Publisher: Ubisoft
Ages: Teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
Violence and blood
An exceptional World War II tactical shooter, and that's saying a lot given the many great titles in the genre, Ubisoft's Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 offers a gritty, compelling and entertaining experience. With its violent war theme, the title is not for kids, but for anyone who enjoys action games, the title delivers.
The title is an excellent squad-based shooter that immerses players in the historic eight-day invasion of Normandy. Based on a true story that's starts during the famous airdrop before the invasion at Normandy, players become Sgt. Matt Baker, a soldier who was actually there in the middle of the fighting, and take on objectives from history.
Players both get to aim at the enemy as they would in a shooter, and command three-man, computer-controlled squads, which adds an intriguing tactical element to the game. Missions include taking out machine gun nests and snipers, defending positions, knocking out tanks, taking objectives and more.
The computer-controlled characters are fairly smart and players will find that allies and enemies use standard operating procedures to maneuver and flank and kill foes. The game serves an excellent tactical view that give players information on their position and that of the enemy, based what they have already encountered. For a game of this depth, the title features intuitive and easy-to-use squad controls that will appeal to die-hard gamers, but are still easy enough for novices to learn.
Along with amazing gameplay, the title features historically accurate and detailed battlefields, events, aerial reconnaissance imagery, eyewitness accounts and equipment re-created from Army Signal Corps photos. There's a cast of some 20 characters, each with a unique personality, appearance, and style. The game also offers a wealth of online gaming options that makes excellent use of Xbox Live.
The graphics are excellent. As you would expect, the title features blood and gore as well as raw language that's appropriate for an R-rated movie. The game is definitely not for kids.
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 is among the best shooters that are set in World War II. Fans of this genre will definitely want to play this one.
3/8/05 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
