Call of Duty: World at War

"Call of Duty: World at War - Another WW2 game?"

Call of Duty: World at War Review for Xbox 360
*Overall Score is an average

Intro: A year after Call of Duty 4, we are greeted by a new one. Call of Duty: World at War. Now you may ask what scenery will we be exploring this time around since Cod 4 was modern warfare? Well, apparently we are going back to the "Great War". Yes, thats right. We are heading back to World War II. Did I just hear you sigh? I understand WW2 is a tired focus of FPS games, but World at War brings something different; The war in the Pacific. Yes, there was Medal of Honor: Rising Sun. But lets be honest here, that was an average game at best. Will Treyarch make up for the unbelievable terribleness that was Call of Duty 3? Lets find out shall we...

Graphics and Design: When you first set foot into the game. If you dont stare around in awe. There is something wrong with you. These are top notch graphics, and the jungles of the Pacific are breathtaking. Its essentially the same engine as Cod 4 but the effects such as rain, lighting and other goodies have been toned, polished and are looking much better. The first level is in a jungle, its raining and theres lightning flashing about. Couple this with the Japanese trying to completely destroy you and its an amazing opening level. Trust me on this. Now on to the overall design. The singleplayer levels are done very well. Especially the Russian levels which were some of my favorites. The levels flow cohesively and provide a sense of excitement. The only problem I have is the Pacific levels are not nearly as well thought out or fun to play as the Russian levels. As for multiplayer, some of the maps are quite.... bland and boring, while others are great. My only real complaint is that the online maps are not nearly as memorable or exciting as Call of Duty 4. But this is a minor setback. The weapons in WaW are very well done. They look, and sound like they should all the while feeling as though every gun is different. No two guns feel the same. The game is also a very accurate depiction of the horrors of war. Body parts fly off from explosions, blood splatters realisticly on the ground and on walls. Its a very brutal game and definitely the most violent Call of Duty to date. Score: 9/10

Storyline: Not much here. If youve played previous Call of Duty games you know what to expect. Lots of adrenaline pumping action and excitement. The scripted scenes are well thought out and provide a quick dose of excitement before going to back to shooting and killing more people. Also a hint. The last Russian level is one of the most epic levels ever created. Score: 9/10

Sound: A realistic depiction of the sounds of war. The atmosphere is just unbelievable. Its amazing how this is just a "game". This is how I imagine real life guns/explosions to sound. Explosions hit the ground with earthshattering Booms and Bangs, and create an immense atmosphere. The artillery strikes in this game are stunning. Your ear drums will be ringing after these hit. There are also German Shepards in multiplayer after getting 7 kills without dying. This is the epitome of fear. When you hear the dogs barking in the distance and there not your own, your heart starts to beat faster and it sends a chill down your spine. 10/10

Gameplay: Pretty much the same as every other Call of Duty. Dont think I need to tell you what the gameplay is like. With the exception of tanks. In singleplayer and multiplayer you can now use tanks. For singleplayer tanks are great. They provide another level of excitement to the game. Not so much for multiplayer.... When I think of Call of Duty, I picture a ground war. A game focusing on infantry. Next time Treyarch... dont put tanks in multiplayer please. It ruins the game. Leave the vehicles to the Battlefield games. Score: 8/10

Controls: Call of Duty have the best controls of any console game Ive ever played. All the button schemes are extremely well done, and do not feel awkward at all. Its surprising this is actually one a console. Its as smooth as playing on a computer, and is very easy to get used to. No complaints here. Score:10/10

Multiplayer: The multiplayer is much improved from Call of Duty 4. Treyarch balanced the weapons extremely well. Its not like Cod 4 where everyone was using the same gun *cough* M16 * cough*. Most people online are using completely different guns, and it is much more varied overall. Basically you start at level 1 and advance up to level 65 with the option of going to Prestige mode at 65. Which in turn makes you level 1 again and you lose all your weapons/perks ect. You may ask, what is the point of this? Well really......... there is no point. Its just for people who like to complete 100% of the game or want a challenge. A problem I had with online was the abundunce of glitches so early in the game. There is also the aftorementioned tank problem. I also miss the ability to put different camo options on your guns. Instead you now have 10 extra class slots, which is kind of worthless to me, but may not be for you. Overall the multiplayer is a step forward and step back at the same time. 9/10

Closing Comments: Well it looks as if Treyarch has made up for the horrible Call of Duty 3, by making the best WW2 game to date. Its definitely one of the best games of 2008. It has immense replay value with Xbox Live as well as Co-op from your home or Xbox Live. People will be playing this for a long time to come... or at least until Call of Duty 6. This is the WW2 game to own. I suggest you do not rent it and pick this one up immediately. You will thank me later. Oh, and I almost forgot there is an amazing game play mode called Zombie Nazis. Ill leave that surprise up to you. Thanks for reading my review, and if you decide to pick the game up, I hope you like it as much as I do.

*Overall Score: 9.1/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/17/08

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