Update
Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies was finally updated with a brand new map that is only available as an in-app purchase for $4.99 on top of the $9.99 you already have to drop. The new map is much more engaging than the first map, but that’s not saying much. After playing through 30 levels on the first map, and now 25 on the new map I can safely say it’s not worth the price.
The update now allows you to save your progress which is welcome as you exit in the middle of a game after nearly falling asleep. It’s still a bore fest rather than a gore fest as you move from window to window shooting down zombies that never change difficulty. There’s just more, but your weapons also increase to still dispose of them simply. Almost every time you lose is because you’re not paying full attention as there’s no challenge, and it’s not engaging enough.
The global online play is still limited to Wifi, but local play at least has wifi and bluetooth. Now there are 23 more local achievements (though no global achievement system). The leaderboards take you out of the game, and boot into Safari which is a disappointment. The entire gameplay has been amped up through the update so there is less downtime in between waves, and the action progresses quicker which is so welcome.
The Verrückt Map is a whole new experience worth checking out if you like the gameplay currently, but doesn’t add enough to warrant a $4.99 charge. The game is closely similar to the console version, but limited to only two maps currently, and that’s just not enough in the App Store market for the price they charge.
There’s no doubt the game is good, but there are better options available at much cheaper prices (see our shooting games app guide). The scope is much too limited to be recommended at $15.
Overview
Activision has brought its first person shooter franchise Call of Duty to the iPhone with Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies. You play the original zombie map “Nacht der Untoten” (Night of the undead), and try to survive as long as you can from waves of zombies.
You play in a barricaded bunker just like the console version, but rendered for the iPhone. Co-op online play is included to play with your friends or globally.
Features
One zombie infested map is included which is basically a barricaded bunker with two floors, and a basement. It’s quite deluxe, but it doesn’t vary the gameplay no matter where you are.
Nearly fifty achievements are included, but they’re all local as is the high score table. I scored the game for online high scores, registered and synced with everything, but nothing ever came up.
Co-op multiplayer can be played locally over wifi (up to 4-player) or Bluetooth (2-player). Also you can play online against anyone, but only over wifi, cellular connection not supported. The multiplayer mode is the same as single player survival, just with more people.
Three control methods are included. The default method is moving with left virtual stick, and dragging your finger to move the camera. The second is dual stick, and the third is movement again with left stick, but tilt to aim. All three share fire and zoom buttons in the bottom right.
The Good
The game looks great from the intricate level design to each of the zombies. The animations are great as well, as seen by the walking of the zombies or blasting chunks out of them. The soundtrack is ok, and it does fit with the theme, and the zombie screeches are the best I’ve ever heard.
As you advance, the zombies speed up, so it’s not the night of the living dead pace. Zombies can come from anywhere, and with just two hits by the zombies and you’re done, you always have to be on your toes. Unless it’s one of those level breaks where you just sit back.
Many different weapons are included which are able to be purchased throughout the bunker. The bunker is a somewhat deluxe map, but everywhere looks the same, and everywhere plays the same. The entire game is just zombies coming in though holes in the wall, and you shooting them.
It takes quite a long time to get into the good action, but once you do it’s quite fun for short bursts until there is the next level break for a few minutes.
The co-op mode can be fun, once you get to double digit levels. With so few zombies, and multiple players it gets relatively boring. There are definite bursts of fun with ten zombies on screen, but those instances are few and far between. Also the game seems to go on forever with no ending, and no reason to keep going.
The tilt control method is the the only good one of the three given. It works well to tilt your phone to change the camera angle and aim. It’s not ground breaking, and I found the methods in N.O.V.A. and Eliminate just a smidge better. Solid controls, but nothing game changing.
Many achievements are included for doing all kinds of things, but they’re only local. The online multiplayer lacks any kind of ranking system or leaderboard. Even the single player mode just gives a local leaderboard. There isn’t much good without bad in the same few sentences, and that’s just how this game is.
The Bad
The main problem is that there isn’t much action until you reach at least round five which seems to take an eternity. There are many breaks in the action, or one zombie coming at a time. Instead of a gore fest you get a bore fest.
If having relatively no action wasn’t problem enough, there is only one map which is basically a two story building. An extremely basic map with every part reacting the same whether you’re on the first floor, the second floor or in the basement.
Multiplayer is ok if you play on a local connection, but you just play the same single player mode, only with others. There’s the same lack of action, and even less with more people to take the few zombies. When playing online connecting is a hassle with sometimes working, and sometimes not.
When you actually get into an online match your opponents drop out early as there isn’t much to do, or they may lose a connection. On earlier gen devices this is even more of a problem (though they finally did get support), though I played on a 3GS over wifi with mixed results at best, and of course you can’t even play over 3G.
There are three control options, and the two main default ones don’t work very well. The first mode doesn’t provide quick enough rotation of the camera to see zombies coming at you from all directions. The second mode provides quick motion and camera movement, but locking on to zombies is a pain. The controls will result in death, or at least interfere with success, and controls shouldn’t be the frustrating part of the game.
Luckily there is the tilt option as discussed in the good section. Though some players may never find it. The tilt is good, but not great, and I still found the controls on Eliminate of N.O.V.A. slightly easier. The games can be long, and there is no save system, so you better finish in one sitting.
If it’s a great game I have no problem with companies charging premium prices. Sadly Activision charged a premium price on name alone, and it’s embarrassing that Activision thinks that this level of game will pass on the iPhone, as they obviously do as evidenced by such good sales. iPhone users should demand more from their games, or at least more accurate prices.
The production values are great for the iPhone, but the quality of the gameplay is not even worth $4.99. Do yourself a favor and buy games from companies who care about the iPhone, and have worked hard to make a great FPS experience. Ngmoco tested forever to bring Eliminate, and Gameloft has worked hard with a few attempts until finally doing really well with N.O.V.A.
Activision don’t come back to the App Store until you can make a high quality game for this platform, or at least provide reasonable prices for the quality you’re bringing.
The Verdict
Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies is a good game, but it just doesn’t live up to the hype, and looks worse in comparison to the stiff FPS competition. The game has high production values, but the value of a game is the gameplay where COD comes up lacking.
The biggest problem is that there isn’t much to do, and even when zombies finally appear it’s an extremely repetitive mechanic with no incentive to keep going. There is no variability at all, and the action is infrequent at best. Also, there is only one map which is similar throughout, and the co-op multiplayer is the same boring gameplay just with more people.
Activision charges $9.99 on name alone, and it’s not even worth $4.99. There are better FPS choices available in the App Store, so you can skip Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies.
Our Rating
Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies
- Developer: Activision Publishing, Inc.
- Category: Games
- Released: November 20th, 2009
(currently 1.3.0)
(currently 9.99)
WTF! Ok appadvice I’m a big fan but that is the stupidest review you have ever done. I brought the game and I love it and so do all my mates. First of all, did you ever play the original Nazi zombies on a console? This is an exact port of it minus a couple of explosive guns, and I find it amazing that this is on my iPhone. Secondly, the game isn’t boring in the first 5 rounds if you go for achivments, that’s the point of acheivments. Thirdly, map packs are coming with more levels to play, once again ported of the original with new weapons, perks and cool new features. And lastly, this is a 3d fps zombie wave defense game, where else on the app store is something like that. Prephaps you don’t like zombies, or Cod but this is the dumbest review you have published, remove it!!!!
Another good, brutally honest review just like your take on NFS Shift. Thanks for holding devs feet to the fire and not letting them get away with crappy games sold on name value. Why support these ridiculously high prices? It’s an insult.
Actually, there is a save system. Quit the game, and it autosaves. Even if it crashes it still saves, and it only crashes if I have mail, safari, and pandora radio open also
Ever since I played Nazi zombies, and got my iPhone, I wanted a portable version of the game, as did probly alot of people. That is what Activision had in mind. They wanted to recreate the game on the iPhone and try to make it as close to the actual game without overloading the iPhone. Now if your not a Nazi zombies or wave defense game this game is not for you, it doesn’t mean it’s bad. I don’t like racing games so I don’t buy them and go around complaining about it so app advice shoudn’t have purchased this cause it’s not their game, not a crap game cause I friken love it. Also, comparing controls to a game that came out over a month later is stupid, it’s like comparing black and white tvs to colour, it’s had more time to learn the mistakes it made. Also try control scene 2, after a few games you get used to it and now I don’t even think about the controls while playing. Also, 3g multiplayer uses up to much money so I never have or will play on it again, but hey if you beg activision they might do it. I am not having a go at app advice but I just feel they have the wrong perspective on this game and i never played a game like it so they don’t like it, but I enjoy it and think app advice sealed with it very harshly. Btw, nova has way better multiplayer than eliminate and I deleted eliminate due to the concept being greedy and the graphics are crap, see it doesn’t feel good when someone has a go at a game you enjoy.
I think the review is spot on. The game is lacking multiple levels, unique gameplay, and action. In its current state it is definitely not worth the $9.99 price point it has been set. Perhaps if map packs are released, or at least an online high score system is provided then it could reach that. However I think this sits in its current incarnation as a 1.99, maybe 2.99 game. You can’t ride on the back of a popular title. CoD is amazing, and this falls flat.
i luv this website and i i can always trust this place for great reviews :]
however, i think this is honestly the only review id have to disagree with
first of all, controls are definitely not an issue
lol ive been playing this game for a while, and if you read the control section, it tells you that swiping your finger on the top of the screen gives you an automatic 90 degree turn. This eliminates high sensitivity (another option)and allows the auto aim to do its magic
second, people drop out of multiplayer not due to bad connections, but simply cuz their too pussy to go past level 10 ;]
i have a 1st gen itouch and ive never dropped from a game so i would know
last, i think this game deserves a better gameplay score, cuz its fast and fun; sure it takes a while to get past the initial levels, but its worth it!!
This game takes the two most prominant bad guys of gaming culture (zombies and nazis) and lets you kill them!!!!!
thats ittt
keep up the good work app advice!! ;]
“Nearly fifty achievements are included, but they’re all local as is the high score table. I scored the game for online high scores, registered and synced with everything, but nothing ever came up.”
Fail..first you must have played it when it first came out, cause i bought it and in the first hour, got over 10 achievements (that registered) during an online match (not local).
“The main problem is that there isn’t much action until you reach at least round five which seems to take an eternity.”
Fail again…you must stink if it takes “eternity” to get to level 5. Takes me like 4-7 minutes to get to level 5.
“I found the methods in Eliminate just a smidge better”…Tried it, game suks. I would give Eliminate no stars (maybe 1) for failure…
“With so few zombies, and multiple players it gets relatively boring. There are definite bursts of fun with ten zombies on screen, but those instances are few and far between. Also the game seems to go on forever with no ending, and no reason to keep going.”
Fail again… you must have died around round 5, cause when you get to round 20 with only you and another, it becomes insane. You keep playing for achievements, and the like. AND more maps are coming out sometime in early 2010.
Controls…so easy!! got to round 10 the first time i got this game by myself…
“here is no save system”…fail, there is use it every day…learn to use it
MY CONCLUSION… doubt you even bothered playing up to level 10+, sounds like you were playing with a blindfold on, and it is actually the BEST gaming APP i have ever played on an Ipod.
I think you guys should stick to reviewing hand warmer apps..This is a pretty bad review considering the number of inaccuracies in it
For example:
“Many achievements are included for doing all kinds of things, but they’re only local. The online multiplayer lacks any kind of ranking system or leaderboard. Even the single player mode just gives a local leaderboard.”
Is rubbish – the leaderboards are sync’d on-line with callofduty.com for both local and online play. Achievements are a awarded during play regardless of whether it is online or local, multiplayer or single player.
You must have played the game (badly) for about 15mins to not have seen any of this.
Here is a 300+ page, 3050+ post thread on the game that might give people a better idea of the game and what other people think:
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=33265
As well as a review from another site that seemed to recognise its qualities:
http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Call+of+Duty%3A+World+at+War%3A+Zombies/review.asp?c=16768&srch=cod
sigh.
I think who ever wrote this review is a total freakin` idiot . They already have another map, there is a save feature, you probably died at level 5,I have an ipod touch 1sr gen 8 gb (the worst kind of ipod touch) and it never crashed,you`ve propably never played real nazi zombies on the console,its as good as it can be with out overloading the ipod, again your an idiot! >_<
Pretty honest review of COD Zombies. I still can’t believe Activison expect us to pay half the game again for one map, and it STILL doesn’t fix multiplayer. I log on, it tells me I can’t play multiplayer. It was a good port of the console experience, except the console experience was only fun when played with friends, and its just too unreliable on the iPhone.
Fanboys will say. OMG! YOU SUCK! EXTRA LEVELS COST £8 QUID ON XBOX!!!!111!!! THIS IS GREAT! But they’re missing the point. It costs more on xbox because you play it on a console, with proper controls, and a multiplayer that ACTUALLY WORKS!
The extra map makes COD:Zombies even more of a rip off, and i did enjoy the offering of the first map, when I assumed the extra maps would be 59p. £1.19 at most. Its overpriced. I have heard that the dev team porting this is small, and they’ve put a lot of work into it, well, I know more people would see the benefit of that work if the extra map wasn’t hugely overpriced.