Call of Duty: World at War

Game Overview

Call of Duty: World at War (2008) is the fifth main installment in the Call of Duty series and the first developed by Treyarch after Call of Duty 3. Released on November 11, 2008, in North America (November 14 in Europe), the game returns to World War II with campaigns focused on the brutal Pacific theater against Japanese forces and the Eastern Front push into Berlin with the Soviet Red Army.

Players experience intense, uncensored combat featuring banzai charges, flamethrowers, tank battles, and large-scale assaults. The single-player campaign is structured around two primary storylines: U.S. Marines in the Pacific and Soviet soldiers advancing through Europe. On Wii, the game introduces a distinctive Squadmate co-op mode in which a second player can drop in at any time using a second Wii Remote to provide covering fire and support from the same viewpoint (similar to Super Mario Galaxy co-op), rather than traditional split-screen.

Online multiplayer brings the ranking, perks, and killstreak systems popularized by Call of Duty 4 to the Wii for the first time in the series, supporting competitive matches via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Note that the popular Nazi Zombies mode, which debuted in the HD versions of World at War, is not included on the Wii version. Controls are optimized for the Wii Remote + Nunchuk with pointer aiming, and the game also supports the Wii Zapper.

Quick Specifications

• Platform: Nintendo Wii

• Developer: Treyarch (Wii port by EXAKT Entertainment)

• Publisher: Activision

• Release Date: November 11, 2008 (North America); November 14, 2008 (Europe)

• Genre: First-Person Shooter (FPS) / Action

• Modes: Single-player, Online Multiplayer, Squadmate Co-op (local drop-in)

• ESRB Rating: M (Mature) – Blood, Strong Language, Violence

• Players: 1–2 (local); online multiplayer up to 8–12 players

• Controls: Wii Remote + Nunchuk, Wii Zapper

• Also Available On: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC

Key Features

• Dual campaigns covering the Pacific Theater (U.S. Marines) and European Theater (Soviet forces) in the closing stages of WWII.

• Uncensored, intense combat with flamethrowers, banzai charges, kamikaze attacks, and large-scale battles.

• Online multiplayer featuring ranking, perks, killstreaks, and experience points (first Call of Duty multiplayer on Wii).

• Unique Squadmate co-op mode allowing a second player to drop in anytime with a Wii Remote for shared-screen support fire.

• Optimized motion controls with “Combat Look” technology for smoother aiming on Wii.

• Support for Wii Zapper for light-gun style play.

• Multiple multiplayer maps and classic modes such as Team Deathmatch and Free-for-All.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Does the Wii version of World at War include Nazi Zombies?

No. The Nazi Zombies mode that debuted in World at War is exclusive to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions. It is not available on the Wii.

What is Squadmate co-op?

Squadmate is a Wii-exclusive local co-op feature. A second player can join at any time during the campaign by activating a second Wii Remote. Both players share the same screen and viewpoint, with the second player providing additional firepower and support rather than controlling a fully independent character.

Does the game have online multiplayer on Wii?

Yes. It features online multiplayer via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection with ranking, perks, and killstreaks. Matches typically support up to 8 players (some sources note higher counts depending on mode). Official online services are no longer active following the shutdown of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

What control options are available?

The game supports Wii Remote + Nunchuk (primary recommended scheme with pointer aiming) and the Wii Zapper. Controls include customizable sensitivity and a “Combat Look” system designed to keep the view focused on the action.

How does the Wii version compare to the HD versions?

The Wii version includes the full campaign story and core multiplayer systems, plus the unique Squadmate co-op mode. It lacks Nazi Zombies, has reduced graphical fidelity and frame rate, fewer multiplayer maps/modes in some cases, and no traditional split-screen co-op. It remains a solid WWII shooter experience tailored to the Wii hardware.