Call of Duty World at War Review

Written by: Darren Cartledge Posted: 25th November 2008

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Call of Duty World at War review.

Call of Duty: World at War Details:

Goto Call of Duty: World at War Game Page

	First Person Shooter
	PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox 360
	Treyarch
	Activision

TBA

Out Now

N/A

Many Call of Duty fans thought the franchise had consigned World War II to history with the release of the rather excellent COD 4: Modern Warfare. However, a change in developers back to Treyarch and the World War II setting is very much again on the agenda.

Just like previous Call of Duty games World at War shifts the action around putting you in various different roles most notably that of US Marine Private Miller serving in the Pacific and Red Army Private Dimitri Petrenko fighting on the European battlefields.

If you’ve played COD 4: Modern Warfare then World at War will have a very familiar feel as it’s built using the same game engine, however there are a few notable differences, most notably the addition of the use of tanks on the European battlefield segments. The vehicle section is fairly enjoyable to play and the tanks have pretty good control system, however they are very short. You can now also counter enemy melee attacks and avoid death when knocked to the floor by stabbing your combat knife firmly in an enemy’s neck before he has the chance to dispose of you.

However, despite these additions the game doesn’t seem to have the same fluidity of the previous Call of Duty and many sequences during play have a staged feeling, and at times it feels the entire war centres around you as action will only begin when you move to a certain points on the game map!

The games story mode is about the same length as that in Modern Warfare and most should be able to get through it within 5 to 7 hours. This serves up a very similar challenge to its predecessor although things seem to be a little more intense, that is when you’re doing what the game expects you to do. Break away from your squad and advance quicker then the game thinks you should and a number of AI bugs become apparent.

Most notably enemy soldiers simply standing still, completely unaware of your presence, despite the fact you’re stood a few feet away from them, obviously this allows you to take them out with very little effort. Other annoyances in the AI is how enemies will often run straight past your squad mates to attack you, I’m not just talking about a one of but four or five squad mates easily being bypassed, this again makes the game feel as if it’s player versus squad instead of squad versus squad as it should be.

Despite the flaws in the games solo mode, like Modern Warfare, World at War features an excellent multiplayer mode that is very similar to that in the last game. Obviously the weapons on offer are vastly different and calling in an air strike has been replaced with artillery and as helicopters weren’t around in World War II these have been replaced with a vicious pack of dogs that will hunt down and kill enemies no matter where they try to hide.

The game still features the same levelling up system and as before each level unlocks new challenges, weapons and perks. Maps on the game are all fairly expansive so for those of you that hated the tightly packed Shipment in Modern Warfare need not worry! A few of the games multiplayer maps also allow for the use of tanks, allowing players to climb aboard and wreck havoc on the multiplayer battlefield. As well as all the usual multiplayer modes the game also includes co-operative and competitive campaign play so you can get the most out of the story mode.

Visually World at War has a very similar look to COD 4, although things do seem a little sharper then the previous game. Character models and animation are pretty much flawless and the action is set amongst fairly varied maps. The developers have also done a good job of creating a feeling of intensity and it can often feel as if gun fire is coming from all directions as tracer fire flashes across the screen and explosions erupt on all sides. World at War is also more gruesome the Call of Duty 4 with limbs now flying off enemy soldiers revealing bones and chunks of flesh strewn across the battlefield, so don’t be surprised to see the odd arm or leg lying around.

Sound in the game, like its predecessor is top drawer, voice acting some of which is performed by 24 star Kiefer Sutherland is all very good, although can get slightly repetitive at times during combat. Sound effects do a very good job of helping create the chaotic atmosphere many soldiers must have experienced on the battlefields whilst the games music sets a sombre feeling throughout.

Call of Duty World at War may not introduce to many new features then COD 4 and in all honesty it’s solo campaign is probably weaker then that of the previous game, however the multiplayer aspect is just as strong if not stronger then that in Modern Warfare and that’s what will attract fans of the last game to this new instalment, not the greatest solo first person shooter but definitely one of the better multiplayer experiences available.