Call of Duty: World at War (pc: 2008): Reviews

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Call of Duty: World at War


7.3

based on 30 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 125 votes
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GAMES:

Cheat Code Central

Official Website

Utilizing the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare engine, Call of Duty: World at War throws out the rulebook of war to transform WWII combat through a new enemy, new tactics and an uncensored experience of the climatic battles that gripped a generation. As U.S. Marines and Russian soldiers, players employ new features like cooperative gameplay, and weapons such as the flamethrower in the most chaotic and cinematically intense experience to date. Call of Duty: World at War introduces co-operative play, bringing fresh meaning to the "No One Fights Alone" mantra with up to four-players online for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, or two-player local split-screen on consoles. Nintendo Wii will also support a unique co-op mode for two players. For the first time ever players can experience harrowing single-player missions together for greater camaraderie and tactical execution. The co-op campaign allows players to rank up and unlock perks in competitive multiplayer by completing challenges and earning experience points, adding continuous re-playability and team-based gameplay. Whether playing competitively or cooperatively – if players are online with Call of Duty: World at War – they always gain experience points. Based on a player’s experience rank and rank of the player's friends, Call of Duty: World at War scales dynamically to provide a deeper level of challenge. [Activision]

PUBLISHER:	Activision
DEVELOPER:	Treyarch
GENRE(S):	First-Person Shooter
PLAYERS:	18
ESRB RATING:	M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE:	November 11, 2008

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Cheat Code Central

Treyarch came back this year with an excellent addition to the franchise. Many gamers may look at this game with an "I've been there, done that" attitude. I am here to tell you that this is the best WWII effort so far, as well as the best game in the franchise.

Game Chronicles

Call of Duty World at War is an amazingly fun and addictive game all around. You couldn’t ask for a better FPS value.

IGN

This is a solid, confident shooter with plenty to offer the casual and hardcore alike.

GamingTrend

The game is definitely an incremental step forward for the series, and not a revolutionary one.

VideoGamer

A stunning game that doesn't miss a beat from start to finish and includes one of the most feature packed multiplayer components of any game released this year.

Gameplanet

The single-player campaign involves a riveting and emotional story, and the inclusion of co-op is fantastic. The game itself however is heavily weighted towards multiplayer, as was its predecessor.

BigPond GameArena

Overall Call of Duty World at War is a great game with some great ideas, but it feels too familiar to be a real must have title.

GamePro

The single-player isn't as compelling as Modern Warfare but it's still worth playing nonetheless; the best part though is that there's a deep and satisfying multiplayer component waiting for you when you're done.

GameSpy

It's certainly not the bar-raiser that "Modern Combat" was, especially in the solo campaigns. But with the new co-op play and the rest of the multiplayer content, World of War turns out to be an extremely entertaining and faithful addition to the Call of Duty family.

Games Radar

All in all World at War delivers. It isn’t a revolution in Call of Duty gaming, but neither is it a step backwards, like some have claimed. Right now, it’s the best WWII shooter we’ve played, largely because it’s got a solid (if unoriginal) single player, some spectacular multiplayer, and oh yeah: because it’s brutal as hell.

3DJuegos

World at War is a great new entry in the epic saga. The new Call of Duty just misses the inspiration that Infinity Ward brings to every project, and which Treyarch still aspires to. This new game offers everything we were waiting for, and has better value in its co-op campaign.

Game Informer

World at War finally gives us a reason to visit the Pacific Theater with its fun cooperative and multiplayer modes. But the “been there, done that” single-player missions and overall derivative tone keep this very good game from achieving the greatness of its predecessor. [Jan 2009, p.64]

IGN UK

Although World at War too often feels like a refit, it’s a refit of one of the greatest games of the current generation - and one that’s, by and large, been confidently handled by Treyarch.

GameStar

Call of Duty: World at War goes back to the battlefields of World War 2. The game delivers well staged nonstop action and looks good, but the missions are barely connected, just like in the first three games of the series. It's still a good, maybe even a very good FPS, but not fit to hold a candle to its predecessor.

GameSpot

World at War brings proven Call of Duty mechanics back to WWII with great success.

GameZone

Overall the game feels a bit short but is not only a very tasty bit of eye candy, and a treat for the ears as well, but a briskly paced action-adventure that should please fans of WWII first-person shooters.

GamingXP

Graphics are brilliant, and the new Koop – mode offers a fantastic chance, to accomplish difficult missions together. The single player-campaign isn’t able to satisfy the gamer’s needs.

Gamers.at

World at War won’t disappoint anyone, just as long as they don’t expect it to fully revive the glory of its predecessor. [Issue#17]

Gamer 2.0

Treyarch has made vast improvements from their COD 3 work and delivered a solid product.

PC Zone UK

While World at War isn't original and has moments lacking in inspiration (the tank section, ugh) it has refined the linear World War II shooter template as much as perhaps it can be. [Jan 2009, p.60]

Total PC Gaming

Shocking, chaotic and uberviolent. For those who can take it, there's a fine game lurking despite the flaws. [Issue#14, p.45]

Meristation

Following the work of Infinity Ward with "Modern Warfare", Treyarch has made a good work following those steps as close as possible, while adding elements of their own. The grim scenario of the Russian campaign is a clear highlight and a triumph for the studio, and the same could be said of the four player cooperative mode. However, we miss more evolution on the graphics engine, and some elements added to the multiplayer experience don't convince us.

PC PowerPlay

Despite some concerns, the game is certainly not a bad one; it's no Call of Duty 3, by any stretch of the imagination – and Treyarch is definitely back in good form. The action is top notch, and the multiplayer will certainly keep people occupied for some time. [Christmas 2008, p.75]

PC Format

It's a slick shooter, but the ultra-generic Japan campaign makes it feel very much the cut price CoD4 remake. [Jan 2009, p.94]

PC Gamer UK

Lavish, but retrograde and unbalanced. [Christmas 2008, p.96]

MEGamers

World at War is nothing but a mutated bastard child of its immortal predecessor.

PC Gamer

In fact, World at War is a deeply symmetrical reapplication of CoD4's brilliant design, though executed with noticeably less polish. [Jan 2009, p.44]

Thunderbolt

Just another pretty good game.

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Returning to WWII is not a bad idea as many may think. There are a lot of stories not yet told. Unfortunately heavy scripting, suicidal AI, and lack of fresh ideas ruin the overall impression. [Issue#173]

Edge Magazine

Treyarch has taken just enough from COD4 to make World At War a broad success, but it remains firmly in its shadow. [Christmas 2008, p.90]

The average user rating for this game is 7.3 (out of 10) based on 125 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bob G. gave it a7:
Sure Call of Duty: World At War is a good game, but Modern Warfare is still better. One of the best reasons for this is because MW is in modern time, which adds more intensity to the players with airstrikes, helicopters, and modern maps, such as Chinatown. I hope Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be much better than what Treyarch have created.

A FuzzyBunny gave it a3:
Run and gun, tired and just about everything this tries has been seen before, and has been accomplished better in some other title. This one is Buggy, couple that with poor support, predictable and linear single player action with lousy AI, boring coop play, and mindless worn out multiplayer game types and features means unless you need the frequent flier points you earn for charging this game you should save your money, you've already played this dud, you just don't realize it yet.

Chris W gave it a6:
To me it does feel like an expansion pack for COD 4. I didn't play the single player much, but the multiplayer feels identical to COD 4 with WW2 weapons, and because of the 1940's weaponry the upgrades for them don't seem to belong. The teloscopic and apature sights are copys of the acog and red dot in COD 4. and the prevalence of silencers in a world war 2 game is ridiculus. It seems to me like Tryarch lake the ability or the guts to try anything that varied from the proven COD 4 formula. So if your are like me and already own call of duty 4 there is no reason to buy this game, just keep play COD 4 and spend the money on something else.

Terry B. gave it a5:
Call of Duty was the first WWII Shooter I Loved (PC). Call of Duty 2 was the first WWII Shooter I adored(PC). Call of Duty 3 was awkward (Wii). Call of Duty 4 was a masterpiece(PC). Call of Duty 5 was a miss. Don't get me wrong, I like the game; but the fact of the matter is there is a lot missing in this game. 1. The weaponry sounds should have been taken from CoD2. The only guns that packed a 1940's punch was the trench gun and the sawed off shotty. Shooting a gun is a violent event; thus it should be violently portrayed. The best game that demonstrates my point is Medal of Honor Airborne. Put those guns in this game and consider my Review a 5+1. 2. Unlike CoD4, the sequel has no tutorial at the start so you just jump right in. Problem is the gun drops/placement sucks. For the first Japanese missions you have a horrible assortment of weapons to choose from. (Literally the WORST guns in the game. What I can't understand is how they expect your an experienced player from the start without a tutorial and yet they don't let you use any weaponry you want. I know they design it to create a "learning curve" but most players who are buying the game just want to see awesome, visual effects and guns. Oh, and Nazi's. 3. Shortest CoD I've ever played. Clocked 3 hours play time. I was a bit disappointed in it's length. Then I started thinking, "How much milk can a person get from a cow?" The WWII cow has ran dry. 4. The Graphics are on par with any game of last year. It's not a small feat but for a company that has an engine to start with I was not impressed. Ok, I'm a negative nelly. But there some good points. The mele knife was fun and visually stunning. All the levels were enjoyable and intense. The storyline was engaging enough to not be too boring. All in all a good game. Personally I regret purchasing this game. I recommend it as a console rental over a pc purchase.

Victor Z gave it a9:
To start it off I'd like to mention how great (and dark) the atmosphere for the single player missions were. Unlike COD4, I personally found myself really pulled into the life of the characters and found the game more interesting than COD4; quite possibly due to the great cut-scenes and montages during the loading screen. The plot in the game was great most of the times, with exception to some parts being a little too extreme (where normal people would have most likely died). The graphics in the game were quite visually appeasing and the sound and music for the game was amazing as well. Some weaker points in the game I have to mention is the lack of variety in close combat attacks, as it would have been so much more interesting to have a wide variety of melee attacks instead of just a few (or the exact same counterattack when you're pinned down). Another mention of problems is the attempts at realism. This includes the stupidity of the AI at times, and certain impassable terrains that could have easily been added for more realism. The AI blocking you (as realistic as that might sound) is a pain in the ass when you're trying to dodge grenades and such. After beating the game, zombie mode was quite fun as well and also worth buying the game if you ask me. it's essentially like zombie panic (half life source zombie mod), where you hold off the zombies and barricade yourself for endless waves of nazi zombies. playing with friends make it all the better as well.

Nick C. gave it a9:
So far its awesome. I love the gameplay, I loved call of duty 4s engine, I love the coop, this game is where its at as far as FPS. One thing, the reason i didnt give it a 10.. Too many WW2 games already. Lets let it rest. Be creative!

Kevin R. gave it a5:
After being playing Infinity Ward's absolutely spectacular Modern Warfare, I waited with bated breath for the next outing of CoD action. Treyarch's World at War sounded promising indeed - the fact that it's seen as "yet another WW2 FPS" didn't bug me in the least. Then of course, I bought it. It goes without say that WaW doesn't even come close to CoD4 in terms of story, depth, emotion and atmosphere. Halfway through WaW I didn't have one OMG moment...whereas with CoD4, I had about five within in the first half hour. The graphics are stunning - make no mistake. But, like the godawful Crysis proved, graphics don't make a game. World at War is insanely buggy for a major release, has some of the dumbest AI in recent history, the sound effects are weak and musical score is anachronistic: Electric guitar riffs? 1940's? Well done Treyarch. Also, some the conflict situations are so overly populated, busy and chaotic - not "intense" or "realistic" - chaotic. I like the design of the loading screens between missions - I don't like the "getting pulled to safety by your friend" bit. A shameless ripoff of CoD4. Don't worry Infinity Ward, these bozos at Treyarch never came close. See you boys in CoD6!