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Call of Duty: World at War Review
Written by Chris Buffa on Thursday, November 20, 2008
Impressive graphics engine, intense combat, intuitive touch screen controls, 26 single player missions across two unique campaigns, online multiplayer, authentic World War II weapons.
Characters have jagged edges, only four people in multiplayer, standard issue deathmatch modes, not enough music, action moves a bit slow, difficult to take cover because of slow turning mechanics.
Call of Duty: World at War is one of the DS' most impressive and enjoyable first person shooters. Much like its console counterpart, the game takes place during World War II and highlights both the Pacific Theater and European campaigns. In addition, it features a limited but fun multiplayer mode that you can play locally with friends or online with anyone across the globe. World at War fans looking for the console version's enjoyable narrative and cut scenes won't find them here, as the system's limited technology prevented developer n-space from going crazy, but no matter. This shooter has enough action to keep you busy for weeks.
Single player is a 26-mission affair that plunges you into a vicious war against the Japanese and Nazi war machines. Much like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Metroid Prime Hunters, you maneuver your character forwards and backwards with the d-pad, aim by sliding the stylus along the touch screen and fire with the left trigger. There are also additional functions on the touch screen including reload, aim down the weapon sights and grenade throws, all designated by easily identifiable icons. It took us a few moments to adjust, as the slow turning led to some unncessary deaths, but before long, we were slaughtering evildoers with relative ease.
N-space added variety to the standard issue shooting with several mini games. One challenges you to operate a mortar by turning wheels on the touch screen. Another forces you to disarm a mine, while another throws you on some anti-aircraft guns and tests your plane shooting skills. None of them made us go "wow", but they broke up the monotony.
If you're used to the Xbox 360/PS3 versions, you'll need to adjust to this game's speed and visuals. World at War moves significantly slower on Nintendo's system and looks noticeably worse, thanks to the limited technology. Characters are blocky and jagged looking, and the sparsely detailed environments and real WWII weapons pale in comparison to their high definition counterparts. However, for a DS game, Call of Duty looks spectacular. Multiple character models can be on the screen at once, the weapons recoil when fired, planes soar overhead and explosions rock the top screen. Now factor in the cool sounding weapons fire and chatter among squad mates (there's no music), and you have one sweet visual and audio package.
Single player is cool, but multiplayer is much more enjoyable. Up to four players can battle each other across 11 maps in such games as deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag and hunter/prey. You can play locally with friends that own copies of the game, but if you're near a Wi-Fi connection, Call of Duty supports online play with anyone in the world. Competing against three other people feels so Nintendo 64, but for a portable first person shooter with zero lag, this is great stuff.
No one us expected the DS version of Call of Duty: World at War to replace our Xbox 360 copies. We just wanted a better portable FPS than last year's Modern Warfare and our wish was answered. With a lengthy single player mode, limited but engaging multiplayer games and attractive visuals given the hardware, World at War is among the system's best shooters and worth your cash. Enlist today.
