I recently picked up the third installment of the Brothers in Arms series (Hell’s Highway), and it did not disappoint ($17.99 at Gamestop).
The Good: the one thing that separates BiA from other WW2-themed FPS’s is the gameplay. In Call of Duty (World at War) for instance, it’s pretty much you against the world. In BiA, it’s you against the world, but you have help in squads (up to three groups as the game progresses). Within a given level, the gamer has the ability to place these teams strategically (base of fire, MG, Assault) and it makes the play much more interesting (check image here). I liked, too, how each level present different sets of problems (choke points, basically) and you had to figure how to move around the level using available cover.
The game looked F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S on the PS3, and the story actually kept me interested. Loved how you could jump over low fences and you can even see your shadow (check image here). Heck, anyone who throws in flashbacks, a little foreshadowing, and a few surprise twists has my undying respect (says the English major in me). Plus, you get to drive tanks and command a bazooka team. Just make sure to protect that guy because once he’s gone, he’s gone (at least for a bit…which leads me to the bad).
The Bad: FPS’s tend to get repetitive and BiA is no different. This is just something you learn to live with. Also, members of the team are shot/killed, but they return at the next save point. It’s a gamer’s resurrection, and it doesn’t foster any sense of attrition or really any careful planning in the gameplay.
“Dead, you say? No worries. I’ll get’em back in a minute.”
I know, too, that these games on the singleplayer side are scripted events that occur as gamers pass beyond certain points in the level, but to be cut off from hoping in a fence or busting down a door to get to your objectives is a little silly (you options on how to proceed, but not enough). The AI was a little stagnant, too, on the novice and veteran levels. Once the enemy is pinned, they won’t make a move. You can just sit there, use the cover command, and pick them off one by one. Not too exciting. Also, the closer the better with your teams. They can’t hit anything from a moderate range.
Overall: B+
I liked this game. The attention to detail is keen and I’d recommend it to gamers, even with the flaws mentioned here. Gamestop has a few and the price is right.
