I’ve played this as a palate cleanser after DS2, and I’m glad to say that even when I avoided the game’s pre release hype as I don’t assume that indie spiritual successors are good by default it turned out to be a very neat experience.

The story was surprisingly decent, nothing huge, but it tries to have some character which is good since it was going to feel very tacky if it felt like they’re aiming to make their own JSR3.
The gameplay is actually faithful to its inspiration at least from memory, and all the new ideas are welcome even if the execution is not really the best (why did they decide to add combat and why it worked this way?) but there is a solid foundation for a very good sequel if it happens.
Also, I didn’t expect the music to be different in sound but similar in spirit to what you can expect in a game like this, to be fair there are some meh songs over the course of the game, they’re the type of tracks that you’d hate if you hear them outside, but it’s fine if you hear it in game since it works with the overall feel and setting, but that’s an exception and not the rule as the majority of the songs here are actually enjoyable.
It's very good for a first attempt, I’m going to keep this installed in case I want to chill for a bit with mods and custom music until they decide to make a better sequel.

Seconded only by the first Modern Warfare, World At War is one of my favorite CODs in terms of presentation. It doesn't have as tight of a plot like MW but instead opts for tracing select battles from both theaters of WWII.
The reason why the campaign feels more than just a super-cut of random stages is because of how it side-steps being a marine on the pacific front to an infantryman pushing back towards Berlin. One mission you'd be a marine struggling with an enemy who won't give an inch with bloodshot eyes, right after you'd be the bloodshot soldier fighting toe and nail in the soviet half. It is COD's final letter to the WW era, it acts the struggle, the cruelty, the necessary, and it does so without further comment. You don't need to read an Eisenhower quote after dying to understand why this man-grinder is bad.

Gameplay somewhat varies between playing the Soviet or American soldier. The American storyline is an island hopping arc of pushing back and reclaiming Japanese occupied strongholds. The Japanese are a relentless enemy, ambushing you from hatches and tall grass, sniping from treetops and charging banzai, you will however show cruelty in return by wielding flamethrowers that obliterate ditches and flora alike.
The Soviet storyline starts with brushing close against death in Stalingrad and stumbling upon Reznov whom you accompany in completing his assignment, then you meet him again during the Soviet counterattack all the way to Berlin, here you see the bigger part of unnecessary (Or necessary?) cruelty driven by a desire of revenge.

Difficulty wise the Pacific missions were more frustrating, with worse checkpoints, more gotcha ambushes, clown car spawns and more. This was played on 2nd hardest difficulty, but I wouldn't recommend as it's not a challenge but a tug of war between you and the levels.

I guess I could say that COD is better when it's quieter and less talky.