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Call of Duty: World at War

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Call of Duty: World at War
File:Call of Duty 5 cover art.PNG
Developer(s)Treyarch
n-Space (Nintendo DS)
Rebellion(PlayStation 2)[4]
Publisher(s)Activision
SeriesCall of Duty
EngineCall of Duty 4 engine (Proprietary)[5]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360,[6][4]
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer, co-op

Call of Duty: World at War is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation 2.[4] It is the fifth installment in the main Call of Duty series.[5] The game is set in the Pacific theater and Eastern front of World War II.[5][6] The game shipped in North America on November 11, 2008,[1] and will ship in Australia on November 12, 2008,[3] and in Europe on November 14, 2008.[2]

The story focuses on the final battles of World War II in the Pacific and Eastern Europe involving the United States, the Empire of Japan, the Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany.[5] It is told from the perspectives of a Marine Raider and a Red Army soldier, and is based on several historical battles, including the Makin Island raid, the Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Berlin.[4][7] The multiplayer portion of the game contains various game modes, and contains a leveling system that allows the player to unlock additional weapons and rewards as they progress, which was originally implemented in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. A new feature to the Call of Duty series is the co-op mode, which can support up to four players online and two offline.[6]

Gameplay

File:CoDWaW 360 ss.jpg
A firefight in the streets of Berlin.

World at War features a more mature theme than previous installments in the series. Swimming is introduced to the series. While in water, the player cannot sprint and can only move at half speed.[8] Flamethrowers, introduced in Call of Duty: United Offensive, appear alongside flammable environments. Tanks are also reintroduced in this edition of Call of Duty. The game is more open-ended than previous games in the series, as there are multiple ways to complete objectives.[9]

Multiplayer

World at War has a cooperative gameplay mode with up to two players via split screen on consoles (the Wii has squadmate co-op), or four players online (Wii does not feature online co-op), for the first time in the franchise. All versions of the game use a perk system similar to that in Call of Duty 4.[6] Activision has also confirmed that vehicles are usable in multiplayer.[10] There are six multiplayer modes that includes team deathmatch, capture the flag and 4 others.[11]

A special online co-op mode called "Nacht Der Untoten (Night of the Undead)" is unlocked once the player completes the single player campaign . In it, up to four players must attempt to defend themselves from limitless waves of undead Nazi soldiers. With each kill and successful hit, players earn points that can be used to purchase new weapons and fortifications to further defend themselves.[12]

Plot

Setting

The story mode features two campaigns, one featuring the United States Marine Corps battling the Japanese Army in the Pacific, and the other following the Soviet Red Army advancing on Berlin.[13]

Story

The first setting is focused on Private Miller of the US Marine Corps, who is captured by the Japanese and about to be executed when he is rescued by Corporal Roebuck, and joins his unit in a series of incursions through the islands under Japanese control, culminating in a battle in Shuri Castle, Okinawa.

The second setting is focused on Private Dimitri Pentrkove of the Soviet Army, whose unit was defeated, and the survivors executed by German soldiers at Stalingrad. Along with Sergeant Reznov, he takes revenge on the Germans by sniping their commander, and three years later, they meet again on the eastern front, fighting through Germany until the final battle where they help capture the Reichstag building in Berlin.

A third character is played during a single mission in the US campaign as Petty Officer Locke, attacking a Japanese Naval fleet and rescuing survivors of a sunken US vessel on a PBY Catalina.[14]

Development

World at War had an approximately two-year long development cycle, double that of Treyarch's previous title, Call of Duty 3.[8] The game is powered by an enhanced version of the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare engine - improvements have been made to the physics model. Environments are now more destructible and can be set on fire with the flamethrower, which features propagating fire. Bullets can cut holes in thin wood, making a gap big enough for the player to climb through.[8] Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Oldman were cast as voice actors for the game, Sutherland voices main character Sgt. Roebuck.[15]

A full-sized replica PBY Catalina was constructed for motion capture use.[8]

Marketing

The first trailer for the game premiered on Xbox Live Marketplace on June 21, 2008,[16] and made available on PSN on June 26, 2008.[17] A beta of the game's online multiplayer mode was released for the Xbox 360 on October 10, 2008.[18] A PC version of the beta was later released on October 28, 2008.[19] Those who pre-ordered the game at GameStop, GAME and EB Games in Australia or North America or who are members of the Call of Duty official website were given codes which allowed them to download both beta versions of the game.[20] The Xbox 360 beta was later released as a free download via Xbox Live Marketplace on November 4, 2008. Public beta testing ended on November 10, 2008.

Coinciding with the release of the game, McFarlane Toys produced four action figures. Three are different varieties of US Marine Corps infantry, and the fourth is a British Special Ops soldier.[21]

Collector's edition

A collector's edition of World at War includes several bonus items, among them a stainless steel canteen imprinted with the Call of Duty series logo and a metal storage tin. The collector's edition also gives the player access to an unlockable weapon and the opportunity to earn double experience points in the online multiplayer mode, as well as a specially colored clan tag to denote the player's VIP status. This edition of the game is only available for the Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 platforms.[22]

Other versions

Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS version of the game, also titled Call of Duty: World at War and developed by n-Space, does not have the same single-player and multiplayer modes as the main versions, and gameplay requires utilization of the touchscreen mechanic on the handheld. The game is heavily based on its predecessor Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (for the Nintendo DS), sharing the same game engine and similar gameplay controls. The DS version also features several different puzzles, such as disarming a mine, and allows the player to take control of various vehicles and weapons, from tanks to anti-aircraft guns. The campaign centers on the Pacific and Eastern European theaters, with players fighting against Nazi Germany's forces and the soldiers of Imperial Japan.[23] The Nintendo DS version of World at War will also feature an online multiplayer mode.[24] The multiplayer features various modes like "Team Deathmatch" and "Capture the Flag," as well as the ranking, perk, and custom class systems seen in the multiplayer modes of the main versions.[23]

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 version, titled Call of Duty: World at War - Final Fronts, differs significantly from the main versions. Developed by Rebellion Developments,[4] Final Fronts features 13 missions set near the end of World War II and provides a "companion experience" to World at War. Instead of only the US campaign in the Pacific and the Russian campaign in Eastern Europe, Final Fronts also includes a third campaign involving the British advance on the Rhine River.[25]

Reception

Gametrailers has said that Call of Duty: World at War is a great game that feels all too familiar, yet it is undoubtedly the best shooter based on the conflict.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b Ocampo, Jason (August 19, 2008). "GC 2008: Call of Duty: World at War Co-op Hands-on". IGN. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  2. ^ a b Pearson, Dan (September 5, 2008). "Call of Duty 5 gets Euro date, beta". EuroGamer. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  3. ^ a b Perdikis, Steve (October 29, 2008). "Call of Duty: World at War - beta client, reporting for duty". Games On Net(Internode). Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  4. ^ a b c d e Thorsen, Tor (September 4, 2008). "World at War raging November 11, beta incoming". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  5. ^ a b c d Andy Robinson (2008-06-09). "News: Call of Duty: World at War - first details in OXM". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  6. ^ a b c d "CoD5 has co-op, vehicles in multiplayer, CoD4 engine, every format apart from PSP". VideoGaming247. June 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  7. ^ Kolan, Patrick (2008-10-06). "Call of Duty: World at War: Treyarch Gets it Right". IGN. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  8. ^ a b c d "Call of Duty: World at War". Official Xbox Magazine UK. July 2008 (Issue 35). pp. 30–34. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Ocampo, Jason (June 23, 2008). "Call of Duty: World at War First Look". IGN. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  10. ^ Breckon, Nick (July 15, 2008). "Call of Duty: World at War Gains Multiplayer Vehicles, Kiefer Sutherland's Voice". ShackNews. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  11. ^ Antista, Chris (October 8, 2008). "Call of Duty: World at War - multiplayer hands-on". Games Radar. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  12. ^ "Gametrailers GTTV". GameTrailers. 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  13. ^ Boyes, Emma (June 9, 2008). "Call of Duty 5 sees World at War". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  14. ^ Ocampo, Jason (July 10, 2008). "Call of Duty: World at War -- Convoy Shredding and Russian Sniping". IGN. Retrieved 2008-09-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Gary Oldman To Star In 'Call of Duty: World at War'". G4TV. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  16. ^ Larry Hryb (2008-06-21). "Trailer: Call of Duty: World at War". MajorNelson.com.
  17. ^ Playstation Blog (2008-06-26). "Trailer: Call of Duty: World at War". PlayStation.com. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  18. ^ "CoD:WW Friends and Family Xbox 360 Multiplayer BETA is LIVE!". Call of Duty Hub. 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  19. ^ "Call of Duty: World at War PC Beta Now Open". Voodoo Extreme. 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  20. ^ Thang, Jimmy (September 4, 2008). "CoD: World at War Beta Approaches". IGN. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  21. ^ Stephen Totilo (2008-07-03). "First Look At 'Call of Duty: World At War' — The Action Figure". MTV Multiplayer Blog.
  22. ^ Thang, Jimmy (2008-09-25). "Call of Duty: World at War Collector's Edition Detailed". IGN. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  23. ^ a b Bozon, Mark (2008-09-30). "Hands-on Call of Duty: World at War DS". IGN. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  24. ^ Harris, Craig (August 19, 2008). "GC 2008: Call of Duty World at War First Look". IGN. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  25. ^ "Call of Duty: World at War - Final Fronts at Best Buy". Best Buy. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  26. ^ Gametrailers Review
  27. ^ Ocampo, Jason (2008-11-11). "Call of Duty: World at War Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  28. ^ OXM Review
  29. ^ Jackson, Mike (2008-11-07). "CoD 5's First 10/10, "Better Than CoD 4"". Computer and Video Games.com. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
  30. ^ "Call of Duty: World at War (PC) Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  31. ^ "Call of Duty: World at War (X360) Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  32. ^ "Call of Duty: World at War (PS3) Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
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