Call of Duty: World at War

"As with 4, almost perfect..."

The Call of Duty series is great for showing the realities war, and World at war is no exception. Except this time, it's the horrors of war. You'll feel for the people you kill, especially in the Russian campaign, where the Nazis are running from your onslaught. You'll the suspence of the Japanese campaign, not knowing where the enemy will come from next. I'm going to be frank, though. The Japanese are really fun to kill because these guys will do anything, ANYTHING, to kill you. Its fun to get revenge on those Japs, who booby trap your dead comrades, and go plain kamakazi on you. The Russians aren't totally without mercy, you get to choose how painful the surrendering Nazis get killed. But they murdered your women and children, so nothings too bad, right? Right? And for all your trouble in the campaign you get a SWEET bonus mode at the end. I don't feel bad spoiling it because under faqs Team Ragnorak already did. Nazi Zombies, it sounds wierd at first, but Nazi Zombies? The multiplayer is pretty much the same except totally different because of some awesome, new add-ons.

Campaign 9.75/10

Great campaign, just like last game. It really showed the horror of war as in the intro. I LOVE co-op. I've been wanting that for so long. It works like when you die, your in last stand, on the ground bleeding out with only your pistol, and your buddy has to go, while fighting the enemy, and revive you by holding down the X button. If he doesn't do it in time, you bleed out and you both have to restart from the last checkpoint. This is great in competitive mode because then the guy who didn't die can't leave you there, getting kills. People say it's too "familiar", but it wasn't going for something new; it was about improving something old and telling a whole different side of something horrific, WWII. I know it's not "open world", but that would defeat the purpose of the story they're trying to tell. It's only 2 people, even on Xbox live, but if it were more it'd be too cheap. Nazi Zombies is great. If you want information on it, go to the faq on this site by team ragnorak. The only bad thing I can say about it is that on split screen only 2 people can play, 4 can play on Live. That's the only reason I didn't give this section a 10. The campaign deserves a 10. Something that it doesn't say on the faq is that there are 95 rounds that can be beaten because on round 96 there are so many zombies that the game lags out.

Multiplayer 9.5/10

Multiplayer is awesome. The classes are way more balanced. People aren't all using the M16 or P90 like the last game. There's no all powerful weapon. Throw in tanks, body attachments, excellent levels, a great new mode, and flamethrowers; and you've got an experience that people will be playing for years. The only reasons I didn't give this a ten are that body attachments are part of your perk 2; something missing from CoD4, multiple attachments; and also missing, guests on Xbox live. Body attachments separate from perk 2 would be so fun. Imagine a silenced weapon, camaflauge (invisbility on radar), and a gas mask. Just charge in with a gas grenade in a small building, take the enemy out in the gas with the protection of your gas mask, and not have anybody no about it--even with recon. Same with flares and shades. It would lead to more strategic classes. Also, multiple attachments would be so amazing. It's unfair to people who love a certain weapon, like the M14; would love to have a silencer on it; and then realise that, oh, I can't see anything out of it! Red dot and silencer isn't too unrealistic. Plus, it would be cool to see someone with a noob tube, red dot and silencer, but, alas, we can dream, can't we? Of cousre, you couldn't have a red dot and acog, but that's not too hard to do. I can't take off for what something doesn't have though. Finally, guests would make the Call of Duty series so much better. When my friends come over, we play Halo 3 because I can't play on multiplayer with them and split screen is pathetic. My brother and I, with two different Live profiles, can't play together except Co-op. I don't blame them for making split screen lame because it's a business strtegy to get people to buy Live. If they could change one thing about the game, it'd be this. Everyone who reads this should email Infinty Ward to change that one thing.

Graphics and Sound 10/10

Graphics and sound are not game making factors for me, but man did this game do a great job of them. The gore looks realistic and great, and I'm not one for gore. The people and environment also look awesome, borrowing CoD4's engine. The flamethrower is the best looking one I've seen. The sound is really great because you feel like your in the war. The music is creepy at the right moments and epic when appropriate. Some heavy metal comes on when you first get the flamethrower.

Gameplay 9.9/10

The overall package is excellent. The tanks are perfectly powered. The controls work flawlessly. Gore looks amazing. The only reason I didn't give this a 10 is that in real life flamethrowers don't overheat.

Overall 9.8/10 (average)

P.S Seriously, email infinity ward about guests.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/02/08

Game Release: Call of Duty: World at War (US, 11/10/08)