The fifth main installment of the Call of Duty series, World at War is (obviously) greatly anticipated by a lot of gamers. So with that we bring you some details on the multiplayer aspect of the game, which as we know is what really brings the series its longevity.

Firstly, 'perks' will be featured in the multiplayer mode as in CoD 4, one of which will be the Flak Jacket, an item which absorbs the damage taken from a single grenade. In "real life", this is meant to protect against shrapnel and other indirect low velocity projectiles. The other items are the Gas Mask, which offers resistance to gas grenades, and the Shades, which negates the effects of flares. Vehicle-related perks are to come.

As before, up to 18 players will be supported, though this time you get some new toys to play with: gas bombs, signal flares, bouncing betties, and sticky grenades, anyone?

Co-operative mode will feature a points-scoring kill system as well as the 'Death Cards' system, which unlocks more modes and features. The Death Cards system modifies the competitive rules, similar to Halo 3's skulls system. This isn't just any old name, though - apparently the Death Cards have quite a history with war:

[...] In 1988 the Dart Flipcards Company of Canada actually prepared a trading card showing one being used. This card from a set on Vietnam is entitled "The Death Card - La Carte de Revenge." It depicts two soldiers on the front, one about to drop an ace of spades on a dead Viet Cong. Text on the back in English and French is:

The Death Card

In addition to the thousands of Americans dead and wounded, the Vietnam War also took a psychological toll. Soldiers lived in constant fear of an enemy they often couldn't see, and responded to this terror in different ways. The 1st Cavalry Division left the Ace of Spades -- the payback card  -- on the enemy's body as its signature.