Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Brothers in Arms:Hell’s Highway

Welcome To Hell

I never can find a tag line better than this. Welcome to hell. this is hell indeed.

There was a time where the world of gaming filled by clones of generic world war 2 shooter. Even the Medal Of Honor series born in this dark age and turn out to be almost the same with anyone else. Nothing impress me in the tiresome world of war 2 fps except for Call Of Duty. That one blew my mind away.

Then along came Brothers in arms. The first game in the series is actually heart touching story of a group of men(band of brothers you might say because of the resemblance to that miniseries) surviving the farmland of Holland. The Story is not particularly mind blowing, you have to admit that it is clichéd but no one touch this territory story wise. Who ever think that to bring the brutality and emptiness of World War 2 can be as successful as mowing down waves of no #25 Nazis. Welcome To Hell

Welcome To Hell

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Every man has his own weaknesses.

Add a lite “strategic” gameplay into it and you get a simple but engaging shooter that also filled with repetitiveness. you can control a team of few men but the command you can give to them is limited but you can argue that by adding context sensitive to it rather than a myriad of option like rainbow six series do give this series it own charm and accessibility. Unfortunately the AI both your allies and enemies are not that bright. The enemies will tend to shoot you while moving around the corner make it easy target to flank. The only real devil in this part is usually the map layout not the Nazis themselves. And your teammate sometime hide in the WRONG side of the wall make them an easy target. combine with this the strangely cursor to command them make this “commanding your group” part of the gameplay a bit annoying but nevertheless the main attraction of this game.

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No one Fights alone

There are a bit of new addition to the gameplay three of them make this installment even more accessible compared to the previous one. First the cover system works marvelously but lately i found sometime you cannot attach to the wall you want. Both the destructible cover and the bazooka team does make this game even more fun than before but you have to note that not all cover can be destroyed..only a miniscule of them but once you hit it right you will be giggling in excitement while accompanied by the brutal action cam showing the massacre you cause while limbs are torn away. No this is not the same visceral amount of gore as God Of War 3 might be. But nevertheless i think this describe the brutality of war beautifully.

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Annoying Mission Tanks. But beautiful Scenery indeed

The solo player part of the game is not the best but also not as annoying as some other people told me. It is mediocre at best. And the new tank mission also does the same. it feels empty. I can understands why they create this level but the previous installment does give you the same feeling of power by make tanks as part of your team. Not to mention sometimes that the addition of tanks seems a little bit of forced story wise.

 

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Introspective Story

The story continue the same story from previous two games but the serviceable “preciously on” segment does the best it can do. But i argue that people who played the first one(Hill 30) have easier time to respect this installment. The story is heart touching but i found that the minimalistic music element in cut scene segment is disappointing. I see a lot of potential here but alas you don't buy a game for potential you actually want to experience them. The dialogues actually are lively. But it turns down by a ridiculous script that try to be gritty but fails. But still iam a fan of the first game so  can appreciate what they have done here but somehow i cannot feel the brutality and sacrifice in this war as Gearbox promised me.

 

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Here Comes The Rain

The Presentation is fantastic but the usual unreal 3 engine bugginess like the texture pop up thing is apparent. Sometime clipping does also happen occasionally. But other than that the vista and the environment effect like Rain,Farm and fire are fantastic.

*note i bought this game only for 12.5 aus dollar so i think that this game worth all the penny.

85/100