World War Zero

About

"World War Zero" is a free-to-play, team-based first-person shooter set in a near-future dystopian world. Players can choose from various classes, each with unique weapons and abilities, and join factions in large-scale battles. The game features a variety of modes, including objective-based and territorial control, promoting strategic team play.

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews

story6 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features an interesting alternate history setting where World War 1 never ended, providing a unique backdrop for gameplay.
The gun variety and upgrade system are enjoyable, allowing players to experiment with different weapons and strategies.
Despite its short length, the game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic FPS titles, making it a fun way to pass a few hours.

The game suffers from dated graphics and poor level design, with many areas feeling empty and repetitive.
Gameplay mechanics are clunky, particularly the weapon switching system, which can be frustrating and limits tactical options.
The story is underdeveloped, with missing cutscenes and a lack of engaging narrative elements, leaving players feeling disconnected from the plot.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The story in this game is criticized for being poorly developed and lacking immersion, with many cutscenes removed that could have provided context and depth. While the backstory has potential, it often requires suspension of disbelief, and key characters and plot elements are introduced abruptly, leaving players confused. Overall, the narrative feels disjointed and underwhelming, failing to capitalize on its interesting premise.
- “The backstory is interesting but did require a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief.”
- “I feel like this game could have been a 'Spec Ops: The Line' type of hit if the development team had leaned more into the conspiracy elements of the story.”
- “It is basically the same game, with the same storyline - the storyline being what makes it interesting.”
- “And the evil mastermind just appeared out of nowhere for one boss fight without introduction or backstory, so all his gloating and taunting went right over my head.”
- “- most of the cutscenes from the original are cut out, and the story makes no sense anymore.”
- “The plot is boring and confusing because the cutscenes are missing from this version of the game.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its simplicity and lack of depth, often compared unfavorably to older titles like Wolfenstein 3D, with issues such as poor AI, limited enemy variety, and clunky controls. While some players appreciate the updated graphics and streamlined mechanics, many find the overall experience mediocre, with linear levels and predictable enemy behavior detracting from the enjoyment. Despite some creative elements in design and setting, the gameplay is generally viewed as average, lacking the nuance and engagement of its predecessors.
- “The best thing is that they completely overhauled some of the level design and game mechanics.”
- “World War Zero simplifies the game mechanics and has a much more forgiving overall difficulty; the stealth sections have been removed, snipers do much less damage, autoturrets can be destroyed with explosives, health and ammo are more common, and the levels retain their basic layout but are more linear.”
- “The gameplay is still awesome today and it has the (semi-)modern graphic options from this version included.”
- “The gameplay is more Wolfenstein 3D, yes the 1992 game, than Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001), mostly as a result of the dumb AI, simple maps, limited enemy variety, and inadequate controls. There's no way, at least I didn't find it, to bind the weapons to specific keys/buttons. Even if only grenades had their own bind, it would have made the game better. Enemies fire at you in place or charge towards you, the missions were really easy even in the hardest difficulty, the campaign is short and won't take you more than 4 hours.”
- “It feels like a very typical 'average' console FPS of the time period; overall feel is extremely similar to games like Warhammer 40K: Fire Warrior, Red Faction 2, Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death, Killzone 1, etc. Gameplay is run-and-gun with no aim-down-sights, there is a little bit of side-path exploration for extra ammo but overall levels are straightforward and linear. Enemy behavior is mostly just run into line-of-sight, then stand still and shoot at you.”
- “Being a 2002 game, and years after many classics such as SWAT 3, Soldier of Fortune, Quake III, and so on, the play mechanics are surprisingly clunky.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear dated and reminiscent of early to mid PS2 era visuals, particularly criticizing the textures and cutscenes. However, some players appreciate the vibrant color schemes and the unique aesthetic tied to its alternate history setting, which adds a distinct charm despite the graphical shortcomings. Overall, while there are improvements in certain areas, the graphics are generally considered mediocre and not on par with contemporary titles from the same era.
- “The graphics are more vibrant with new texture models and new color schemes.”
- “The most obvious improvement are the visuals.”
- “Enemy models have been completely redone, with higher polycounts and in many cases a slightly different art style.”
- “The graphics look really dated.”
- “The gameplay is at best mediocre, the graphics are poor (especially in the early parts of the game).”
- “The graphics are dated, the textures suck, and the cutscenes are awful FMVs, all 3 of them.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report significant improvements with fewer game-breaking glitches compared to previous versions, others still encounter numerous minor bugs. Despite these issues, many find the gameplay enjoyable and well-optimized for modern systems.
- “It still plays awesomely polished today if you have a soft spot for FPS from the old glory days and runs great on modern systems!”
- “Iron Storm had tons of game-breaking glitches which made the game almost impossible to beat.”
- “The game was still a buggy mess, despite some interesting background.”
- “It's good, I guess, really quick to finish and full of glitches and not very polished, but I had a fun enough time with it.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd enemy designs, such as oversized clowns, and a comically entertaining end boss. Players appreciate the janky lore snippets and amusing voice acting, though some feel the overall execution is lacking, with a poorly developed plot and dated mechanics. Despite its flaws, the humor adds a lighthearted touch that resonates with players, particularly those who enjoy quirky elements.
- “Most of the enemies now look like oversized clowns, and the end boss is hilarious.”
- “The little lore snippets you can gather from the checkpoint system are janky and also hilarious if you are a wartime history buff.”
- “I also really wished there were more cutscenes between levels since the voice acting was pretty funny to hear.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game's atmosphere is noted for its nostalgic quality, appealing to players who prioritize ambiance over gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the combination of diverse gun options and an engaging atmosphere, complemented by intriguing story elements.
- “But there is something about the atmosphere that's so nostalgic, even though this wasn't a childhood game of mine.”
- “Good gun variety and atmosphere, with occasional tidbits of interesting story.”
- “But there is something about the atmosphere that's so nostalgic even though this wasn't a childhood game of mine.”
- “So if you're a fan of atmosphere over gameplay, you would probably like this game.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The music in World War Zero is notably absent, leading to a bland audio experience that detracts from the overall gameplay. Reviewers criticize the lack of musical elements, which contributes to the game's overall shortcomings in plot and design.
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing every moment.”
- “The music is incredibly immersive, drawing you deeper into the game's world.”
- “Each track is expertly crafted, making every battle feel epic and every exploration feel magical.”
- “To be honest, World War Zero isn't very good; the plot barely exists, the AI is hilariously bad, it's dated as heck, the level design is pretty poor, and there is no music at all, so the audio can be really bland.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, with some elements, like terminals that reveal past events, feeling more like a chore than an engaging feature. Many users chose to ignore these elements due to their lack of appeal.
- “Control is tedious and slow-moving.”
- “There are some terminals that show how events in the past play out in this different timeline, but I found those rather tedious and ignored them for the most part.”