Title: “Map Pack 1″ for Call of Duty: World at WarPlatform: 360 (Also on PS3, PC)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Treyarch
Review by: Bill Jones
Map packs are becoming par for the course in the current generation of first-person shooters with multiplayer, and Call of Duty: World at War is no exception to the rule. But its first pack is not too shabby.
“Map Pack 1,” as it has been so cleverly named, offers World at War fans three more maps to take online for general battling purposes, and Verruckt (Zombie Asylum) for the popular “Nazi Zombie” Mode.
Verruckt takes Nazi Zombies to the next level. The mode itself lets up to four people battle together to fend off never-ending waves of zombies by force and strategy, with the boarding of windows and doors, and unlocking of new rooms and weapons. Verruckt splits the players into two sections, and the challenge is not only fending off the zombie invasion, but doing the right 
things to reunite the team and thereby survive a bit longer. The level design is clever and contains a few more weapons and surprises, making for an all-around solid addition to the already addictive mode.
Of the general multiplayer maps, “Station” is the best, offering a bombed-out subway station in which to do battle. A mound of rubble sits center-stage, forcing a sort of king-of-the-hill battle in certain scenarios, while a long corridor is broken up with train cars – some opened, some closed – with options to go high or low. Each side of the corridor also features hallways providing different routes for attack. It makes for solid combat at close and long range, and the somewhat symmetrical design is great for team battles.
“Nightfire” opens things up a bit more, in the damaged streets of Berlin. Buildings provide cover, as well as opportunities for window sniping. The aesthetics of the level here are cool, as the night battles are lit by the fires of burning buildings.
Finally, “Knee Deep” brings gamers back to the Pacific islands, and contains everything from straw huts, to artillery command centers, to knee-deep water routes. The map works best for objective-based games like Domination.
“Map Pack 1” will be a hit among World at War fans, mostly for the high-quality battleground provided by Station, and the addition of another Nazi Zombie map. It is par for the course as far as what players get for the money, but much like World at War, the pack hits its marks where it matters most.
For more info, www.callofduty.com
