Video Game Review: “Call of Duty: World at War”

Features:
Some of the coolest features of this game focus on the weapons. Seriously, is there anything cooler than a flamethrower that can flame out an entire house filled with Japanese soldiers? The weapons are most impressive with a vast amount of weapons from the WWII era, including the Panzerschreck anti-tank rocket and a selection of rifles, machine style guns, and grenades. You can carry up to two different weapons and some grenades. You have a chance to replace your guns with guns from fallen soldiers, enemies or comrades alike. You can also pick up grenades and weapon extensions, such as bayonets.

One of the newer features to the single player campaign is the perks and reward system. This can update weapons and give you other perks. Previously these perks were only available in Call of Duty mutiplayer campaigns.

Speaking of multiplayer, this is possible with play online and up to six different modes. This includes my favorite, Capture the Flag. What can I say? I’m old school! You’ll be able to check out your player stats and rankings, you can upgrade your weapons, and there are enhancements to the perks and reward system. You’ll be able to engage in death matches and vehicle combat with tanks. The game just keeps getting better and better, with each battle you fight.

The variety of weapons is also complimented by the vehicle and airborne missions you’ll partake in. In the jungles of Japan, you’ll be able to target enemy locations and have them blown out of their location by airborne missles. You’ll also be able to blow up tanks and partake in vehicle-based combat. The variety of missions makes gameplay fresh and less repetitive than other shooters, which just have you completing the same style of play over and over.

The enemies in Call of Duty: World at War are bright. The farther you go in the game, the more advanced the enemies become, though your enemies are always ruthless and unexpected in their actions. You will have enemies popping out from virtually anywhere, with little time to react. They have one mission alone, and that is to destroy you. How good they are at this will depend on you. Needless to say, they will do all they can to stop you from completing your mission, so you need to be on your toes at all times!

Finally, there is the variety of game playing modes that is a central feature of Call of Duty: World at War. I’ve already mentioned the online multiplayer option, but there is also a cooperative campaign mode. Up to two players locally can battle together, in a split screen. There is also the option for co-op play online with up to four different players. This is the most innovative new game player mode next to the bonus mode you’ll release after completing the single player campaign, but I’ll talk about that a little later in this review.

Features:

Controls:
For the most part, the controls are easy to use. You learn how to pick up and switch weapons, reload, shoot, throw grenades, and do various other things thanks to prompts on the screens. You can also zoom in to target your enemy. This is where one of the problems with this game comes into play.

On many other shooter style games, when you highlight over an enemy with your weapon’s scope, you will get a red plus sign or some other marker that lets you know this is an enemy. James Bond: Quantum of Solace is a classic example of what I’m talking about, as every enemy appears red when your weapon is pointed at them. In Call of Duty: World at War, sometimes this red plus sign shows up over the enemy and sometimes it doesn’t. This also happens with the names of your comrades, when you highlight over them. Usually, the name shows up, but on occasion, it doesn’t.

As you might imagine, this has led to some friendly fire, during more chaotic campaigns. Since friendly fire isn’t tolerated, you have to start that specific battle over and hope that next time you don’t accidentally shoot one of your buddies. Other than this small annoyance, using the controls couldn’t be any easier. You use the analog rotators to move, and move your camera view. You use R1 & R2 for weapons. The various other buttons allow you to crouch or lie down, to target a specific enemy, to reload a weapon, and to switch weapons. All of this is pretty self-explanatory thanks to prompts on the screen.

Ease of Use:

Visual Quality:
Call of Duty: World at War looks visually pleasing. This is one of the areas I was most impressed with, merely because the visual quality adds another layer to the realism that is presented in the game. This looks as pretty as a movie. In fact, Call of Duty: World at War, could be a work of cinematic splendor, if this quality of animation was used to make an animated, feature film.

It doesn’t get much better than this for a video game! The flumes of smoke, billow during each and every explosion. The detail on the characters is exquisite, with details down to the wrinkles in a bunched up pair of camouflage pants, and the water droplets as they drip off a soldier’s helmet. There is also self-shadowing and environmental lighting elements that just add to the mood of the game. The fact that this game is featured on PS3, makes it all the more visually pleasing.

Visual:

Audio Quality:
Going off the exceptional visual quality, the audio is used to enhance gameplay. Starting with a standout cast of voice actors, who include Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Oldman, the action on screen is just emphasized by the talent of the actors who are speaking for the characters you’ll interact with during the game. From there, the sound just keeps getting better.

This is a war game. You can expect massive sound effects used. There are plenty of explosions, gunfire, and even the movement you make through water, or through the jungle can be heard, as you wind your way through Call of Duty: World at War. Nature sounds, the sound of the enemy, you name it, and it is featured in this game. That’s the key to Call of Duty: World at War’s success. It’s just so fabulously filled with sound. Add in an ambiance-filled soundtrack and the game is one, massively immersive, realistic war battle.

Audio:

Replayability:
The gameplay is going to take you several hours to get through and then you have even more options. You can get online to play a mutiplayer game with others into the game. On the PS3, there is also cooperative mode, where you can play on a split screen locally or with four friends online. This means there is even more opportunity to play the game after the initial, single player game is done.

Add into that the Nazi zombie mode, which is accessible after the single player campaign is completed and there is unlimited opportunity for replayability. I just cannot get enough of the Nazi zombies! This mode is known as “Nacht der Untoten (Night of the Undead).” With this mode, I’ll never get tired of playing Call of Duty: World at War. I might even go back and replay the actual single game again. It’s just so much darn fun!

Replayability:

Bottom Line:
Call of Duty: World at War is the most realistic war game I’ve played. The visually pleasing graphics, realistic setting, and overall, all encompassing experience make this game one of the top of 2008. If you’re into the first person shooters, war games, or just like history, you’ll get an experience unlike any other when you play Call of Duty: World at War. This will make an excellent Christmas present for an older teen or an adult, who loves these kinds of video games.

Overall Rating:

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick is in his late 20s. Having been born in the 80s gave him a unique advantage to experience the development of gaming into the massive industry it has become today. From the days of Atari to the purchase of his very first NES (before his 10th birthday), Dominick has been involved in gaming. Initially, a huge fan of Nintendo, he's delved more into the exciting world of Xbox 360, and everything Microsoft in recent years. His favorite games are Action/Adventure, Shooters (especially WWII or Historical based games) and racing games. Of course, some days he enjoys playing an old fashioned game featuring his original gaming heroes, Mario and Zelda. In a wheelchair since age 16, Dominick has the unique perspective of gaming with limited mobility. When not gaming, he is a human rights activist, a creative mind, and he enjoys spending time with his family.