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Giant Bomb Review

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Call of Duty: World at War Review

4
  • X360
  • PS3

Call of Duty: World at War is a great first-person shooter, but it's still stuck in the shadow of an even greater one.

Never underestimate the power and beauty of fire.
Never underestimate the power and beauty of fire.
After a wildly successful tour of duty in the modern era, Activision's Call of Duty series heads back to the 1940s with World at War, a WWII-focused shooter that attempts to do many of the same things that the previous game did, but in a different time period. It's interesting to watch those different facets of a modern game as they're molded to fit into an earlier conflict, and it works better than you'd probably think. At times, though, it still feels like a knockoff of a better game.

The game's campaign splits time between two different fronts. For half the game, you'll play as an American Marine taking on Japanese forces as you push from their forward island bases all the way back to Okinawa. The other half puts you in Russian boots as you strike back against the Germans, pushing them out of the motherland and sieging Berlin. You know, just like the real thing! Like the previous game, the campaign jumps back and forth between the two perspectives. So you'll play a level or two as one guy, swap to the other for a bit, then swap back. This keeps up over the course of the game's 13 missions.

The campaign provides a good amount of first-person shooter variety, but it excels when the levels are wide open and all hell is breaking loose around you. There are more than a few moments where you're charging against an entrenched enemy, and the game does a good job of making these moments feel appropriately chaotic. You'll also see the requisite vehicle sequence and some up-close indoor battles. Overall, there really aren't any surprises coming out of the single-player--it's a quality single-player campaign from beginning to end.

You can also play the campaign mode cooperatively with up to three other players joining you via system link or over the Internet. Most of the cues for this aspect of World at War seem to come from Halo 3's co-op. You can enable competitive scoring, which makes you want to kill everyone before your partners can. You can also find and unlock "death cards" in each level. Each one you collect lets you enable a little modification in future co-op matches. These are, essentially, the skulls from Halo 3. Some of these cards let you fire explosive pistol rounds while you're downed, or make it so your enemies only die when you shoot them in the head. This gives the co-op some pretty decent options. Still, it's a little jarring that the game dumps you back to the lobby after every mission, instead of letting you just keep on playing with no breaks.

Black-and-white footage abounds!
Black-and-white footage abounds!
The competitive multiplayer probably has the best chance of roping you in for hours and hours. This portion of the game feels like a really well-made mod for Call of Duty 4 that replaces all of the modern stuff with World War II stuff. Most of the things from COD4 are represented in some way. Instead of calling in radar when you get a three-kill streak, you can call in a recon plane... which has the exact same effect of showing dots on your map that represent enemy locations. Since helicopters and World War II don't mix, they've been replaced by dogs. Calling in the dogs on your foes is pretty funny and useful in multiple ways. While wily players can stick the dogs with a knife or gun them down before getting ripped apart, you can still follow your dogs to find the enemy. It's a clever addition.

The game has the same sort of player customization and experience point system as last year's release. So as you play, you'll gain levels, which in turn unlocks additional items and configuration options. You'll be able to set perks on your player--these are special skills and enhancements like the ability to reload faster, or a gas mask perk that makes your soldier able to withstand the effects of gas grenades more easily. There's also a new vehicle perk that lets you give your soldier enhancements like faster turret turning speeds.

Some of the multiplayer maps contain tanks, which let one player drive and another work a machine gun turret atop the tank. The tanks are probably going to be a dividing inclusion. While I like rolling around and gunning down enemy soldiers from the relative safety of a tank, I really don't like that the vehicle levels have to be open enough to accommodate the tanks. While only four of the game's 13 multiplayer maps contain vehicles, these maps seem like they come up in the rotation a bit more often than the others. If you're setting up private matches, that probably won't matter to you at all. They just feel too large, like you're having to hunt around for the action.

Fire seems to be a big visual theme in Call of Duty: World at War. Large portions of the campaign are devoted to running around with a flamethrower and burning as many Japanese soldiers as possible. You'll run through burning buildings. And if you play long enough, you'll be able to unlock that flamethrower for use in multiplayer. The fire effects, thankfully, are good enough to warrant their featured position. The flamethrower snakes around as you wave it and burns up most nearby grass and trees as you go. Creeping through dark, but still-burning buildings shows off the game's terrific lighting, as the soft glow of the flames reflects and flickers onto the nearby walls. All of the lighting, really, is well done. The game has a really dingy, dark look to it that helps make everything you're doing feel at least a little dreadful.

You'll get a bit of Hollywood-style voice acting via Keifer Sutherland and Gary Oldman. Both play characters that guide you through most of the campaign mode, making sure you're pointed in the right direction and giving the general sort of wartime orders you'd expect to hear out of your sergeant. They also serve as announcers in the multiplayer mode. The multiplayer mode feels a lot more chatty this time around, as most of the soldiers will curse and/or shout about something whenever they get a kill.

The larger levels are cool in single-player, not-so-cool in multiplayer.
The larger levels are cool in single-player, not-so-cool in multiplayer.
The rest of the game's audio is fine, too. The weapons sound period-accurate and the battlefields always sound pretty intense. There's a lot of modern-sounding guitar rock on the soundtrack, which kind of makes the whole game feel like some kind of poorly-edited YouTube video. It's like what I imagine would happen if you asked a 15-year-old to make World War II footage interesting or something. It serves its purpose by picking up alongside the action and fading down for the quiet, creeping times. But it still feels out of place. The developers changed the clinky, weird noise that grenades make when they land. While this might sound more realistic, it also has the maddening effect of forcing me to retrain myself to hear the new grenade noise after killing someone online. So the martyrdom perk, which has soldiers drop a live grenade every time they die, is, at least until I can get used to the new sound, way more effective. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, mind you. In fact, that chintzy grenade effect from the previous game always seemed a little out of place. 

Of course, these are all pretty minor points in the grand scheme of things. Call of Duty: World at War is a perfectly competent game with exciting multiplayer options and a campaign that's worth playing. But in most of the ways that actually count, last year's game was better.
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

113 Comments

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Pleasureizmine

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Edited By Pleasureizmine

JAYGE GTFO JEFF RULES

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ghettogabe224

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Edited By ghettogabe224

I don't know, I was trying to decide what I should buy: GoW 2 or CoD 5, and I think I'll get GoW 2. Anyone think otherwise?

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TomA

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Edited By TomA

No thanks il stick with Gears 2 multiplayer till the REAL CoD 5 thanks:)

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Spiritof

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Edited By Spiritof

Actually this is exactly the review I was expecting. I will gladly play this game just because I'm COMPLETELY sick of playing Modern Warfare.

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Jordan23

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Edited By Jordan23

I'm quite anxious to find out how many copies will World at War will sell worldwide.    

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JoelTGM

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Edited By JoelTGM

Why is the review so short?  I wanted to hear more about the game.

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Afroman269

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Edited By Afroman269

Screw this game. I was gonna pass on it right when I saw that it was WW II. The beta also solidified the fact that modern weapons are simply more fun than WW II weapons.

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JohnDeadly

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Edited By JohnDeadly

I would be playing this game right now if my 360 had not RROD last week. Fuck

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Akira

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Edited By Akira

It's sad how many people are dismissing this game just because it's made by Treyarch, and they feel they have some alligence to Infinity Ward that means they have to hate on CoD:WaW. There are some very talented dudes and dudets at Treyarch, and its a shame that peoples' unfounded prejudice will keep them from enjoying a more-than-competant shooter. 

World at War probably isnt as good a game as Modern Warfare, but there's no need to flame and jump on the hate bandwagon. If Treyarch had changed the game radically, people would have hated the change, even if it was good change. So they decide to play it safe, and they get hated for making a glorified mod.

For me... a more-of-the-same approach to CoD4.... I have my £40, where do I sign up?

EDIT: My comment was 'aimed' at some of the commenters, not the review. :)
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ep_driver

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Edited By ep_driver

Incomplete review. Forced out to be one of the first sites to review it?

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natetodamax

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Edited By natetodamax

This game should have been 5 stars in my opinion. Anyway, he could have made it a better review by not devoting half a paragraph to how grenades sound when they hit the ground, as nobody cares about that.

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pedantics

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Edited By pedantics

to all the people crying all over themselves: please remember that zombie mode is only unlocked after completing the campaign. it's hardly a major component of the title.

furthermore, you're all gay cunts and STFU!

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TheIneffableBob

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Edited By TheIneffableBob

World at War's single-player is better than Call of Duty 4's, but its multiplayer is SHIT!

Nigga!
Nigga!
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Aaron_G

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Edited By Aaron_G

I kind of wish the game never came out, and Modern Warfare got a true sequel. 

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Slippery

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Edited By Slippery

ctrl-f Singel
1 hit :P

Nice review, you guys are really cranking them out at the moment (understandably).
Well, all of you except for Brad >.>

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deactivated-5ad2b9eed0cdd

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I picked it up and I have to agree that while it's decent, Call of Duty 4 is still the superior title.  I'm glad I never traded COD4 in because I think I'll probably be swapping this for another title before the end of the year.

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daniel_beck_90

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Edited By daniel_beck_90

yeah COD:4 was significantly better

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TheWesman

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Edited By TheWesman

"It's like what I imagine would happen if you asked a 15-year-old to make World War II footage interesting or something."

"But in most of the ways that actually count, last year's game was better."

4/5

Nice.

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Will

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Edited By Will

Nice review, will be picking this one up on release!

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vgmkyle

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Edited By vgmkyle

Not getting it.Glad you didn't give it a five.

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Hailtootheking

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Edited By Hailtootheking

Ah.. Decent review. I would have given it 5 stars

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PATJASA

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Edited By PATJASA

will there be a video review? I always enjoy jeff's video review, just so damn funny.

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Classic_Gs

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Edited By Classic_Gs

It is a WWII game therefore I do not care, wake me when IW releases COD 6.

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The_Icon

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Edited By The_Icon

I am skipping it. Its not that I have anything against World at War or Treyarch, its a great game; perhaps the best WW II shooter to date. Its just feels like been there and done that.

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Tennou486

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Edited By Tennou486

This game isn't like Call of Duty 4, it IS Call of Duty 4. It just has a different setting and one new weapon.

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pause422

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Edited By pause422

uh no....if it WAS cod4 with a WWII skin it  would of reviewed better everywhere, and everyone wouldn't clearly state Cod4 is still superior in every possible way(that has nothing to do with the setting), it wants to be cod4 with a reskin but between terrible design choices, and horrific map design it fails hugely.

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bartholomew999

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Edited By bartholomew999

The WWII theme alone has me avoiding this one.  On principle alone, I've just had it with WWII.  Plus, with the other shooters out there right now, why would this make it into my tray over L4D(pc)  or  Resistance2?  Maybe I'll rent it next year to check it out, but seriously, who gives a crap about another FPS from this time period?  I don't. 

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guttershark

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Edited By guttershark

no video review? :(

anyway, this game looks sick!

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bread_or_decide

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Edited By bread_or_decide

I didn't see this coming. Wow the game is actually good.

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DaBigDawg

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Edited By DaBigDawg

Meh, didn't everyone know that this game wasn't going to be as good?  I mean, I'm probably still going to get it, but making knock off games like this just ruins their reputation.  I can't wait for COD 6 (IW is making it again if you didn't know)

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WonderNINJA

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Edited By WonderNINJA

Reads kind of like a feature set, with a vague opinion at the end.

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TheFrostedGamer

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Edited By TheFrostedGamer

Having played the multiplayer and the coop Zombie mode, the game has a lot to offer in terms of replay value. The game is quality as hell, even if it falls slightly short of COD4. I personally give the game a 4.5 out of 5 instead of a 4/5. 4/5 is like saying 80/100 and the game is a bit better than that when you consider the entire package. Zombie Nazi mode is very fun.  When I think of COD4 and COD5, it's very difficult for me to come up with other games that offer that much to do online. Sure, there's MMOs. But for someone who only wants to casually play an MMO (because he hates people who play MMOs), something like COD4/5 is just so much better. Anyway, buy World at War if nothing else this holiday season. And Fallout 3.

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GordonFreeman1500

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This game is good, i played the demo to death, but not as good as 4

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hellojerryhelloneuman

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W@W is an awesome game.  Same fps mechanics and gameplay as Cod4.  The games take place in different time periods so i think that it is better compared to hells highway or another WWII shooter and therefore it is the better WWII shooter available right now in my opinion.  Also, If no one has told you by now im going to tell all of you right now, Fallout 3 sucks testicles.  Happily traded it for World at War

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eternaLightness

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Edited By eternaLightness

I think i may eventually get this one. So much other stuff I have my mind on.

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Pathos

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Edited By Pathos

Still going to have to pick this up though!

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MaddProdigy

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Edited By MaddProdigy

I was afraid they would pretty much just reskin COD 4, this makes it a rental if i happen to have 10 extra bucks some day.

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Vgsounds

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Edited By Vgsounds

No more world war 2 games.. NO MORE. I am going to go buy COD4 for the ps3 now thank you very much.

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Claxton

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Edited By Claxton

Awesome, thanks, Jeff.

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Old_Snake864

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Edited By Old_Snake864

nice review jeff =)

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Edited By ChestyMcGee

I'm avoiding this like the plague seing as I hated CoD3 so much. I'm bored of the Second World War now anyway. At least Brothers in Arms was trying something different... but even that didn't keep by attention for very long.

Back to Left 4 Dead then!
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Ottosmann

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Edited By Ottosmann

Nice review, I'm probably getting this.

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Gnat

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Edited By Gnat

i think this game looks okay

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REDRUN

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Edited By REDRUN

Two words... "ZOMBIE NAZIS"

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

I'm kinda tired of WW 2 like most, but I'm gonna try the multiplayer beta and maybe it can sell me on WW 2 again.

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Spaceg0st

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Edited By Spaceg0st

WTF! I found home footage of JEFF G when he was a little kid. You've always had a camera presence!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44958641

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sheisty_shogun

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Edited By sheisty_shogun

loved the sniper giggle

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GiantBombchu

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Edited By GiantBombchu

ur an ass spacegh0st

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dsplayer1010

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Edited By dsplayer1010

Not surprising, that CoD4 still seems to be better, but I still want to try it.

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hanktherapper

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Edited By hanktherapper

Why don't you release the video reviews at the same time as the written ones?