Call of Duty: World at War is a first-person shooter taking place in the WWII setting once more. I've written many long game reviews in the past few weeks, many great games are sprouting their heads. Long awaited and overall great titles have not only sprinkled the holiday season, but draped it. With power house titles left and right, one must really conserve and pick the best. So I'll keep the details simple, and hopefully you can decide by this.
Fan of "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare"? If so you'll be in for a warm welcome, this game uses the same interface and multiplayer setup. Expect a pretty good frame rate, and a devastatingly hard campaign mode (for players on the 'Veteran' setting that is). In this title you'll fight as both the Americans and the Russians. Take on admirable Japanese soldiers, or destructive German Nazi troops.
Campaign features two fronts, and a few interesting non-typical levels (a rail based flying level, and a tank powerhouse level). From islands soaked in sun, to rainy city streets you'll be fighting in a all out war. Additional features included are the ability to use bayonets on rifles, and the all new powerful scorching flame thrower. Bayonets play out basically the same as your standard melee (knife), and the flame thrower can burn up terrain with a decent range. You'll become acquainted with the staple World War 2 guns once more (M1 Garand, Thompson, PPSH, MP40, Nimbu, Type 100, MG42, BAR, Browning).
Online seekers will find some perks added and some changes in names. Rest assure it's still the same frantic multiplayer combat, but with some more open ended maps. For players not familiar with 'perks', these are implementations to ones character that give additional abilities (and are allowed up to three, ranging in different classes). Dropping grenades upon death, carrying two primary weapons, and having more health, just to name a few. One can pit themselves against a myriad of players and game types to achieve higher ranking, and more weaponry at their disposal. Maps are based off the campaign, and are pretty open ended, but maybe a bit too confusing at times. Tanks have now returned, similar to CoD 3's tank, except it is a little bit harder to defeat. If you've maxed out your rank and feel their is nothing left to do, enter 'Prestige Mode'. Removing all weapons gained along with perks, and beginning a new with a higher rank symbol. Challenges will be depleted too. Multiplayer has now added dogs in place of helicopters at the seven kill mark. Players can obtain special help after benching the three, five, and seven kill mark without dying. One may find the rigors of battling pros to be frustrating, hop into 'Boot Camp' to readily play other beginners. Keep in mind vet players, some perks (cough Juggernaut cough) are just as annoying as ever.
Also available to the multiplayer experience is co-op campaign, and the addicting zombie mode. Co-op campaign is great fun, but be warned achievement junkies, some achieves are nullified in this mode. Zombie mode brings you into less a horror and more a adrenaline rushing doomsday. Up to four players can join and unite themselves in defeating zombies in a worn down base. A currency is used to buy weaponry, and enable usage of other locations in the base. More opened up areas though more zombie accessibility. These staggering zombified Nazis strike in waves. Making things even more difficult and tense is their ability to break in to your base! After each wave players can book it to the nearest entrance/window and board them up for currency and brief security. Once all players have died the game ends and tallies up scores, players can revive fallen team mates though before calling it quits. To say the least, this is one of the funnest options any Call of Duty or game has ever included. It's also one of the reasons you have to complete the campaign, as it's only available after completion (oh boy!).
So really World at War doesn't break any new territory like the previous title had done. Yet it glazes the plateau over with a few new features, and another reason to continue playing multiplayer day after day. You may of noticed a longer description dedicated to multiplayer segments. Essentially this game plays out well in solo go a bouts, but is destined to remain a multiplayer investment. If you are a single player person, hopefully a rental will suffice. In the mean time, thousands of players have made the move to this games online and are definitely enjoying it. So maybe it didn't go above the call of duty again, but it sure is a fun worthy purchase.
EDIT: I just wanted to add that there are actually four perks available in multiplayer. The additional perk not available in Cod4 is a vehicular perk slot. Also now having logged in a hefty figure of hours, multiplayer overall still seems to be standing as enjoyable. Some glitches have been located, and people are exploiting them. Mainly a glitch that enables a player the ability to get underneath certain maps.