Modern Warfare). When I heard Call of Duty World at War was going to return to WW2 I was upset to think that the modern weapons would be gone but this game delivers excellent gameplay and a top-of-the-line multiplayer experience. The multi-player option is the MAIN REASON, possibly ONLY reason to buy this game- if you don’t play over the internet then don’t bother the game itself is short. I purchased COD4 for both X-Box 360 and PS3 and graphics wise both were equally impressive on my HDTV, I’m sure the same is true for this version so I bought it for X-Box 360 only because more people I know online have this version so I can play against them.
• 

  Private First Class Daily(Iraq)
  September 1st, 2009 on 3:40 pm

  Rating

  This game was excellent for being WW2. Multiplayer is what skyrockets this game. My fiends and I love to play for hours. Plus the zombie mode is great with 4 maps plus a lot of multiplayer maps. The downloads for the game are with the little extra green you have to shell out to get them. They did an excellent job on this game and I am expecting the same from Modern Warfare 2. So I will keep my fingers crossed. I recommend this game to any FPS fan or and WW2 fan like me.
• 

  Jill L. Kaiser
  September 5th, 2009 on 11:15 am

  Rating

  I bought this game for my 14 year old son to play on his XBox360. According to him, “A great flashback game set in World War II”. Depending on level setting, can be really challenging. Love the Nazi Zombies!!
• 

  Andariel Halo
  December 2nd, 2009 on 1:18 am

  Rating

  I played Call of Duty 2 and was given a great WWII game in the same general vein as Medal of Honor—that is, a PG-13/Moderate R type war with an emphasis on glory and America Eff Yeah glory.

  World at War is far more like a pulp comic take on it, but without the sleaze associated with such genres.

  Gore is a major factor now, including such heinously realistic things as mounted machine guns severing limbs, blood is up in your face, and stuff gets sickeningly real very quickly all around.

  My main disappointment with the storyline was variety. As usual, you’re Americans and you’re Russians. That’s it. That’s pretty much how it’s always been in Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, everything. Lack of variety is more than made up for with sheer depth, grit, and style executed in the campaigns.

  The American campaign does something never really done in any WW2 FPS game I’ve played—the Japanese. The entire campaign involves the Pacific Campaign, so you can go back to Call of Duty 2 if you want to M1 Garand Nazis instead of Imperials.

  The Nazis were pretty sick in terms of warfare ability, but the Japanese bring a whole new level of warfare to this game that makes it less “AMERICA EFF YEAH!” gloryhounding like we’re used to in old games, and more “If I hear ‘BANZAI’ one more time, I’m going to throw all my grenades all around me and shoot everythign that moves before I totally lose my mind!”

  This is in no way a bad thing, implying certain aspects are overused—it’s simply a display that these methods are so gorgeously executed—to be walking into an area of tall-grass, hear the shout “BANZAAAAIII!” and see three or four Japanese in perfect camouflage emerge and rush at you and your comrades. And this is no triggered spawning—they are lying in wait from the very start. I’ve had one instance where my stupidity lead me along an odd path, and I ended up right behind a Japanese soldier just laying there. I decided it would be a good idea to shoot him with my pistol, ended up completely missing, and he got up and lunged at me.

  Fighting the Japanese is a horrifyingly brutal ordeal, not merely where “Banzai” forces will appear so frequently, but where snipers will climb up into trees and fire at you, or emerge from trap-doors right beneath you, or any number of guerrilla-type tactics. One long-winded mission segment is entirely just clearing out ONE tunnel complex at Iwo Jima, which goes along perfectly with movies like “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Letters from Iwo Jima”, and is total hell upon the psyche.

  As was the case with Call of Duty 4, and which I think I may have mentioned in my review for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, this game has a big moment within it, a “HOLY S***” moment that really changes the scope of the game. For this game, they are likely a matter of opinion, but for me each campaign had at least one. The biggest one in the American campaign was playing as a gunner for a fighter plane/bomber thing. Your mission is essentially solely reconnaissance, then engaging a trade fleet that reveals itself as Japanese, then you must answer a distress call, where an American naval detachment is attacked by Japanese ships and air units.

  There’s interactive sequences where you must shoot Japanese gunboats and destroy them, in order to reach out and pull American sailors and soldiers out of the water onto your plane. The HS moment comes when Kamikaze planes begin attacking, and Zeroes attack your plane—and you run out of ammo. And in a perfectly placed slow-motion moment, where a wing of Japanese planes prepare to strafe you, and your gun clicks empty, American Corsairs arrive at just that moment to shoot them down and save you. Tears were in my eyes.

  Then there’s the Soviet campaign. Maybe there’s a difference between this and the campaign in Call of Duty 2, or maybe it was just Gary Oldman’s epic scenery-chewing Hamming of Sergeant Reznov, but this campaign, for its moment in time, made me a cold-blooded, Nazi-hating Soviet.

  I hated the introduction, which was a complete and total 99% ripoff of “Enemy at the Gates”, where Danilov meets Vassili in the dry fountain, hiding among Soviet bodies, trying to avoid being shot by Nazis shooting the corpses to ensure they’re dead, then using the cover of Luftwaffe planes flying overhead to mask your sniper shots, and even an overly-long, gamebreaking duel with a German sniper, which due to my playing on Veteran mode, got me killed several dozen times due to its sheer facepalming, wallbanging difficulty that went beyond “Boy that was a challenge” and into the realm of throwing controllers into television screens.

  The rest of the campaign goes from escaping Nazi attacks in the Battle of Stalingrad, then quickly jumping ahead a few years, and taking the war into Germany itself. I would absolutely never condone this in a video game already so grittily real, but I still at least feel relieved that there is no depiction or even mention of the sheer violence perpetrated by Soviet soldiers on German civilians, along with the huge amount of raping of German women. Same way around with German soldiers on Russian civilians.

  The HS moment for the Soviet campaign, for me, was emerging from a complex in Germany, running out into the open, and fighting our way down a street with dozens of Soviet soldiers and a tank plowing through ranks of Nazis. The thunderous, bleak metal soundtrack with the braying shouts of Sergeant Reznov were simply overwhelming, and the very real depiction and realization of literally fighting for every yard of ground coming into place was a massacre on the senses in the best possible way.

  To my delight and pleasure, each mission is preceded by an animation in the exact same style as the introductory animation in the movie “The Kingdom” briefly detailing the history of Saudi Arabia. It is beautiful and brilliant, but they clearly run out of ideas later on as rather than nifty transitions and transformations, we merely get pictures and video clips.

  For the rest of the game, the multiplayer is satisfying, but ultimately merely a clone of Call of Duty 4′s multiplayer, with WW2 weapons attached, and a few new neat perks and additions to the system. The most disappointing aspect here was that, just like CoD4, there were standardized weapon classes and customizable ones, in which EVERY WEAPONS is available, or ready upon being unlocked. This means a battle between Japanese and Americans would be utterly indistinguishable as Japanese soldiers use Soviet machine guns, Nazi rifles, and American grenades, while American soldiers… use exactly the same things, mixed up arbitrarily.

  But the game creators brilliantly came up with something to keep people coming back to it, even as they move on to Modern Warfare 2—Zombies!!!

  Unless you buy new maps, you only get one Zombie map, though. It’s great fun, and something that must be experienced.