Call of Duty: World at War (COD5) is a harrowing, violent trip through some of the most historic settings in World War II. Unmatched by other WWII games, but in the shadow of its predecessor, COD5 delivers a stunning experience, although very similar to COD4.
The solo mission has plenty of settings, environments and battlefields to offer. You play as two separate characters - one set in the Pacific fighting the Japanese forces leading to the battle at Okinawa, and the other in the Russian Red army, on a steady mission that culminates in the fall of Berlin. The storyline is nearly non-existent, merely throwing the player into different settings with very little background.
Level design is decent, but did have some quirks. During the final push through Berlin to the Reichstad, there were several places that seemed to be unintuitive and overly frustrating. I've never been a big fan of "respawning enemies", but that's exactly what will happen if you sit in one place. It's important to keep moving in COD5, although it can sometimes be confusing to know where to go next. As far as the environments go - they are stunning.
Sound design in COD5 is incredible. Everything from the lush jungle islands to the eery subway system in Berlin is perfect. What impressed me so much is the realism of sound in battle and the addition of Keifer Sutherland and Gary Oldman take the game to the next level in the heat of a firefight. This is one area where COD5 excelled and made a nice step forward for the franchise.
The multiplayer is excellent, running on the COD4 engine and delivering a great experience. Graphics, sound and level design all play smoothly. Built upon the multiplayer platform of COD4, this game adds a few new twists, but ultimately sticks to what its predecessor did so well. There are a couple flaws, the main one being that the inclusion of Tanks can be lopsided.
It was also nice to find an unlockable game, Nazi Zombies, once finishing the final solo mission. The Zombie game is a lot of fun in a co-op setting online... definitely a good addition.
As I posted recently, many critics are torn about this game because it rides on the coattails of its predecessor. Also, WWII has been exploited the the Nth degree, and most gamers find the thought of another Nazi war game simply tiresome. I do agree that WWII is played out and should be left alone by developers for a while. However, COD5 is simply a well-built, well playing game. The experience is excellent, and I would advise any gamers who enjoy shooters to pick it up.
Graphics: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Gameplay/Level Design: 4/5 (in some places 3/5)
Story: 2/5
Multiplayer: 5/5