I love World War 2. Almost as much as I love Science-Fiction. Perhaps it is because this war was the first to be mediated, perhaps it's because it was the first to truly involve the world, or maybe its because it was the the first to visually broadcast the horrors, humanity is truly capable of.
Now I am a passionate enthusiast of both first person shooters and mediated violence, and when it is done wrong, I get deeply offended >cough Gears of Warcough<. But when it is done right...I am moved. Call of Duty: World at War did that. Yes I know. World War 2 and FPS are now almost the same topic. Unfortunately, I'm sure there are some kids out there that think WW2 is just as historically relevant as Halo. But even for those who are not enthusiasts of the most bloodiest war in history this game will haunt you. When all is said and done, I will remember looking up into the pale grey sky of an occupied Stalingrad as the German air fleet hovers over top like wraiths over their conquered city. I will remember the white light reflecting off of my gun as myself and Kiefer Sutherland marched up the hills of a rain soaked Okinawa to take out Japanese gun emplacements. And I will most definitely remember the assault on the "Heart of the Reich" at the Reichstag in central Berlin.
Now maybe a part of the reason why I enjoy WW2 games is the respect given for all perspectives of the war (something I suppose happens only after 60+ years have passed). The good guys are not necessarily good or bad, and the same goes for the "bad" guys. I actually felt guilty being the Russians after seeing their revenge on the Nazi capital. The German soldiers burned en masse, their bodies dangling by their necks from telephone poles...and the game does give you choices...and I am glad to say that despite my interest and fascination with violence, I chose not to kill the German or Japanese soldiers when they surrendered (not that it mattered considering my collegues didnt share my sympathy...).
Also this game is intense! Limbs are blown off. Heads are shattered, and people are stabbed, tortured and burned on all sides of the war. And I'm not talking chainsaw battles or curb stomping. This stuff doesn't draw attention to itself. It is treated with realism and humility.
Which leads me to my final point. This game is probably more real than modern day warfare. There are no eye in the sky vantage points or driving tanks to your ipod playlist. This is in your face and it is not pretty. Hauntingly beautiful is what I'd call it. Oh and speaking of ipod playlists, this soundtrack will most definitely be on mine. From the choral/chantings of the music from the level "Downfall," to the Russian hymns of "The Red Army" the music really puts you in the grandeur that is WW2, not by distracting you from it, but by amplifying it.
So if you can't already tell, I loved this game. In fact it reminded me of why I enjoy all of the Science Fiction/Film Noir films that also took great inspiration from this era and flooded the post war media with the greatest art, literature, and mythologies of the 20th century.
So where do we go from here?
There's plenty of places I think. This was a great maturity boost for the industry but I'd love to see them get gutsier. Perhaps the perspective of the axis? The Vietnam war? The Gulf War? Videogames at their current point have an advantage over the other prime narrative artforms and that is that they are underrated. And as such can speak boldly and creatively without too much interference from censors or political endeavors...as long as they don't have sex of course...cause thats yucky.
A bar has been raised Call of Duty. Congrats, and good luck on your interactive endeavors in reminding this generation of the hell our forefathers had to go through to get us to a point where videogames are more violent than the wars of the modern age.
Oh and yes there is a bonus option where you fight Nazi Zombies....
Now I am a passionate enthusiast of both first person shooters and mediated violence, and when it is done wrong, I get deeply offended >cough Gears of War
Now maybe a part of the reason why I enjoy WW2 games is the respect given for all perspectives of the war (something I suppose happens only after 60+ years have passed). The good guys are not necessarily good or bad, and the same goes for the "bad" guys. I actually felt guilty being the Russians after seeing their revenge on the Nazi capital. The German soldiers burned en masse, their bodies dangling by their necks from telephone poles...and the game does give you choices...and I am glad to say that despite my interest and fascination with violence, I chose not to kill the German or Japanese soldiers when they surrendered (not that it mattered considering my collegues didnt share my sympathy...).
Also this game is intense! Limbs are blown off. Heads are shattered, and people are stabbed, tortured and burned on all sides of the war. And I'm not talking chainsaw battles or curb stomping. This stuff doesn't draw attention to itself. It is treated with realism and humility.
Which leads me to my final point. This game is probably more real than modern day warfare. There are no eye in the sky vantage points or driving tanks to your ipod playlist. This is in your face and it is not pretty. Hauntingly beautiful is what I'd call it. Oh and speaking of ipod playlists, this soundtrack will most definitely be on mine. From the choral/chantings of the music from the level "Downfall," to the Russian hymns of "The Red Army" the music really puts you in the grandeur that is WW2, not by distracting you from it, but by amplifying it.
So if you can't already tell, I loved this game. In fact it reminded me of why I enjoy all of the Science Fiction/Film Noir films that also took great inspiration from this era and flooded the post war media with the greatest art, literature, and mythologies of the 20th century.
So where do we go from here?
There's plenty of places I think. This was a great maturity boost for the industry but I'd love to see them get gutsier. Perhaps the perspective of the axis? The Vietnam war? The Gulf War? Videogames at their current point have an advantage over the other prime narrative artforms and that is that they are underrated. And as such can speak boldly and creatively without too much interference from censors or political endeavors...as long as they don't have sex of course...cause thats yucky.
A bar has been raised Call of Duty. Congrats, and good luck on your interactive endeavors in reminding this generation of the hell our forefathers had to go through to get us to a point where videogames are more violent than the wars of the modern age.
Oh and yes there is a bonus option where you fight Nazi Zombies....
