Preview: Call of Duty: World at War

Strap on your boots and grab your supply pack, because Call of Duty is returning to platforms with a brand new sequel.

Call of Duty: World at War will have you trading in your M4 Carbine for a Thompson submachine gun, as this new title is set to take place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Activision has given the reins of the project to CoD3 developer Treyarch, and is hoping for a game that is as sharp as General Patton’s chin stubble.

CoD4 enthusiasts fear not, Infinity Ward’s game engine will remain intact, aside from the expected adjustments and tweaks. The only remaining question is, how in the hell can Treyarch attempt to improve on one of the most successful titles of 2007? The answer is simple: Co-Op. That’s right, the game that turned your life into a monotonous cycle of waking, gaming and eating (maybe), will return with the option to not only own your life, but also your friends’ lives simultaneously.

Up to four players can play in co-op mode over XBL, or two can play split screen via system link. The campaign mode has also opted to keep its current point system, allowing gamers to purchase new perks based on combat performance.

Treyarch decided to take a slightly different approach to the campaign, focusing on the dark and horrific feelings of the soldiers. Promising a much “scarier” game, Treyarch has developed an AI that will have Japanese enemies sneaking through high grass, hiding in trees and engaging in suicide attacks in comparison to the typical “cover and flank” techniques used by European squads.

World at War will also feature the most realistic in-game environments. Using the CoD4 engine as a stepping-stone, players will be able to use Japanese machine guns, swim underwater, and equip themselves with a flamethrower. These new additions obviously bode well for a more realistic feel to the game, and look to provide a lot more chances for destruction.

Still not sold yet? On top of all these new features, the game will also feature new vehicles, as well as squad based combat. World at War definitely has some large boots to fill, but with a platoon of new features like this, it’s hard to think they will fail their mission.