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Call of Duty: World at War
Has Call of Duty become the Star Trek of videogames? Because when you do the math, the even-numbered installments in the series are always the best. And while following up the 10-rated, Game of the Year–nominated Call of Duty 4 can’t be easy — after all, there’s really nowhere to go but down in the minds of many players — World at War’s step back in time from Modern Warfare’s current-era landscape to World War II only makes the challenge that much greater.
For better and for worse, World at War feels like a prototypical play-it-safe sequel. Though it takes a crack at freshening up the WWII formula with flamethrowers, a slightly more tropical setting, and all kinds of M-rated blood and profanity, it takes absolutely no significant chances whatsoever, borrowing everything from the Call of Duty 4 playbook and adding nothing noteworthy of its own. It feels more like an expansion pack than a full-priced sequel.
By default, though, the similarities to Modern Warfare mean World at War is a perfectly good game. Both the technology behind Call of Duty 4 and the gameplay are cut-and-pasted into this version, so the campaign features solid gunplay, intense audio, and smooth visuals. And multiplayer delivers the same perk-packed, level-based, class-customizable romp that’s dominated Xbox Live for the past year.
The problem is that there’s nothing to truly distinguish World at War from last year’s game, which means there’s little reason to recommend it in any sort of significant way. The Pacific campaign is a bit different than the WWII games that have come before it, but not as much as you might hope or expect. Essentially, there are now enemies hiding in some trees, and you have a flamethrower to torch both people and foliage, but really — you could just be marching through another European town with a lot more trees.
Meanwhile — again in traditional series fashion — a second campaign alternates missions with the first, this time putting you in the boots of a Russian sniper as the Red Army marches toward Berlin. A by-the-numbers Call of Duty experience, its finale possesses potential for heart-thumping greatness — as you stomp up the steps of the German Reichstag — but squanders it by dragging on for far too long and becoming more of a chore to complete than a climactic exclamation point.
It is, in fact, disappointingly lacking in anything as impactful as the shocking conclusion to CoD4’s “playable” opening-credits sequence, its U.S. campaign–ending nuclear detonation, or its riveting pistol-gripping finale. World at War’s lone highlights — first scurrying back and forth between gun turrets aboard a U.S. seaplane, shooting down Imperial ships, and then rescuing adrift survivors after you splash down into the water, and later the climax of the American campaign in which you drop mortars and airstrikes on a Japanese village — serve as its too-few highlights in the solo game.
On the multiplayer side, World at War feels more like a WWII map pack for Modern Warfare. Don’t get us wrong: they haven’t broken a thing from the last game. It’s polished, balanced, and addictive over its dozen maps and almost equal number of modes — but World at War never flashes enough originality to make a name of its own. That said, big ups to Treyarch for the giddy surprise factor of the multiplayer Nazi Zombie mode (see sidebar).
World at War is like watching a fireworks show that you’ve seen a few times before. You’re simply not wowed by the buildup, the grand finale, or any of it anymore. When — not if — the next sequel arrives, it’s going to have an upstream swim against an apathetic tide of familiarity. But if the Star Trek analogy holds, at least it’ll be even-numbered.
On Xbox 360
+ Multiplayer remains topnotch.
+ Four-player co-op is appreciated.
- Feels like a full-priced expansion pack.
? If you had a dime for every videogame M1 Garand rifle you’ve fired…
7.5
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monsterclip111
April 18, 2010 at 9:17am
best mother ******* game there is the story is kick ass and the people you fall in love with I give it a 10 out of 10 best ever
Blade 727
August 03, 2009 at 10:04am
Nazi Zombies are my Favorite part of the game i dont care rof the rest of it. My rating 5.5
Biiiilly
August 01, 2009 at 4:20pm
Apparently the 3rd map pack will include werewolfes (sorry about spelling) in the Nazi Zombie mode.
fyrhazzrd
June 24, 2009 at 7:18am
I feel 7.5 is spot on. I too agree that the AI is flawed and that the checkpoints are just spaced way too far apart in some levels. MP is a joke since everyone runs around with the same weapons. MP40+Juggs. How about a little variety people. Oh wait, it's because it's the only weapon that is worth playing with. But back to the AI. I find it flawed when my own guys push me out in the open when I'm behind cover only to be killed instantly. I also find it flawed, that the enemy can strategically place 5 grenades around you and there is nothing you can do to escape them. Even if you are lucky enough to escape, then they will just spam you again with grenades. I know veteran is supposed to be hard, but come on. It's supposed to be hard not next to impossible.
DeadSpaceHero
June 19, 2009 at 11:08am
Not to knock the person below me, but I finished the game without a problem. All 1,000 points easy as pie, with very few A.I. flubs. Hell, the A.I. even saved my ass a few times. I think it should've gotten an 8 at least.
duffman95
April 23, 2009 at 8:06pm
I think 7.5 is far too kind. I would have given it a 4.0. In 2009, any game without save-anywhere should be capped at 6.0-period. The checkpoints in this game are spaced impossibly far apart and the AI is 100%, totally, completely, over-the-top useless. My squad mates routinely blocked my escape from grenads and incoming fire, they constatly blocked my line of fire, they killed perhaps 12 enemies IN THE ENTIRE GAME, but the worst thing is that they would all be standing around in the middle of a group of enemies and would not fire. The enemy AI fires only at you, has an unlimited supply of grenades that they can place perfectly so that you can't escape, and some times bullets just come from thin air. My major gripe with the game is the checkpoints and the horrible AI. How does Treyarch continue to screw up Call of Duty games?
lWaxl
February 17, 2009 at 7:42pm
I don´t know if any of you knows that.......................... THERE IS GOING TO LAUNCH DLC: 3 Bonus maps And an extra Nazi Zombie level called Verrückt or Verrückt (Mad, Crazy in German)in the German Asylum.
lWaxl
February 17, 2009 at 6:34pm
I don´t know if any of you knows that.......................... THERE IS GOING TO LAUNCH DLC: 3 Bonus maps And an extra Nazi Zombie level called Verrückt or Verrückt (Mad, Crazy in German)in the German Asylum.
edarod9
January 05, 2009 at 4:50pm
definitely a 8.5 was deserved and most people I've spoken to agree. Using COD4 engine was smart, it goes back to if not broken don't fix it. Story campaign is edgy and keeps you glued to your TV, and as always on-line is hilarious and fun. I thought we bought games for fun and to get away from our everyday life, this game does that and more.
Dezman_62
January 05, 2009 at 2:38pm
This game is being underrated only because its back to WWII. The campaign is epic and the multiplayer is great, altho the weapons are fairly unbalanced. The Nazi Zombie mode is an amazing feature that earns a 9/10 to me. I also respect your opinion, oxm
ihitterdal
December 28, 2008 at 11:41am
Sorry for the double post, but I had to say this. Are you reading the review or just looking at the score? Read it and then you will understand their scoring.
ihitterdal
December 27, 2008 at 2:58pm
Quit saying they're giving it too low a score. There are plenty of problems with that. First, they're entitled to state their own opinion. If you think reviews should be somewhat unanimous, then you're not exactly intelligent. Secondly, a 7.5 seems to be their way of saying that it's good, but nothing that's fresh and original.
somnam
December 26, 2008 at 9:30pm
Call of Duty 4 was perfect. Call of Duty 5 is not. Infinity Ward is a MUCH better game developer than Treyarch. The movement in CoD 5 is shakey and generally less realistic than in CoD 4. And why would you go back to WWII anyway? ugh. I'm going to wait until Infinity Ward brings it back with CoD:ModernWarfare2 next year. I will not buy this game.
andersonjoy
December 23, 2008 at 5:05pm
I am done with your magazine. You are so full of FAIL! A 7.5 is insane! I read a review that was pretty similar to Gears of War 2 that received a 9.5. WAW was a pretty safe sequel with great MP. Gears 2 MP has been broken since day 1, and SP was a pretty safe sequel. I call shenanigans!
shaardu
December 14, 2008 at 12:37am
shaardu on what basis did u give 7odd..this game deserves 9.5..this has got all..i loved it more than cod 4..music,graphics,action..everything is superb...i think u hav to review this game once more...
lWaxl
December 07, 2008 at 11:31am
Well, I played it and I liked it but CoD MW is still better. It deserves at least 8 or 8.5.
andrewstuk12344
December 04, 2008 at 3:38pm
deserves 8.5 most 8.0 least just because it doesnt seem the 60 dollars worth for it because they didnt have to put in as much work as the people who made COD4 and my friend and i played through campaign on regular and we were done with it in like 4 hours BTW: isnt the first time pacific campaign was first explored battlestations midway and a game that is an FPS medal of honor rising sun
Deaths Head 419
December 03, 2008 at 9:02pm
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/callofduty5/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Here's a better review.
killorbkilled
December 03, 2008 at 7:07am
Pretty Bad Review Ryan This Game Def Deserved An 8.5 At Least I Don't Get It U Wanted 2 B Different Since Everyone Was Givin It Good Scores
secondshooter
November 30, 2008 at 3:08pm
8.5 at least. And this is CoD5. Infinity Ward is handling CoD6, so the reports say.
HUNTERFU
November 27, 2008 at 9:16pm
I was not a treyarch fan before this game because of cod3 but this game deserves an 8.5 at least. Cod4 was the best game ever made imo
Master Mutha Fu...
November 26, 2008 at 10:13pm
this game is fun.but i still prefer COD4 just because of the cool weapons and characters. i give it an 8.5 for: great graphics realistic WWII weapons online is fun good campaign
mmeerree
November 26, 2008 at 5:20pm
I heard the game was really buggy, please tell me thats not true!
xCCx_Cheif97
November 22, 2008 at 11:35am
@g.daniels CoD:WaW is NOT CoD 5. Infinity Ward will be developing that one. Its the same way GTA: Vice City was not GTA IV and San Andreas was not GTA V. Their new games on the same engine. I believe they always build a new engine (or make significant upgrades to the existing one) when these franchises have a new "numbered" game.
g.daniels77
November 19, 2008 at 9:21am
I somewhat agree that maybe the game should have received an 8 but at the very least I think Ryan did the just thing to do in reviewing the game. Yes, the game play was smooth, error free and looked great but many people are overlooking the main point..this is COD 5! 5 games have been released and all world at war did was take COD 4 and copy it over a WW2 backdrop. How many WW2 games have there been to date? I admit, COD 5 was fun and I did love the campaign but it seemed to short, felt like an expansion and simply didn't throw anything knew into gamers faces. There was no lasting impression after playing the campaign that, man this is a great game that did the history and scale of WW2 justice. But that's why there's the multiplayer I guess.
D.C.Happe
November 18, 2008 at 3:32pm
This review is pretty close, but still wrong. It's at the very least an 8. The multiplayer is good, and so is the campaign. It has nazi zombies too which should count for and extra .5. And we do need maps for nazi zombies. A lot.
IPT Ghost
November 18, 2008 at 9:09am
Eviltattoo is spot on. but this mag has been going downhill. and the reviews are unfair most of the time. they should stop sayin how much cod 5 and cod 4 are alike. because thats goood isnt it. if it was like cod 3 it would ahve sucks. the campaign was superb and i geniunly enjoy playing the game more then cod 4. online also has less campers. but no headshhot camos is silly.. also i know evryone is crying out for more nazi zombie maps!! give us MAps!!
Eviltattoo
November 17, 2008 at 3:58pm
Well, I've just finished the single-player camgpaign, and I've unlocked the Nazi Zombies mode. Ok, the single-player campaign was pretty damn epic...the Russian campaign in particular. Though there were some of those annoying grenade deaths and spawn points that seemed to never end. Overall though, I really enjoyed the single-player...and the multi-player is phenomenal. I have to disagree with MOST of the people who are tired of WWII. I thought I was too, but after playing this game, I realized that there is still quality gameplay and stories to be told in this era. I thought the graphics were EXCELLENT. The CoD4 engine is a great engine and is put to great use here...the game really sets up some amazing visuals...again, mostly in the Russian campaign. Treyarch did an AMAZING job with this game, but if they dropped the ball anywhere, it's in the innovation part. I think they did almost everything right by copying the CoD4 perks, and multi-player leveling up...but where they really could have put their own spin on this, is with a true cover system. They did it in Quantum of Solace...and they should have brought that to Call of Duty. That's what this series needs to breathe some new life into it. And they would have really thrown out a bit of innovation to the series again. Still, I enjoyed this game a lot, and continue to enjoy it in the online multi-player. Overall, as I mentioned before...an 8.5. A great addition to any FPS fan's library, and a great value for the money. If you liked CoD4 or shooters in general...get this game.
Halo...IEP
November 17, 2008 at 10:54am
ScreamngSilence I think the review is harsh. I loved the multiplayer demo. I now have the game,& think it's VERY fun! I really like the co-op for the campaign, and the multiplayer has been tweaked here and there to make an even more rewarding experience. Especially if you play with friends. The blood, guts, spit, and @$$, and language has also been upped...parents be warned! I don't care that it's similar to COD4...that's why I like it! I'd give it a 9...only because i'm sick of WW2 games...COD fans...buy it! (if you'd like to see a more detailed review, go to gametrailers.com)
HaLo_StAr_GaMeR
November 17, 2008 at 8:42am
Hey, Review.I was not sure if you said though that at the end of the game it got bad reviews because they made zombie Natzies. I don't think i spelled it right but anyways, they got bad reviews because of it and i found it kind of weird too. So yeah. Hopefully you read my comment. Sincerely, HaLo_StAr_GaMeR
shadowover93
November 16, 2008 at 9:16pm
Wow IPT ghost thats a little harsh to say about OXM i agree on some stuff that you said but i think they make great magazines and that is a bunch of BS about you saying they are crapThey're one of the best video game magazines ever!
shadowover93
November 16, 2008 at 9:02pm
Sorry i completly disagree with the score i like this game more than i liked COD4.The campain isn't as good but as soon as i beat COD4 campain i was bored of it(exept the multiplayer) and i like the new one's multiplayer much better.I think Treyarch just wanted to put COD4's multiplayer in a World War 2 game.
djpotatohead
November 16, 2008 at 12:38pm
Thank you for giving this game this score. I really think that they screwed up this game so much. For one, don't go back to a war that has been overused for ages now. Give us something fresh. That is why COD4 was as good as it was. It was fresh...this one is like last week's banana peels!!!
IPT Ghost
November 16, 2008 at 9:24am
it will go through stages of checking before its printed or posted. and its just the words buy ryan. and havent you noticed how crap OXM has become? jeez
IPT Ghost
November 16, 2008 at 9:21am
excuse me but its not just ryan. he writes it,somone checks it, ot gets checked and read thorugh statges of stafff...what do you think happens..he writes it and sneaks it in with all his own opinions and no 1 else reading it or checking it. i think not.
DelishusSeagull
November 16, 2008 at 8:25am
also remember, this isn't the entire magazine's view, it's ryan's, so don't take it out on the whole staff just because you don't agree with a review
IPT Ghost
November 16, 2008 at 7:59am
plus phantom is spot on. your maden reviews are pathetic. seriosuly guys shape up this magazine or your gunna lose alot of customers. cod waw will vbe played for a ong type poeple prestiging and buying new map packs and themes playing clan matchs and havin a laugh on zombie with there mates. or playing some wingman with their buddys or teaming up for horde on gears 2. where is the so called 10 out of 10 greatest game of all time GTA, gathering dust at the botttom of your stack of game's. and just think about this question? what will be the most played ganmes on xbox live for the next year and a half? COD WAW and GEARS 2 so...
IPT Ghost
November 16, 2008 at 7:55am
this review is outrageous. Treyarch deserve props they did a great job on the game and evreything is spot on when it comes to graphics and gameplay mechanics. if treyarch had changed too much you would have moaned about it. saying they didnt think about cod4's success and all that crap. theve taken the awared winning multiplayer and theve tweaked it. theve tweaked cod 4 like rainbow 2 did to rainbow. and theres a great result. the campaign is superb, not a great storyline but the tale of WWii was spot on. i expiecally enjoyed the pacific front and the interaction with the russian sergeant resnov. excuse me, but what was the bad point about gears , something about open ended story plots. what on earth, there just determined not to give a game a ten. how does GTA IV desreve a ten. quite frankly the shooting meachanic is poor. and who plays gta anymore,online or offline, noone, everyone plays GOW and COD. therefore for repaly value and stunning gameplay these should get tens., gtA IS A RIP-OFF. COD IS A BRILLIANT GAME AND A 7.5 , THAT IS OUTRAGOUES A 9 IS JUST DESRVED and if gears dosent desrve a 9.5 + then your magazine should shut down. OXM is going downhill, poor reviews and they keep getting rid off the must buy section and bringing it back. what? is the oint its a good feature, your reviews are pathetic and biast. I HAVE OFFFICALY STOPPED BUYING YOUR MAGAZINE. read EDGE gaming and culture magazine,proper revviews,proper scores. also your demos aare crapp!!! you put soulcaliber 4 on it whcih is rubbish like 2 months after its been released. OXM SUcks.
GuitarHeroics
November 15, 2008 at 4:03pm
I'm still going to get this game, but the review is still spot-on. This game does nothing new, and it is practically an expansion pack. This game will do well simply because people like COD4. I'll get it because I'm bored with COD4's maps and guns.
DelishusSeagull
November 14, 2008 at 8:20pm
this game is solid and i understand its flaws, but didn't you guys give Star WArs The Force Unleashed a 7.5? This game has a lot more depth than that, how bout an 8?
ethan47856
November 14, 2008 at 2:51pm
oxm has been steadily going down hill this game is awsum what the hell a 7.5 ?!?!?
whataboutdatruth
November 14, 2008 at 12:39pm
I have noticed that this month OXM has been neagitive nelly about their reviews. They say gears is bad because its not like the first one, then they say call of duty is bad because it is like the first one. both of these games are really great.and deserve higher! I say gears 10, call of duty 9.5.
chukky1728
November 14, 2008 at 7:20am
Maybe Treyarch failed to produce adequate "swag" to the editorial staff of OXM!! lmao
Eviltattoo
November 13, 2008 at 11:07pm
I agree...this game is an 8.5, and Madden continues to score in the 9's and it's the same EFFING BS EVERY year! I HATE Madden now, and I will NEVER buy another Madden, unless either: A) Tiburon is axed from the project. B) They do a COMPLETE OVERHAUL of the game and bring real ESPN presentation to the table. This is a very good game. Not COD4 good, but VERY good, and Treyarch's best effort yet. 8.5. Madden '09 - 5.5, with a ZERO for innovation.
Tymiegie
November 13, 2008 at 9:20pm
This month's issue of OXM is already out(I think I got it Tuesday) and the cover story is the Left 4 Dead review. That's why he mentioned Left 4 Dead
Deaths Head 419
November 13, 2008 at 8:23pm
GuitarHeroics, Left 4 Dead has not come out yet. This game is Awsome, The best WWII shooter I've played in a long time, 8.5 at least. In conclusion, if you like Call of Duty, and XBL multiplayer inperticular, get this game.
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