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Amazing visuals
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Braindead computer AI
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Awesome audio
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Intense action
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Addictive gameplay
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Tight controls
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Fantastic multiplayer
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The DS version of CoD:WaW is a solid, entertaining, and challenging experience. The game follows three campaigns: American, Britsh, and Russian with the Americans fighting the Japanese, while the other two fend off Nazis. The single player gameplay is standard take cover and shoot fair, but the precise controls help to make the experience greater. Aiming is done by sliding the stylus across the touch screen, while movement is set to the d-pad and shooting to the L trigger (or a,b,x,y buttons and R trigger for leftys). The d-pad is also used to sprint by double tapping up and crouch by double tapping down. All other controls such as changing weapons, reloading, and aiming down the sights are done by touching panels on the touch screen. The touch screen controls are responsive, but mantling over obstacles and picking up weapons can be annoying as the panel to do so is placed in the upper left corner and requires proper positioning to work. Precision shooting is simple with the touch screen aiming and very satisfying, but playing for long periods of time can leave the hand holding the DS with cramps. The campaign is challenging even on the normal difficulty, but not too challenging and is filled with plenty of intense, flashy, moments. The A. I. can be a little air headed sometimes. Allies will occasionally get in the way of your shots or fail to throw grenades properly (usually putting you in jeopardy). Enemies, for the most, are pretty smart. They'll use cover to their advantage, and can throw your own grenades back at you.However, when hiding behind cover if you inch you way out enemies don't seem to notice, and will just stand there as you send a fatal dose of lead through their faces. There will be many occasions where the player will have to help an injured soldier, send a morse code message,and disarm landmines. These events take place as touch screen mini games, and are fun but don't do too much to add to the experience. Firing anti-aircraft guns and mortars are done with the touch screen as well, but these vary much more than the other minigames. The graphics are detailed, especially the guns, and the game runs smoothly even with large numbers of enemies on screen all at once. The multiplayer works well, but may take a try or two to find a game. When playing online there is no lag, however, players have a tendency to just randomly drop from a game due to lost connections. There are eleven maps, and almost all the weapons are available for use. Aside from the multiplayer there are also thirty challenges available which add objectives to the campaign and a strict time limit making them worthy of the name. The campaign takes about five-six hours to complete, and there's plenty to come back to with multiplayer and challenges. For $30.00 CoD:WaW on DS is a steal.