[HEADING=3]A better late than never look at:[/HEADING]
Developer(s): Treyarch, Certain Affinity (multiplayer maps)
Publisher: Activision
Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Wii
Release date: November 11th, 2008
Celebrity voice actors:
Gary Oldman - Sgt. Reznov
Kiefer Sutherland - Sgt. Roebuck
Aaron Stanford - Private Polonsky
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Do you remember this game?. The one released after Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare but before Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2. Yes, well this was sort of an "intermission" game for Activision in 2008 when Treyarch (taking the reins from Infinity Ward) introduced us to the trenches of World War 2, this time focusing on the fight against the Japanese in the Pacific and the downfall of Berlin at the hands of the Russians. So chronologically speaking, after experiencing Modern Warfare, are you ready to go back again?
[small]Game Trailer[/small]
[HEADING=2]Story[/HEADING]
You're kidding right?. You never heard of World War 2?
World At War (WAW) like previous COD games before has a campaign mode that is told from two perspectives; in this case those being of a US serviceman fighting the Japanese on various islands in the Pacific, and of a Russian soldier out for vengeance against the Germans in Russia/Germany.
Unlike COD4 however the two campaigns are totally unrelated and never cross paths, for obvious reasons, and the player will jump back and forth between both segments every two or three missions or so. There's not really much else to tell. In one pair of boots you'll simply be trying survive and take out Japanese bunkers and tunnel networks, in the other pair you will be seeking merciless revenge against the Nazis and pushing into Germany aiming at the heart of the Reich; Berlin.
[HEADING=2]Graphics & Sounds [/HEADING]
Graphically WAW is quite good, with some of the environments looking fantastic. The first time a group of Japanese soldiers spring up out of the grass in front of you is a thrilling brown trouser moment, and also a game over moment if you're choosing to start off on one of the higher difficulties. Likewise some of the blown out and scarred urban locales are equally impressive, the atmosphere in the first Russian mission being especially good, if somewhat of a deja vu experience.
The soundtrack and in particular the voicework is also very well-done. The Japanese voice acting is great and thankfully sounds authentic. All your favourite Nazi death screams and taunts are also back for an encore in WAW.
[HEADING=2]Controls[/HEADING]
Since WAW uses the same engine as COD4 there will be no surprises here at all. Footwork has also seen a major improvement from COD3 which felt like you had lead weights in your boots at times, and issues with getting stuck on random pieces of debris and whatnot are all but gone now. For the most part it's basically COD4 handling in a WW2 setting.
In World at War there will be a few times when you will find yourself in vehicles. Tanks and aircraft are the orders of the day as you fight through waves of German armour on the push into the Reich and blast down Japan's kamikaze fighters over the Pacific. The tank missions handle as gracefully as you'd expect and feel just like the tanks from COD3. Thankfully the flying missions don't actually involve any piloting, you are only required to man the guns.
[HEADING=2]Gameplay[/HEADING]
As has already been mentioned WAW is essentially COD4 gameplay in a WW2 setting. You still have your trusty grenades and flares, and two sidearms of your choice as your basic kit. There's also satchel charges which can be thrown and detonated, missile barrages that can be called in from offshore Naval vessels, mortar rounds which you can throw by hand, and one of my favourite weapons, the flamethrower. The flamethrower is a big player in the Japanese campaign and you will be using it to burn out tunnels, gun emplacements, start grassfires to burn potential ambushers laying in wait, or just to wreak havoc in the trenches. The flamethrower is key to survival in a lot of areas as it not only has unlimited fuel (you just have to wait for it to recharge), it can also be swept across large numbers of enemies at once, which results in a one-hit kill for just about everyone in the area. Very useful for fending off the many waves of Japanese soldiers you'll be confronted by.
In addition to this the faithful recreation of Japanese tactics in the Pacific makes for some intense battles. Unlike their German counterparts the Japanese used the element of surprise a lot, hitting below the belt was encouraged, and these are recreated very well in the game. Some of the ambushes are brilliant, and having an enemy that can appear in large numbers right at your feet at any moment is great for keeping the player on their toes and creating tension. The Japanese troops will play dead, hide in the long grass, hide in trees, make traps, suddenly leap out of trapdoors at your feet or lob grenades at you from the safety of their hidden tunnels, all in the name of catching you with your pants down.
The Japanese campaign is the big highlight of this game for me. Rarely has the Pacific war been addressed in games and even more rarely this well. I only wish the campaign had a bit more story and had been longer, and it is strangely missing a few major battles I would have thought definite to appear in the game.
In contrast to this the Russian campaign, which while still good, felt a little old to me. Been here done that, a few too many times maybe. The very first mission in the Russian campaign feels like a clone of the sniper mission in COD4, with the player following a mentor-type figure through a bombed out city on a mission to kill a certain German officer. Sound familiar?. In addition to this the tank missions failed to interest me and it was all just the same old drive here and shoot the bunker deal. Unlike the Japanese, the German tactics pretty much begin and end with hiding behind the nearest desk or broken wall, sticking their heads out occasionally to have them blown off by me. Don't get me wrong the Russian campaign was still a lot of fun and also had some great set pieces and environments to fight through, it just felt a little 'meh'- a little stale, especially after the frantic missions against the Japanese.
Completing the campaign story unlocks a bonus level called "Nacht der Untoten" ("Night of the Undead") which is basically a survival game. Dead German soldiers have risen from the grave as zombies and you find yourself barricaded in a small house fending off waves of attackers. It's basically just running from window to window shooting at anything you see and rebuilding the barricades as the zombies destroy them. It's a nice novelty but I was done with it after five minutes. With zombie mini-games being the trend these days and also with other zombie games out there *coughLeft4dead2cough*, WAW isn't going to be my first choice for some zombie killing action.
[HEADING=2]Multiplayer[/HEADING]
Multiplayer in WAW again is set up near identical to COD4, with players choosing specific kits to deck out their soldier in before entering battle. There are eight maps and seven game modes for the standard multiplayer component, with most of the maps being pretty good. WAW does have one area that shines in the multiplay department and that is four player co-op. Finally, after all the pleas and begging, the COD series has at last implemented a co-op multiplayer option, where you and 3 others can go through the story and kick seven kinds of ass. This co-op can be played either locally split-screen or over Xbox LIVE. This element for me is pure awesome and I hope it becomes a standard COD feature in the franchise from now on.
[small]Co-op Gameplay Trailer[/small]
[HEADING=2]Conclusion[/HEADING]
If you like COD games then you will like World at War, the only question you have to ask yourself is: "How sick of WW2 am I?". If you have absolutely had enough of WW2 games then perhaps steering clear of this one is in your best interest, but if not, then for sure pick this game up. Even if you are on the fence I recommend you try it. Many people may be getting tired of WW2 games but WAW does still have something to offer, especially in the Japanese campaign which is unlike any other COD game to date.
The multiplayer is good fun and the addition of co-op and a veteran campaign as gruelling as any COD before it, there is a lot of hours worth of gameplay here. For people who love COD, love WW2, play online a lot, or who enjoy the challenge of veteran mode, this game is a thumbs up buy from me. If you don't fit into one of the above categories but are still curious, thumbs up rental for you. Only the most jaded and anti-WW2 gamers out there should consider this a thumbs down, it's a very fun game despite some complaints I have with it and it fits into the COD family tree nicely.
___________________________
Reviews:
Eat Lead: The Return Of Matt Hazard [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.167254]
The Godfather II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.165846]
Flash Games Roundup [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.164079]
Assassin?s Creed II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163778#4249881]
Tropico 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163694#4244655]
Thief: Deadly Shadows [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.138283#3107800]
Thief II: The Metal Age [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136846]
Thief I: The Dark Project [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136341]
Mass Effect: Pinnacle Station [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.134802]
Death to Spies: Moment of Truth [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.134495]
Trine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.132012#2966560]
The Path [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.131763]
Psychonauts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127811]
Overlord II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127136]
Tales of Monkey Island: Launch of the Screaming Narwhal [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.126361]
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Xbox 360) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.126157]
Previews:
The Hobbit [2011]: Film Preview [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.166781]
Eat Lead: The Return Of Matt Hazard [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.167254]
The Godfather II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.165846]
Flash Games Roundup [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.164079]
Assassin?s Creed II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163778#4249881]
Tropico 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.163694#4244655]
Thief: Deadly Shadows [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.138283#3107800]
Thief II: The Metal Age [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136846]
Thief I: The Dark Project [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136341]
Mass Effect: Pinnacle Station [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.134802]
Death to Spies: Moment of Truth [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.134495]
Trine [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.132012#2966560]
The Path [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.131763]
Psychonauts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127811]
Overlord II [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.127136]
Tales of Monkey Island: Launch of the Screaming Narwhal [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.126361]
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Xbox 360) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.126157]
Previews:
The Hobbit [2011]: Film Preview [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.166781]
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Please feel free to comment!