I just reacquired Call of Duty: World at War. Yeah, it seems silly with Modern Warfare 2 right around the corner, along with the fact that I did not enjoy the multiplayer for Call of Duty: World at War much at all, but the zombie mode had me wanting the game again.
This past weekend is the first time I’ve ever actually paid money for map packs to a game on the 360. With all the map packs on sale for $5 each, I sprang for all three. Ironically, I wasn’t even buying the map packs for the 9 multiplayer maps that all three map packs gave me access to. I was buying the three map packs because each of them had a new zombie map with new features and gameplay. The zombie mode in Call of Duty: World at War is serious business!
A recent article mentions that Call of Duty: World at War sold tons of DLC. According to the NPD, the average Call of Duty: World at War fan has spent $9 on DLC – which basically means practically every 360 player has bought at least one map pack for World at War. “People actually buy new maps for the broken multiplayer?” I originally thought to myself. But maybe they’re actually buying them primarily for the zombie maps like me.
I don’t know whether it’s sad or neat that the most memorable feature of Call of Duty: World at War is being able to fight zombies. It’s not the single player or multiplayer WWII-based gameplay – it’s the fact that you and up to three other friends get locked in an area and try to survive. Fighting zombies in Call of Duty: World at War is different than Left 4 Dead. It actually feels more canonical from a zombie game standpoint. The zombies feel more Resident Evil-like: slow and shuffling (but of course they get faster and stronger in later waves). I can’t help but simply say that the zombie mode is just done right. There are not many co-op style games like this where I’ll play it, and then after the team loses I want to play again right after thinking I can do better next time. In contrast, Left 4 Dead’s Survival mode did not have me wanting to play more after each attempt. You just get overwhelmed early and the pressure rarely lets up in Left 4 Dead, but at least in Nazi Zombies, everything ramps up at a gradual pace, allowing you to really enjoy the experience.
My brother and I got a lot out of playing just the zombie mode offline split-screen together last holiday season, and surprisingly, we will most likely be doing the same with these new (at least, to us) zombie maps as well. Even without my brother around, I can always hop into matchmaking for the different zombie maps, something that Halo 3: ODST doesn’t even have. I’ll know I’ll be playing Modern Warfare 2 in only a few days, but World at War will still find its way into my 360 because of its charming zombie mode. If any of you are still up for playing it, let me know!
I’d definitely be up for some zombies! I used to play a ton (at least a round or two every night) in the summer with my cousin and a couple friends, but now that school has started back for them, and me xP, and things have gotten busier they just can’t find the time anymore, so I’ve been craving some zombie action! (finding people in matchmaking is bleh, hardly anyone will talk and they, most of the time, refuse to partake in anything tactical or requiring teamwork.)
I always get annoyed at how slowly COD: WAW’s Zombie mode starts off. It takes a good 15 minutes before it actually gets fun, and I REALLY wish there was an option to retry a level (even if you only could once per match) when you fail it.
cool – bloosoda i’ll definitely send you an invite some time if i’m looking for some help. i’ve found a couple good team-oriented players in my matchmaking so far, so it hasn’t been a total waste. but with modern warfare 2 tomorrow, i’m sure we’ll both be very engaged in that so the zombies will have to be put on hold!
i do hear what you’re saying josh about it being very slow at the beginning. i guess if you have a seasoned team at zombie mode, the first 15 minutes are going to be very boring. but in the case of online matchmaking with strangers, it at least lets me see how strong my team is going to be based on how they handle the first 15 minutes. and for some, maybe the first 15 mins is the most fun they’ll have in the mode because they can’t at all handle what happens after that.
maybe in the next version (whether it’s in waw or the waw2 equivalent) a continue feature will be introduced!