Call of Duty: World at War UK Review

UK, November 14, 2008 - A new Call of Duty experience is fast becoming a seasonal formality, with additional instalments of Activision's war-bound shooter now arriving on an annual basis. So, right on time, up marches this year's entry, Call of Duty: World at War, the fifth iteration of what's become a winning formula of taut gunplay and bombastic set pieces, all delivered with a veneer of military authenticity.

Doubtlessly, World at War's biggest challenge is escaping the colossal shadow cast by last year's Modern Warfare. With Infinity Ward's previous effort earning itself a place among the genre's very best, there's been no shortage of cynicism as Treyarch once again takes the reins following the bum note that was Call of Duty 3. Likewise, by taking the action back to the well-worn theatre of World War II, the Santa Monica developer seemed to compound fears that its latest would be a step back for the series. Thankfully, these reservations prove largely unfounded – Call of Duty: World at War confidently takes the baton from Modern Warfare, offering another assured and enjoyable take on military shooters, albeit one that lacks the confidence to stray away from Call of Duty 4.

Like all Call of Duty games, it can be incredibly atmospheric and tense.

Of course, when handed a template that's as superb as the one that underpinned Modern Warfare, leaving it well alone is probably the best course of action. It's an approach that helps ensure that World at War sits comfortably in the top tier of first-person shooters. Taking the curtain fall of World War II as its source material, World at War manages to wring its own share of memorable moments from a scenario that's already been thoroughly exploited. The campaign is a double header that follows the Red Army's storming of Berlin alongside the United State's battles against the Japanese Imperial Army in the Pacific and, over its six hour-or-so duration, it never lets up in its intensity.

Indeed, the signature all-out chaos that defines Call of Duty is very much intact here, with progression through the campaign a delicately measured affair as players pick their way through a hellish cacophony of gunfire. The tantalising gunplay that's made the series a firm favourite with shooter fans returns, with each gun slavishly realised and an unrivalled joy to handle. True, it's as linear a game as ever, but that only helps Treyarch orchestrate a symphony of anarchy as it funnels players from one set-piece to another.

The timed CQC from Call of Duty 3 returns, though it now doesn't feel as obtrusive.

Importantly, there's been no skimping in terms of production and, in some ways, World at War manages to trump what was achieved in Modern Warfare. While we had Don Beech from The Bill powering Sergeant Price last time, here we're treated to the voices of Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Oldman, who seemingly reprises his Dracula role as he lends his talents to veteran Russian sniper Sergeant Reznov. Call of Duty 4's remarkable graphics engine is put to good use throughout World at War too, proving its sturdiness whether portraying a night time raid in the jungles of Pelileu or embers floating through the stillness of a burning Russian woodland.

As for gameplay, while the core concept of moving from point to point and shooting a seemingly endless procession of enemy soldiers returns, Treyarch has added a little contextual flourish by the nature of the battles it's depicting. This is most explicit throughout the Pacific sections that form the lion's share of the single-player campaign, whereby the aggressive tactics employed by the Japanese Imperial Army offer a slight change of pace for the series' formula.