I’ve been a fan of first-person shooting games since I first played the original Quake in 1996 on my Packard Bell Pentium 100MHz machine.  I remember that experience clearly, being able to exist in a real-time 3D environment was an awesome gaming experience.  Of course, first-person shooters have only gotten better, and the combat games lend themselves very well to this type of gaming experience.   The latest game of this genre is Call Of Duty: World At War, which is very impressive.

This game is very similar to another excellent game in the series, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare - the game engine, graphics, and interface are very well done.  New weapons and perks are awarded based on experience points, which you earn as you rank-up in the military.  It’s a very motivating system that keeps players killing each other, and I’ll admit, it’s addicting.

:: Intense graphics accurately depict the German Reichstag - click to enlarge ::

World At War, as the name implies, is based on a World War II setting, with accurate gun models and locations.  Nothing has been spared, which I think is a good thing.  For example, the German Reichstag is accurately modeled, which adds the perfect aura to the hectic shooting, bombing, and tank explosions around you as you aim your rifle or grenades on your opponents.  Net code is great, with no lagging, and I’m able to run this game at 1920×1200 with maximum graphics settings on my dual GeForce 8800GT cards, smooth as butter.

The sound effects are also very realistic, with real-sounding gunshots rather than the explosive-sounding gunshot effects we’re used to hearing in movies.  In the distance, you’ll hear soldiers shouting, with very accurate dialog that does not get too repetitive.  The graphics can get a bit greusome, with realistic depictions of blown-off limbs and gunshot impacts.  Depth-of-field effects, which are a carryover from Call Of Duty 4, are a welcome visual effect, which gives the game a cinematic appearance.

:: Realistic water and foliage are among the best I’ve seen - click to enlarge ::

Of course, there’s a single-player campaign, which I have not even played yet.  Believe it or not, I haven’t even played the single-player mode in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare either - the online gameplay has been so fulfilling that I haven’t seen the need just yet.  I suppose shooting and cyber-killing real opponents will always be more gratifying that computer opponents.  I’ll add an update when I play the single-player component - especially when you can use voice communication to tell call your opponents n00bs.

:: Dynamic lighting and subdued colors add to the darkness of war - click to enlarge ::

Is this game an actual depticion of what real war is like?  I would say it’s probably an accurate depiction of what war movies are like, rather than war itself - and I think that’s a good thing.  Real war is not fun, and this is a game that’s very fun, see what I’m getting at here?   World At War gives the player a sense of the chaos of real war, and it’s that element that keeps you on the edge of your seat, in bitter concentration.  That’s why this game - and Call Of Duty 4 - are such a success.   If you like violent, politically-incorrect games that would make a legislation-happy democrat cringe, then this is the game for you - it kicks ass!