Plain and simply put, it's just a great game.
Review 218
Released: November 10, 2008
Publisher: Activision Blizzard
Developer: Treyarch
Game Genre: Historic First-Person Shooter
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
ESRB Description: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Story: 30%
Gameplay: 40%
Graphics: 20%
Durability: 10%
Story (9/10)
Activision continues to improve upon the storylines of their Call of Duty games. World at War takes Call of Duty back to World War II. The game focuses on the American siege of Japan and the Russian invasion of Berlin.
Gameplay (8/10)
Using the Call of Duty 4 engine definitely helps, but there are still problems. The most frustrating part of Call of Duty still exists, that being the inability to move an ally out of your way. There's nothing in the game more frustrating than being trapped between a grenade and a statue-like friendly soldier, who apparently is too stupid to see the grenade lying in his lap. Regardless…
Campaign:
The campaign consists of fifteen missions (somewhere in that ballpark). Most missions are the standard Call of Duty progressive warfare style, but there are also some unique missions involving tank battles and air warfare. This time around, the story focuses much more on your character (Private Miller while playing as the Americans, Private Dimitri something-or-other while playing as the Russians) and a few soldiers that provide the supporting cast. There are now also a few areas of the campaign that if you don't act fast enough, small parts of the story change (no spoilers from me). Also new is a cooperative campaign, although most achievements are not available in co-op mode.
Multiplayer:
I never played Call of Duty 4 online, so forgive me if some of these features existed in that game.
World at War provides a lot of features that make online play bearable through its frustration. For example, having a kill streak of 3 nets you a scout plane that shows enemy positions on radar, and having a kill streak of 5 allows you to call in an airstrike. Once you reach level 5 in online play, you can create your own classes, allowing you to use unlocked guns that you pair up well with. There are perks you can select from as well, like having extra grenades, having extra health, or dealing extra damage.
Nazi Zombies:
Yes, you are reading this correctly. There is a game mode involving Zombies. Similar in a way to Gears of War 2's Horde mode, Nazi Zombies faces you up against an endless parade of Swastika-bearing Zombies. Playing with a friend in this mode is incredibly entertaining. Killing zombies gets you points, and then you can use those points to open new pathways, buy new guns, and get ammo.
Graphics (9/10)
Durability (10/10)
A long campaign, fun online play, and a killer zombie mode go a long way.
Previous Reviews
Call of Duty 2 (9.25/10)
Call of Duty 3 (7.8/10)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (9.6/10)
Overall Score (8.7/10)
Rounded Score (8.5/10)