Call of Duty: World at War Single Player Initial Impressions

Upon beginning the single player campaign you are presented with a stylised montage of key events that have taken place before the games setting. Documented footage from the era is mixed with modern a graphical presentation, which highlight the atrocities taking place on all fronts. Prisoners being herded in to the holes they dug themselves before being executed, soldiers marching en masse to the front lines and images of the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbour, which subsequently brought the U.S. in to the war.

You first meet your character as he glimpses through groggy eyes. Bound and gagged, you can do nothing but watch as your squadmate has his throat cut. As you are about to meet the same grizzly fate, you are saved by Capt Roebuck, voiced by Kiefer Sutherland. Freed, you take up arms and begin fighting your way out of the compound.

From these opening scenes it's obvious that World at War intends to be far more gritty and violent than its previous incarnation, Modern Warfare. Enemies not only take up defensive positions but also rush you intending to gut you like a fish using their bayonettes. Combat is a far more visceral affair; japanese soldiers lie in wait amongst long grass, ready to ambush unsuspecting marines whilst other enemies take up sniping positions in trees.

So far I haven't noticed a story so to speak, but Call Of Duty games, aside from Modern Warfare, aren't really known for deep plots and storylines. The voice work by Kiefer Sutherland is excellent, although the sound mixing lets it down slightly as he sounds like he's talking in your ear rather than being with you in the fight.

I've encountered some eventful and impressive scenarios already. The highlight so far was an assault on an airport with several enemy tanks separating us and a heavily fortified structure. I set about dispatching the tanks with a nearby bazooka before rushing the structure and unleashing hot death with a flamethrower I aquired previously.

Its apparent that COD: WAW, whilst providing familiar combat mechanics, will further invigorate the COD franchise by bombarding you with intense combat and memorable action sequences.