PC News and Game Reviews

How long was World War 2! Seriously, if you were to play every WW2 FPS out there it would probably take you twice as long as the bloody war. In saying that though the Brothers in Arms series has been alittle different in its approach to the WW2 FPS. This is mainly due to its hint of RTS.

Unlike convensional FPS games in BIA you also control squads of troops. With each squad rocking their own specific weapons and abilities. This simple game mechanic has always made the series stand out from the wave of games in the genre. And once again its what keeps the series fresh and fun.

Gameplay = 9

As i’ve explained, BIA is alittle different from your standard FPS. You play as Sgt.Matt Baker, Baker’s been the lead character since BIA:Hill 30 or in timeline terms since Normandy.The 101st has reached Holland and you rejoin Bakers squad just at the cusp of Market Garden. While playing as Baker you will have control over between 1 and 3 squads. They range from Assault teams (Used to flank and attack suppressed enemies), MG Teams (Used to suppress enemies), Bazooka Teams (Used for taking out tanks and MG emplacements) and Standard Fire Teams (which double as both suppression and assault teams).

Of course Baker can also bag a few Nazi’s himself but you will quickly find that in BIA numbers make a major difference. Trying to rush an MG emplacement single handed is a sure fire way to get ripped in two. You really have to take advantage of your men to progress. Suppressing, flanking or finding higher ground is just a few of the examples of tricks you’ll need to use to get the drop on your enemy.

There is some change ups in the gameplay though. During some missions you may be seperated from your troops. These instances probably pose some of the biggest challenges in the game. You also get to man a tank for several missions. While fun the tank missions just seem like filler in an already short game.

The gameplay has held up quiet well since the first title. Also the minor tweaks, such as improved aiming and additional teams really add some spice to BIA:HH.

GFX = 8

The only way to describe the graphics in BIA:HH is ‘adequate’. At times the game can look outstanding and at others dated and alittle ugly. This may be down to the long delay with the release. But when your working with probably the best engine on the market at the moment, Unreal 3, there’s really no excuse for having average GFX.

The overall design is gritty and rustic which is fine but unlike something like Gears of War the style wasn’t captured with the same level of graphic quality. The game looks more basic or dull then realistic. In saying that though dispite this cinematics look great, aswell as character animations and explosions. So although the GFX are alittle dated they still do the job well enough.

Sound = 9

No complaints here. Weapons and enviromental sounds come across as authentic. Also the voice work is exceptional, with stellar performances from both Baker and Hartsock.

Longevity/Replay Value = 6

Unfortunitly this is where BIA:HH really suffers. With a measly campaign lasting only 6-7hrs, there really isn’t awhole lot of gameplay here. Although the story is well written there is alot of intrusive cinematics that cut into that 6hrs, so gameplay wise it might boil down to 5hrs. Also on the downside is the story, it progress’s the previous games well but new players coming in late will probably be completely lost.

On the multiplayer front the game will hold your attention for awhile but given both previous multiplayer games died a quick death don’t expect to have many players to play with in the near future.

Conclusion

Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway is a good game. It has its problems sure, but as a fan of the series i’m happy enough with this iteration. If your new to BIA i’d definitly advise you to play the first two games before playing HH. Their now available on several systems including a double pack on the Wii.

Verdict = 8