In a series known for its bombastic set pieces, intense action, memorable characters and settings, what makes COD: WAW standout in the crowd? What’s interesting to note, is for a while, many people didn’t think it did. When WAW was first released back in 2008, many saw it as just another standard WW2 FPS. While the WW2 market at the time was pretty flooded, it’s easy to see why it would get lost in the shuffle. However, time has been kind to the title and the game has since been re-evaluated. It is now considered one of the best in the series. Released after the monumental success of COD4: Modern warfare, WAW had HUGE shoes to fill. Modern Warfare was the game that essentially put COD on the online gaming high horse that it still proudly sits on today. So what did WAW do to stand out from its predecessor? Well, in terms of gameplay, not much. In many ways you could say it’s simply a reskin of said title. However, what WAW lacks in technical and gameplay innovation, it more than makes up for in spirit.
Right from the main theme music and the opening cutscene, you know this isn’t your dad’s COD. With actual dark and dreary stock footage from the Second World War, the mood is set immediately. The First level you play as a Marine POW, being mercilessly tortured by the Japanese army. This is a game that gets the atmosphere of war to a T. In the previous games, the atmosphere and world was fairly clean, it was more akin to a WW2 documentary re-enactment than anything else, seeing as up until Cod 4, these games were all rated T. COD 4 would be the first in the series to secure an M-rating. While it did have a darker and grittier feel compared to the previous games, World at War took that and dialed it up to 11. What World at War excels in, is its sense of dread and dreariness. The mission doesn’t feel like we’re just stopping the bad guys. This is a game where the world was actually at stake, when the free world had to stand against imperialism and totalitarianism. From seeing US Marines falling victim to brutal banzai attacks, to Navy ships being bombarded with kamikaze attacks, to seeing wave after wave of Red Army troops push against the Nazis, World at War paints a harrowing picture of decay and dread.
As said before, previous games were rated T and kept it fairly clean. Even when COD 4 would get its M rating, it didn’t utilize that M rating to its fullest. The dialogue makes the fullest use. In previous games you would hear, “ Die you Kraut! “ or “ Tango down” or “ Target neutralized”. Here for example, you will hear “ You fucking animals!” ” You like that? you piece of shit?!” etc. In this game you will see people shot, stabbed, blown up, bloodied and mutilated.
What’s upsetting is that the series has somewhat regressed in terms of intensity. In COD:WW2 ( which is a game I actually quite like), there are moments when you actually have to spare surrendering German soldiers. WAW has no such moments. In fact, in one of the Red Army levels, you can see Germans being led to a wall at gunpoint by the Russians, screaming “Move it you pigs! Face us you cowards!”, as they beg for mercy. The Red Army shows none as they mow them down with machine guns. This game has something that the previous and future games sorely lacked; a sense of the war being personal. Here, the main themes of the game are hatred and revenge. Humanity has no place here.
The settings of the game are equally as important. In the Pacific you play as a US Marine against the Japanese. In Europe, you play as the Red Army fighting the Third Reich. The Pacific is a welcome change to the series, not being portrayed in any game up to this point. In WW2, island hopping was an absolutely grueling and intense endeavor. The tropical climate, the rain, the mud, the disease- all took its toll on those fighting in these difficult conditions. The Japanese Army is unlike any enemy in the series faced at this point- they will ambush you, they will snipe from trees, they will charge at you with a zeal with no regard for their own lives. The Pacific campaign truly shows how brutal and agonzing it must have been to fight an enemy that does not fear death. In the European campaign, you are introduced to a series favorite, Reznov. In the opening level in Stalingrad, you are a survivor amongst a fountain strewn with corpses being eaten by birds. You navigate through Stalingrad, to liberate the city, Reznov eerily stating that one day they will take the fight to their land, their blood. In proceeding levels, the Red Army does just that, they have steam rolled into Europe and are not stopping for anything. In the Soviet campaign in particular, the theme of revenge is the most prevalent, with dialoge such as “These animals, raped and marauded their way through out the mother land with out mercy. THEY DESERVE NONE IN RETURN!”
By the campaign’s end, both the Marines and Red Army have fought tooth and nail to advance this far, and they know the end is in sight. The raid in Shuri castle is the Japanese’ breaking point. The Marines know the Japanese will not go down without a fight. The Japanese come at them from all sides- the grass, the trees, spider holes, anyway to catch them off guard. Once they actually get inside the castle, the Japanese unleash a massive banzai attack in a last ditch effort to kill whoever they can. Once the air raid is called in and the castle is destroyed, a sense of relief and hope finally shows itself. Their battle is over, they can go home. All of them. In Europe, the most poetic mission of all takes place. The Soviets have pushed the Germans all the way from Stalingrad back to Berlin. Now comes the ultimate conquest, the Reichstag itself. The Commissar gives a motivating and epic speech “ Your motherland needs your final commitment!”. The Nazis are making their last stand and will not give an inch. The Red Army pushes its way through and eventually makes it to the roof, with an epic conclusion, the Soviet flag is planted, and the Nazi war machine is vanquished off the face of the earth. Best conclusion in the series and one of my favorite endings to a video game ever.
With a campaign that jacked up the intensity and terror, WaW took the series to new locations. A game that decided to go back to WW2 and go out with a bang. COD WaW is not only my favorite COD, it’s one of my favorite games ever made. This is the game that got me into world history as a whole. History is a huge part of my life and without this game it very well might not have been. This is a game I play annually, every May 9th, to commemorate Victory – Day. WaW is, in my opinion, a must-play for any fps or WW2 history enthusiast. It has withstood the test of time, and cemented its place as one of the best and my personal favorite WW2 shooter ever made. Pick up your helmet and rifle and dive into a world at war.
Ura!,
Fil Zahnko
Verdict: Campaign (10/10)
Online during its era was exceptional too!