A few new twists freshen the well-worn game, now in its fourth incarnation on the Xbox 360.The bombed-out villages of France are replaced by the jungles of the Pacific theater. More cunning enemies await to ambush the player. The most impressive addition is a cooperative mode, which allows up to four players online (or two on a single console) to progress through the war. The game includes a fun, if short, departure from realism: Players who beat the game can try the "Nacht der Untoten" (Night of the Undead) mini-game, complete with Nazi zombies. The main story weaves a series of tropical battles alongside the Soviet offensive in Europe. The war is fought through the eyes of two soldiers, one U.S. and one Soviet, voiced by Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Oldman. Historical comments set the scene for each mission, but the focus remains on the action. Enemies are numerous and relentless. Fans of more-strategic shooters should look elsewhere. World at War follows the familiar formula of run, shoot and move on to the next target. Despite the simple approach, the carnage is, ironically, beautifully executed: Buildings and clothing are detailed, as is the jungle foliage. The graphic improvements also ramp up the violence -- easily earning the game its mature rating. Despite the enjoyable single-player campaign, some who purchase the game might never try it. After all, it was online play that turned Call of Duty 4 into a hit. World at War largely re-creates the same experience, with new maps and weapons from the era. Although there are few new additions, the multiplayer modes remain fast-paced and addictive. World at War's biggest competition may come from the series it belongs to. Players have already seen epic beachfront battles, tense street combat and near-perfect online gaming in the earlier games.Players hungry for another round of conflict will be well-served to enlist World at War. Those who wait will invariably see more Call of Duty action, with another installment due next year.
Gameplay
World at War features a more mature theme than previous installments in the series. The game is more open-ended than previous games in the series, as there are multiple ways to complete objectives. The gameplay of World at War shares several features with previous iterations of the franchise. Once again, players fight alongside AI-controlled teammates. They help during the game's missions by providing cover fire, shooting down enemies, and clearing rooms for entry.
The game's return to Worl War II -era warfare reintroduces weapons and technology that have been seen in other games in the Call of Duty franchise, including the Thompson submachine gun, flamethrowers, the Mosin-Nagant rifle, and the Panzerschreck anti-tank rocket. The player gains access to these over the course of the game, but may only carry up to two weapons in addition to grenades. Weapons from fallen foes can be picked up to replace weapons in a player's arsenal. Players can also find weapons with additional attachments, including guns equipped with rifle grenades and telescopic sights.
A character can be positioned in one of three stances: standing, crouching, or prone; each affecting the character's rate of movement, accuracy, and stealth. Using cover helps the player avoid enemy fire or recover health after taking significant damage, as there are no armor or health powerups. When the character has taken damage, the edges of the screen glow red and the character's heartbeat increases. If the character stays out of fire, the character can recover. When the character is within the blast radius of a live grenade, a marker indicates the direction of the grenade, helping the player to either flee or toss it back to the enemy.
A special mode called "Nacht Der Untoten (Night of the Undead)" is unlocked once the player completes the single player campaign. In it, up to four players must attempt to defend themselves from limitless waves of undead Nazi soldiers. The players are confined to a delapidated house divided into three sections, two of which must be unlocked; each section contains different weapons and more places for enemies to enter. Players can unlock the rest of the house and purchase new weapons by spending points, which are earned by shooting and killing enemies as well as repairing barriers. The mode can be played in single-player, splitscreen co-op, or online co-op.
plot
The story mode features two campaigns, one featuring the United States Marine Corps battling the Japanese Army in the Pacific, and the other following the Soviet Red Army advancing on Berlin.
The American campaign is focused on Private Miller of the U.S. Marine Corps, who is captured by the Japanese while scouting Makin Island and is about to be executed when he is rescued by Corporal Roebuck (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland). Miller joins Roebuck's unit in a series of incursions through the islands under Japanese control, including Peleliu, where Roebuck is promoted to Sergeant, and culminating in a battle in Shuri Castle on Okinawa.
The Soviet campaign is focused on Private Dimitri Petrenko of the Red Army, whose unit was defeated and ruthlessly executed by German forces at Stalingrad. Along with Sergeant Reznov (voiced by Gary Oldman), he takes revenge on the Germans by sniping their commander, General Amsel. Three years later, Petrenko and Reznov meet again on the Eastern Front, advancing on the German town of Seelow and further through Germany until the final battle in Berlin where they help capture the Reichstag. Just as Petrenko claims the building by putting up a Soviet flag, a German survivor shoots and wounds him before being killed by Reznov. With Reznov's encouragement, Petrenko is able to plant the flag, a gesture symbolizing Germany's defeat.
A third playable character in the campaign is Petty Officer Locke, a weapons operator on a PBY Catalina, who is seen only in the mission "Black Cats." Locke's squadron makes a midnight raid on a Japanese merchant fleet transporting supplies for the Japanese force on Okinawa, and later rescues the survivors of a destroyed U.S. fleet.