Call of Duty World at War - Zombies by Activision and Treyarch packs more intensity, gore, tension and body parts into one level than I’d ever thought I’d see on a mobile phone.  COD Zombies traps you in a thoroughly convincing 2-story Nazi bunker called Nacht der Untoten lifted directly from the zombie mode of the console blockbuster Call of Duty - World at War and lets you have at it with an onslaught of zombies on your handheld whenever and wherever the mood strikes.

  

“One level for $10!?”, you may well exclaim.  But this is surely one of the most technologically advanced games to ever appear on the Iphone and there will certainly be more updated levels added in the future (although it’s anybody’s guess as to the cost).  In the meantime, we’re left to pour hot lead into a bunker full of realistically animated dead-eyes in one thoroughly convincing atmosphere of dread.

The movement is silky smooth and the controls excellent whether you use dual joysticks, swipe to look or a nice joystick and tilt to look.  The game is rated 17+ due to the realistic popping heads, arms and pieces of flesh flying off the undead, the perfect fodder for engaging our baser instincts.  After all these aren’t people.

   
If you’ve never played Zombies on a console, you pick up points from kills with which you can open doors, remove barriers, repair windows and of course purchase new weapons either outlined on a wall, in a surprise box or hidden..  The zombies come in waves until you level up at which time you can catch your breath and perhaps pick-up a new weapon from M1A1s and shotguns to magnums, ray guns and flamethrowers.  There’s an auto assisted aim and a deadly iron site.

The sound is terrific with howling wolves and dramatic music to go along with the mayhem and tighten the tension.  If you prefer not to go it alone you can play 2-4 player co-op over Wifi.  An advantage of single player is that the game will save for you. There are also bonuses to pick up and tons of achievements to try for like roasting four zombies at once.

  

Call of Duty - Zombies is quite an experience for a cell phone game and even though it’s only one level it can be played indefinitely and gets 4 ½ stars.  Let’s just hope the new maps are reasonably priced.



goyami@comcast.net