Brothers in Arms - Road to Hill 30 PC Games and Downloads

Brothers in Arms - Road to Hill 30 Product Details

Released on 03/11/2006

• Brothers in Arms Preview

  Can the Brothers hold their own?

  There is a surplus amount of World War II-themed games circulating the market at the moment - many so insignificant they are trodden deep into the ground by the renowned larger franchises at the top. You know those familiar faces: the likes of Call of Duty and Medal of Honor. It's these stalwarts of the genre that stand so far above the competition it would seem impossible for anything to get a rational look in. With the war-themed market so ferociously over-run with high-spirited contenders and smashed potential, one just has to beg the question: why on earth would anyone want to toss another into the fray?

  Brothers in Arms is not only a remarkably intriguing entry into the genre - it possesses something relatively unseen in the previously mentioned industry leaders - but also a strong contender to hold its own at the top. All of the staples of a decent war-themed shooter are in place - it's incredibly atmospheric, the graphics are of a notably high standard and the missions are all designed around real-life events - but it also boasts a few interesting elements which it hopes will give it the edge, mostly built around a simple yet strategic squad management system that emphasises the importance of working as a team.

  Authentic

  However, perhaps the most prevalent quality evident while playing Brothers in Arms is the sense that this, at one time, did actually take place. Thanks to the invaluable support and experience from US Army veteran Colonel John Antal, Gearbox are setting their sights on creating one of the most authentic war-time experiences ever seen in a game. Antal put each member of the team through intense army training in an attempt to convey an idea of what it was like for the soldiers in these battles, in the hope that Gearbox could then translate their experiences to code. The result is an authentic, realistic portrayal of the events that transpired in that fateful D-Day week.

  perhaps the most prevalent quality evident while playing Brothers in Arms is the sense that this, at one time, did actually take place.

  As a paratrooper for the 502nd parachute Infantry Regiment, you and your team are dropped into Normandy on 6th June 1944 - D-Day. Your squad, rather than the lifeless cannon fodder you're frequently lumped with in other shooters, respond as individuals - as humans - and a genuine sense of compassion and respect materialises with it. After all, you should care for these men, the soldiers who are fighting so gallantly at your side, and Brothers in Arms intends on conveying that feeling of empathy throughout.

  This is an area where Brothers in Arms really promises to shine - on all too many occasions have I played games where my comrades have meant so little to me over the course of the action, yet it felt quite refreshing to be playing something where, for once, the emphasis wasn't entirely focused on my own safety.

  Control your squad

  Far from just a vehicle for conveying emotions, protecting and keeping control of your squad is somewhat crucial from the word go. The rock-solid difficulty level ensures that going it alone is something many will steer clear of, and having your squad nearby to lend a much-needed helping hand in matters of otherwise near-impossibility is an invaluable aid. A one-click, context-sensitive control system allows you to constantly reassess the position your squad, allowing for strategic changes on the fly without the need to stop and access commands through sub-menus or similar methods.

  it felt quite refreshing to be playing something where, for once, the emphasis wasn't entirely focused on my own safety.

  While it remains one of your chief objectives - and personal motivations - to keep your squad safe, at times they unfortunately won't make it through the battle alive. As previously mentioned, Brothers in Arms is far from the easiest game in the genre - soldiers are only able to take two or three bullets at the very most before they fall, and while this significantly ramps up the difficulty level by a few notches, it also increases both the tension and intensity of the battles. Making competent use of cover becomes part of an essential battle plan, as does moving your troops effectively to ensure their protection.

  Though the familiar first-person viewpoint may throw you, Brothers in Arms doesn't play like the usual array of first-person shooters currently on the market. The omission of any kind of targeting reticule in the standard first-person perspective forces you to switch to an alternate view to look down the iron-sight and line up your shot - a touch I find incredibly pleasing. The weapons are, at times, wildly inaccurate yet a perfect representation of how they fired years ago, and while some may be put off by their inability to land pin-perfect shots from distance, we felt it added considerably to the tense, realistic nature of the game.

  Quietly confident

  So maybe there is room for another war-themed shooter in the market; especially one with as much promise as Brothers in Arms. It will be interesting to see if the aspects we're excited about remain as strong throughout the full game as they did in the short hands-on time we had with it, but if they do then we're quietly confident that Brothers in Arms can approach from enough of a different angle to pose a significant threat to those at the top. You can expect a full-blown war soon.

  Preview by: Scot Bennet
  

  Published: 01/11/2004

As a valued customer we now offer you the facility to sign up to email price alerts. Please enter the price you want to be, or below, and if drops to that level we will let you know...