Call of Duty: World at War is the 2nd installation of the Call of Duty series on the Wii. Much has been reported about this game as being a "gimped port", unfairly comparing it to its HD counterparts. For as vocal as the people making these claims are, their claims are unfounded.
I come into World at War with only two other Wii FPS games in my collection, Medal of Honor Heroes 2 and Metroid Prime 3 (Yes, it's really more of a FPA, but similar stlye of gameplay). These two games are fine comparisons, as they are the currently most lauded FPS style games for the Wii. Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (MOH:H2) will be more likely compared, due to the similar theme of the game. That said, let's get on with the review.
Graphics: First, let's get the obvious out of the way - this is not a High Def game. Any expectations for the graphics to match the HD versions is simply ignorant. That said, World at War for the Wii does hold up some nice graphics. Comparitively, they are an improvement compared to MoH:H2 in all forms, from textures, to explosions, character models, weapons. The colors used are subtle but not dull, pleasant on the eyes for long gaming sessions. Solid graphics all around.
Gameplay: The gameplay in World at War is solid, both in campaign and multiplayer mode. Let me discuss campaign mode here, and online seperately. As for the campaign mode, I liked the production value of how the story is presented, allowing you to play through specific battles. It felt like an interactive version of the History channel. The balance of the weaponry is solid and diverse, I felt that it offered more options than MOH:H2. The switch over to playing an entirely different character for the Russian campaign was definitely a breath of fresh air to break up the story a bit.
Online play: As with Call of Duty 4, World at War is best enjoyed online. Getting set up is easy, and finding a match is also easy, even easy enough for a casual gamer to navigate their way into an online match. Running on a Wireless N network, I found no lag at all at any point in the matches over several days. The mixture of experience points and ranks is clever, something that I'd personally discussed in development chats long ago for the FPS genre. The system used is solid, and makes you want to play more online matches. The creation of custom classes is great as well, allowing you to make a personal skillset for your character, diversifying what each player brings to the match. The online play is a great experience, bringing you back for more. While some modes are limited, more are unlocked with experience and ranks gained.
Controls: Of course, when discussing a Wii game, the controls are a big part of it, as they can make or break a game. At first I was unsure, because I was learning the game overall. Now, with a solid understanding of the controls, I can say that World at War does it well. It definitely is a mixture of Metroid Prime 3 and MOH:H2. The aiming feels more like MP3 as well as the turning movements. The rest feels like MOH:H2. The combination works well, even for a frantic player like myself. The controls are fluid and responsive, definitely NOT "tacked on" like certain uninformed people might claim. From a development standpoint, the controls make sense. The only complaint is that due to the constant use of some of the buttons on the Wii controller itself, it is difficult to play this game with any type of gun periphreal. I would have enjoyed playing this with my Nyko Perfect Shot. Outside that, controls are solid.
Audio: This is the area I am generally harshest on, as I came into the industry as a composer and sound designer. What is obvious is this - Nintendo should have ditched Dolby Pro Logic II for the Wii. Developers can do SO MUCH more with Dolby Digital 5.1 or higher. That said, the sound is fine, definitely puts you IN the environment with realistic sounds. The character voices are good and solid, not over-produced, not stale. The music is okay, what you'd expect from a WW2 game.
Overall: Call of Duty: World at War is a solid addition to any FPS fan's Wii library, especially for those looking for a solid online FPS experience. The game has enough visual prompts to even lure some casual gamers looking for something a little less casual. The surprise market for this game would be the uncle or grandfather you have that is into watching war movies or lots of history channel - introduce them to World at War and frag grandpa online. Don't believe the naysayers, COD:World at War for the Wii is definitely a solid, fun game. If you're still on the fence or a non-believer, give it a rent and about 6 hours of play, 2 on campaign and 4 online.
