Call of Duty; World at War was released on Friday, and I, like many Call of Duty fans, was eager to get my hands on this much anticipated release. Now, this isn't a review of the game, I'm about 60% through and will write one on completion, but for now I just wanted to get across how the game feels; Treyarch have done an astounding job on capturing the essence of war. and for the first time, I fully believe that the the true confusion and horrors of war have been included in a video game.
Modern Warfare's theme was of a fictional terrorist plot whereas the events portrayed in World at War really played out during the Second World War. As a keen World War Two buff and writer, I find it fascinating and actually find myself stopping during firefights to check the authenticity of the uniforms....
 
But for me, Treyarch have moved the realism bar up another notch with this release and this is no more true than during the Russian campaign as they push the German forces back into Germany and the final assault on Berlin. Anyone that has read about the Eastern Front campaign will be fully aware of the horror and brutality that occurred there. And this is where we get to an objective in the campaign that a) shocked me but on the flip side b) impressed me equally. I don't want to reveal exactly what the objective is for fear of spoiling it for people yet to play it, yet it was an unsettling objective to carry out during a video game (even after playing the entire Grand Theft Auto series...) but I commend Treyarch for including it, taking a bold step to truly immerse the gamer in the brutality of war.
 
Call of Duty; World at War is tremendous fun to play yet at the same time, it manages to make you feel slightly uncomfortable knowing that these events really did happen, from gunning down a fleeing enemy to the first time you clear out a Japanese bunker with a flamethrower followed by bloodcurdling screams. Treyarch have also included a lot more graphic injuries and blood to the game (taking cover down next to a giant log in the jungle and turning to the sight of a severed foot was most unexpected..) that was not too evident in earlier guises and is truly the grittiest and most realistic Call of Duty release to date and a far cry from the often polished look of Call of Duty 3.
 
War is hell people, but this is a must play game.