Review: Call of Duty: World at War (Xbox 360, PS3)

The focus for the latest in the shooter series is on the Pacific theater and the Russian front, a welcome change from the western Europe-centric slant of previous Call of Duty games (excepting Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, of course).

Told from two perspectives – a Russian soldier and an American Marine – the game alternates between the two fronts.

The Russian campaign begins as the tide begins to turn against the Nazi intrusion east. The battle across Russia and into Berlin is packed with tank fights and ground combat.

The Pacific battles are a little different, with stirring air battles and tense combat in dark tunnels. The fight against the Japanese also features a weapon new to the Call of Duty series – the flamethrower.

This weapon, as it did in the actual war, works really well in the jungle situations and in ferreting out the enemy in tunnels. It also adds almost too much realism to the game. Seeing the Japanese soldiers writhe in pain as they burn to death is a bit unsettling.

With the success of Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare last year, developer Treyarch was wise to implement much of the same setup in Call of Duty: World at War. The game’s slick multiplayer interface, the ability to earn perks and rank up and the smooth experience overall have been brought over whole cloth to the new game, giving CoD4 fans little trouble in picking up and playing the new game.

There are differences, of course, between the two – mainly historical. The weapons are all old school in World at War and some of the fancier tactical options are not available.

For instance, there is no option for calling in an attack helicopter, but taking the place of the helicopter is a pack of dogs that seek out the enemy and attack (which is actually more annoying than the helicopter).

Another example is the Claymore mine, which wasn’t around during WWII. Standing in for the Claymore is the Bouncing Betty, a mine that pops into the air and kills those nearby. Another, the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that locates enemy personnel, has been replaced by a reconnaissance plane.

The changes (other than the dogs) are mostly cosmetic, however.

The game’s increased realism also carries over into the multiplayer arena. When a player is caught in a Bouncing Betty explosion or an air strike, body parts can be blown off. This is a bit of realism that can be disconcerting.

The game also offers a new co-op mode, in which up to four players online, or 2 on split screen, can play through the single-player campaign. Another little treat for those who complete the single-player mode is “Nacht der Untoten (Night of the Undead),” a co-op mode in which up to four players defend themselves against waves of zombie Nazis.

Call of Duty: World at War at times plays more like a new map pack for COD4 than a separate game. But that’s a good thing.

The new theatres of operation and the enhanced realism lift it above the previous WWII efforts. It’s a solid game in a storied franchise.

Publisher: Activision

Rating: Mature

Score: 8.5 old school chilies

Call of Duty: World at War gameplay footage (contains graphic violence and language)