Call of Duty: World at War
Multiplatform (reviewed on PC)
There should be time for the Call of Duty series in everyone’s life. For me, as a long time gamer, it’s like Star Wars or The God Father, you can’t say you’re a film fan without having seen and loved them.
The publication of every Call of Duty game is an event. I’m happy to say that that World at War party is well worth attending. It’s a slicker proposition than COD4, getting into the action without the theatricals (remember that journey around horrifying streets with executions and mob violence at every corner?). But the movie-like set pieces are still there, this time supported by statistics about tank and plane production, and brief history lessons voiced by the idol of every living-breathing male, Jack Bower aka Kieva Sutherland.
World at War, world of hurt or world weary?
With your adrenalin pumped in a way no actual history teacher could ever dream of, you’re thrust into the meat grinder that was the American and Japanese chapter of WWII, beginning with Makin Island and a kind of Vietnam type village mission. Next up, my favourite, a beach landing at Peleliu island and a relentless surge up the sand with the memorable metallic clink of the M1 Garand rifle, this time with bayonet attached, as if bullets weren’t deadly enough.
And it goes on, via the COD’s game on tracks engine, which for me always feels a little restrictive. Look, in my opinion, COD is an unabashed quick fix, it’s graphical chocolate cake, Hollywood blockbuster which for all the obvious attention to detail is about short sharp fun. As I write this review I’ve just reached the ‘Vendetta’ mission, a virtual remake of the key scenes from Enemy at the Gates – I rest my case.
A detailed overview of the Multiplayer aspects of WAW is beyond the brief taster offered here, but I will say that a fleeting foray into the co-operative side of the game was very rewarding (It might be my age, but I like to help, more than I like to murder).
Find out what Jason is up to on a daily basis on his own blog www.jasonbradbury.com
