Call of Duty: World at War
Nov 14, 2008 18 years ago
Call of Duty: World at War is a first-person shooter set during World War II, focusing on the Pacific and Eastern Front theaters. The single-player campaign follows two perspectives: U.S. Marine Private C. Miller fighting against the Imperial Japanese Army across islands in the Pacific, and Soviet Red Army Private Dimitri Petrenko advancing from Stalingrad to Berlin. The game features more graphic violence than previous entries in the series, including limb dismemberment and destructible environments. Multiplayer retains the leveling, perk, and killstreak systems from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The game also introduced the cooperative Nazi Zombies survival mode, in which up to four players fight increasingly difficult waves of undead while purchasing weapons and unlocking new areas.
What it’s like
Call of Duty: World at War delivers a visceral, unflinching portrayal of World War II’s brutality across the Pacific and Eastern Fronts. The campaign is structured as a linear, adrenaline-fueled gauntlet where players experience the war through two distinct perspectives: US Marines engaging in island-hopping warfare and Soviet soldiers pushing toward Berlin. The tone is relentlessly grim and intense, emphasizing the horror and chaos of combat rather than heroic glory. Gameplay mechanics are refined for maximum impact, featuring visceral weapon feedback, destructible environments, and a heightened sense of danger that makes every engagement feel life-or-death. The experience is defined by its punishing difficulty and relentless pacing, ensuring players remain on edge throughout. Beyond the campaign, the game offers robust multiplayer with deep progression systems and introduces the iconic Nazi Zombies mode, providing a chaotic, cooperative survival loop that contrasts sharply with the historical setting. It is a masterclass in atmospheric tension and kinetic action.
Strong in Atmosphere / MoodAudio / MusicCo-op / MultiplayerCombatPacingDifficulty / ChallengeGameplay / MechanicsProgression / ReplayabilityVisuals / Art
Keep in mind The single-player campaign is strictly linear with minimal exploration, which may feel repetitive to players seeking open-ended design. The extreme difficulty and graphic violence can be overwhelming or off-putting for those sensitive to gore or frustrated by punishing checkpoints.
AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from metacritic.com, ign.com, gamespot.com, gamesradar.com, gamingpastime.com.
Screenshots
Releases
| Platform | Region | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 3 | Worldwide | Full release | Nov 11, 200818 years ago |
| PC (Microsoft Windows) | Worldwide | Full release | Nov 14, 200818 years ago |
| Xbox 360 | Worldwide | Full release | Nov 14, 200818 years ago |
