Think you're ready for Call of Duty: World at War? You might have the moxie, but you're not allowed on the field of battle until you pass basic training. Get caught up with five features even battle-tested soldiers can't do without.
1. A new take on an old war.
After a brief stint in the modern era, the follow-up to smash shooter Call of Duty 4 goes back to the trenches of World War II. But you're not just creeping down tight alleyways shooting at Nazis again. This time, players will take the fight to the Japanese Army on the shores of the Pacific, then join the Soviet resistance on the European Front in large, open-ended skirmishes with multiple ways to complete missions. Emphasizing chaos over order, it's aiming to capture the brutality of war like never before.
2. Friendly fire can be a good thing.
War is about camaraderie in the face of adversity. To that end, World at War is the first Call of Duty game to feature cooperative play, allowing two players to fight alongside one another on a single screen or up to four players online. If you need something with a bit more bite, the game will also introduce a 'competitive' co-op mode that includes a score battle along with rewards for helping out teammates.
3. Hollywood is talking.
Tired of wooden voice actors ruining otherwise great war stories? So is Activision, who opted to bring out the big guns for Call of Duty: World at War by hiring not one, but two Hollywood heavyweights to play key roles. 24 star Kiefer Sutherland will urgently voice the game's main character, Sgt. Roebuck, and fresh off his stint as Commissioner Gordon in mega-hit The Dark Knight, versatile character actor Gary Oldman has been tapped to play a pivotal role in the Russian campaign.
4. Perk up!
One of the most lauded features in the last Call of Duty game, the multiplayer Perk system, will make a welcome appearance in World at War. Players will once again be able to earn experience in the solo game before carrying it over to the multiplayer. And with four playable armies (Americans, German, Russians and Japanese) and vehicles, expect it to resurrect your online addiction.
5. Tune your engine.
Running on an improved version of Call of Duty 4's amazing engine, World at War is definitely a beauty. But it's also a darker, grittier war game, and for proof of that, look no further than the game's crazy use of fire. Players will be able to ignite environments using potent flamethrowers and watch as the flames slowly eat through flammable materials like wood, brush and, of course, those pesky enemies. Hot.
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Posted: 25 Aug 2008
