Customer Reviews
Awesome
Wow. Forget all those killjoys who reckon this isn't different enough to BiA1- this is VERY different. Yep, graphics similar, yep storyline similar and, yep, basic gameplay mechanics identical. HOWEVER, the all new reactive enemy AI turned what I thought was a dull, tedious original into an epic and exciting sequel. With the first one it always felt like I was just moving on until I found a load of Germans, then we took them out and moved on. At first it was kind of fun, but eventually the whole Four-F thing became very samey and what originally seemd to be tactical play revealed itself to be nothing of the sort. NOW those pesky Germans just won't sit still long enough to let you pull off thoughtless flanking. They'll move back, shift position, retreat or even charge, and that's damn scary when it happens. Gun battles can rage for ages as both sides shift around and try and gain the upper-hand. Last night I finished a long and hard fought battle, winning with only myself and a smidgen of energy, exhausted but victorious.
This is a wondeful, tactical, thoughtful jet-engine of a title, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Best title of the year for me, no doubts at all.
AS CLOSE TO THE REAL THING AS IT GETS.
Ignore the ridiculous 1 star review above, obviously written by the kind of childish 'charge and shoot' gamer that this is NOT aimed at. This game is superb.
If you liked ROAD TO HILL 30 then you'll know what you're getting - only this is better! It's a sequel (kind of) and follows the exploits of 'Red' Hartsock, one of Baker's squad from the first game, and the first few missions cleverly tie in with the previous story. After that though it's all new territory and it's a lot more difficult than it's predecessor.
The main reason for this is that the combat is set mostly in towns and villages, which provide far more opportunities for tactical decisions and manoevering (on both sides!), and the Germans are also a lot smarter than before. In RTH30 they tended to stay put, taking the odd pot shot at you, until they were flanked and killed. Not this time. They attack, change position, and try and flank YOU, and fall back to new cover if you start getting the upper hand. They're also better armed and better shots than they were before too! The game is very atmospheric, the sound being particularly impressive, invoking genuine fright at the sound of an approaching tank or machine gun nest opening fire at you. A new addition is the feared German .88 artillery piece which you seriously do not want to be on the receiving end of when it fires. There's a pretty desperate feel to the fighting as you don't get much time to think and plan but this makes the gameplay pretty exciting and very satisfying when you finally scrape through to the next level to find out what happens to you and your squad next.
Your squad are excellent, as before, with their different faces and voices, and can easily be ordered about but generally take care of themselves. Some of their comments and reactions during the game are hilarious and you really don't want to lose any of them.
The cutscenes between levels are good as Hartsock is inteviewed after the events and tells the story in flashback, and you can see him shifting uncomfortably in his seat describing leaving a dead comrade in the plane.
All in all, this is more than just a game, it's a story you participate in. Graphics, sound and gameplay are all fantastic and anyone who has read about the 101st in Normandy will realise just how much time, research, care, and hard work has gone into creating this game.
Thankyou Gearbox Software, Holland and Bastogne next please...
Brothers in Arms- Earned in blood
Earned in blood is most definetly the most realistic, and most enjoyable ww2 game ever created. I have played medal of honour rising sun, and frontline. I have played call of duty 3 also. They are, admittidly, both decent games, but neither comes close to Earned in blood.
The realism is incredibe. Blood spurts from enemies in a beleivable manner, and when you are hit, blood will spray across the screen from the direction of the shot. Mortar fire that doesn't kill you can knock you down, cue a 'ringing in the ears sound'.
The german AI is perfect.The enemy squads move to counteract your moves. They are intelligent and agressive, but not unbeatable. You will have to use a sreies of tactics to eradicate them.
You must:
Find them- carefully move into enemy terrotory, avoiding any open spaces where you are voulnerable. Then, after locating them, get you and your squads behind cover.
Fix them- The handy supression indicators, which can be turned off and on, show you how well you are supressing your enemy. If you use your self, and your squads, and put enough fire on the enemy, they will be unable to return fire.
Flank them- with your assult squad, move around the enemies postition, and move in to fnish them.
The skirmish mode is also a welcome and very fun alternative to playing the story missions. You can choose to play objective, ie- do a mission, or defence, where you have to hold out against hoardes of enemies. Splitscreen i also fantastic, boh co-op, and versus.
The weapons and weapon sounds are very Authentic, both for American nd German. The missions are detailed, and the Charctor are origianal and likeable. The main charactor, Joe Hartsock, i very interesting, with a great personality, which is unveiled in the stunning cutscenes that form an incredible story, and a PHENOMENAL game. A must buy, especially at these prices. Buy it- you will not regret it, or forget it when you eventually complete it.
P.S- if you found my reveiw helpful, plese recognise it by choosing yes when it says- did you find this reveiw helpful? Ta- ta.
