After last year's remarkable Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the series returns with Call of Duty: World At War. Rather than sticking with modern times, Activision revisits World War II and showcases two unique campaigns. One follows a U.S. soldier as he battles Japanese forces in the South Pacific, while the other casts you as a Russian warrior pushing Nazis from Berlin.
World at War's graphics bring out the genuine, raw horror of World War II, from German soldiers shooting helpless adversaries to a Japanese sergeant slicing a POW's throat. The lighting looks spectacular, especially as you work your way through the first stage. Blowing up structures in a coastline village set against a bright moon is an amazing sight, almost enough to distract you from what's happening on-screen.
World At War also delivers a rich audio presentation with deafening explosions, authentic gunfire (when the M1 Garand goes off, it sounds just like the real thing) and plenty of blood-curdling screams. The voice acting is also impressive, although some performances are better than others. Kiefer Sutherland (24) does well as Sergeant Roebuck, but Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight) steals the show as the grizzled Russian sniper Sgt. Reznov.
This leads us to one of the game's problems, a lack of emotional attachment. There are no jaw-dropping moments that compare to last year's haunting nuclear explosion. Furthermore, the only character we even feel a slight connection to is the aforementioned Sgt. Reznov, as he helps lead his countrymen in battle against the invading Germans.
When it comes to combat, there's no shortage of excitement. One minute you're fending off vicious dogs with a knife, and the next, you're tearing apart enemy boats from an aerial gunship. There are several new additions as well, including one of our favorite weapons, the flamethrower; we love torching trees to kill snipers. The addition of vehicles is a nice touch as well, although maneuvering a tank isn't as easy as it should be.
A new four-player co-op campaign lets you log into the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live and work with three other teammates through a variety of missions; two players can team up off-line as well. There's a strong emphasis on teamwork, so you'll win as a group or die trying.
Several competitive multiplayer modes mainstays are back, including Capture the Flag and Team Deathmatch. The Perks system (the new Death Cards are sweet) returns, gives you advantages (and on occasion, disadvantages) as you fight opponents, and a ranking system lets you level up with each win. The only thing that makes World At War's multiplayer significantly different from Modern Warfare is the new Nazi Zombie mode (unlocked after beating single player), where you and a team of soldiers kill wave after wave of unstoppable and undead soldiers.
In the end, Call of Duty: World At War needs better character development and more "oh my God" moments. However, it's still a terrific first-person shooter. The combat is tight, the presentation shines and the multiplayer, particularly Nazi Zombie mode and co-op campaign, will keep you blasting enemy soldiers for weeks.
Related Links
Call of Duty: World At War Game Guide
Call of Duty: World at War
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 1 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 2 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 3 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 4 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 5 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 6 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 7 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 8 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 9 of 21)
The Call of Duty series makes its triumphant return, returning to the World War II era. (Screenshot 10 of 21)
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