Post by Revan on Oct 22, 2008 14:51:46 GMT -5
A few days ago I purchased Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway off of steam. I had played the original game and its expansion and so I knew more or less what to expect. The game was stunningly well executed and provides some rather unique game concepts that other developers have yet to try.
The most important (and probably the most unique) feature of the game is the squad based command. Although like in other World War II games, you are the center of the action, you now command your squad mates also. There are several different squads you can encounter in the game, assault, base of fire, bazooka, and machine gun. Each type of squad has situations that it is good for and bad for and so it adds to your decision making by placing them in the right spots. You as the commander have the ability to make them follow you, go to a location, or attack an enemy squad.
Following you is easy enough, however it seems to me as though this is where some of the bugs come in. The movement system of the soldiers is full of holes, even if it gets things right most of the time. When following you, soldiers tend to avoid entering any buildings for some reason... perhaps they cannot find the door? The odd thing however, is that when you give them a move command 2 feet from where you're standing, all of a sudden they locate and enter through the door. On occasion, another error occurs; your soldiers will sometimes go to the wrong side of a piece of cover. It's not a big deal, in fact, they usually correct it themselves after being shot at, but it's still something to worry about. Generally however, the movement system doesn't get in the way.
The AI of your comrades is well designed. They each function as a unit and at the same time as individuals. Your squads can think for themselves (to some degree anyway) and so they will move themselves to greater cover if needed. They also will automatically suppress your enemy's position if not designated a specific target.
The actual combat of the game is quite good. The basic concept is to make the user create and implement a strategy and adjust it if needed. Your main goal is to use one of your squads to suppress your enemies while you and/or another squad flank the same enemies and eliminate them. The system works very well because of the general nature of the suppressed troops, unlike the first BIA game. In this game, the suppressed troops don't just sit there doing nothing, they still fight back. Although their heads pop out less frequently, they still pose a threat for the approaching man and this makes it feel far more realistic than the first BIA games.
The level design for the game is well done. Textures are thoroughly detailed and especially in the cut scenes, you can see water streaks on their heads. The main problem with the textures on the humans is that the 'running' blood effect looks like its try blood, even when the character is in the rain. Maps are extensively detailed and provide various strategies for each situation, giving you appropriate positions of cover. There is no position that is too easy or too difficult to take.
My main issues with the levels however were the maps that were entirely (or almost entirely) indoors. These maps tended to feel similar to Bioshock in their intensity and did nothing more than needlessly add tension (and progress the story if that counts). These levels I didn't find particularly enjoyable, they usually eliminated the key element of the game, squad command.
Unlike most FPS games, this one had a [good] plot. The plot was intense and described well. The plot centered on a rather heavy pistol with the words "For Mathew" and "Brothers in Arms" (on separate lines). There is superstition that says that whoever holds the gun is doomed to die. You play as Matt Baker, Sergeant of the U.S. army and unlike the last BIA games; he begins to show his emotions, more specifically, his mental breakdown. He witnessed an event (I won't spoil it) that set him apart from his comrades. The story really details his coming to terms with things and doing his job, but the way it is presented is so well done that you will want to play from start to finish.
The multiplayer is also enjoyable. Although it’s not too popular, the games I played yesterday played similarly to call of duty (the first or second ones, but not cod4). The game continues to have squad based command, however it seems largely unnecessary because of how they do it and also just pathetic. Each player is assigned to a squad with one squad leader to control everyone. You are designated a target to go towards and in the servers I went to they had to strictly enforce rules about obeying the leader. Aside from this one flaw, the game played well, there is balance and skill definitely shows.
Overall:
The game has a great and unique combat system. Squads are a nice change from the feel of most FPS games and thus this system holds interest for longer than the average shooter. Squad AI works exceptional well considering that the same system hasn't been implemented else ware, even if there are a few movement bugs every now and then. The levels are designed well, however the indoors ones tend to be needlessly dark. Multiplayer provides a refreshing new experience and although it too requires many tweaks, still remains interesting for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Score: 80/100 – Worth playing, not perfect
The most important (and probably the most unique) feature of the game is the squad based command. Although like in other World War II games, you are the center of the action, you now command your squad mates also. There are several different squads you can encounter in the game, assault, base of fire, bazooka, and machine gun. Each type of squad has situations that it is good for and bad for and so it adds to your decision making by placing them in the right spots. You as the commander have the ability to make them follow you, go to a location, or attack an enemy squad.
Following you is easy enough, however it seems to me as though this is where some of the bugs come in. The movement system of the soldiers is full of holes, even if it gets things right most of the time. When following you, soldiers tend to avoid entering any buildings for some reason... perhaps they cannot find the door? The odd thing however, is that when you give them a move command 2 feet from where you're standing, all of a sudden they locate and enter through the door. On occasion, another error occurs; your soldiers will sometimes go to the wrong side of a piece of cover. It's not a big deal, in fact, they usually correct it themselves after being shot at, but it's still something to worry about. Generally however, the movement system doesn't get in the way.
The AI of your comrades is well designed. They each function as a unit and at the same time as individuals. Your squads can think for themselves (to some degree anyway) and so they will move themselves to greater cover if needed. They also will automatically suppress your enemy's position if not designated a specific target.
The actual combat of the game is quite good. The basic concept is to make the user create and implement a strategy and adjust it if needed. Your main goal is to use one of your squads to suppress your enemies while you and/or another squad flank the same enemies and eliminate them. The system works very well because of the general nature of the suppressed troops, unlike the first BIA game. In this game, the suppressed troops don't just sit there doing nothing, they still fight back. Although their heads pop out less frequently, they still pose a threat for the approaching man and this makes it feel far more realistic than the first BIA games.
The level design for the game is well done. Textures are thoroughly detailed and especially in the cut scenes, you can see water streaks on their heads. The main problem with the textures on the humans is that the 'running' blood effect looks like its try blood, even when the character is in the rain. Maps are extensively detailed and provide various strategies for each situation, giving you appropriate positions of cover. There is no position that is too easy or too difficult to take.
My main issues with the levels however were the maps that were entirely (or almost entirely) indoors. These maps tended to feel similar to Bioshock in their intensity and did nothing more than needlessly add tension (and progress the story if that counts). These levels I didn't find particularly enjoyable, they usually eliminated the key element of the game, squad command.
Unlike most FPS games, this one had a [good] plot. The plot was intense and described well. The plot centered on a rather heavy pistol with the words "For Mathew" and "Brothers in Arms" (on separate lines). There is superstition that says that whoever holds the gun is doomed to die. You play as Matt Baker, Sergeant of the U.S. army and unlike the last BIA games; he begins to show his emotions, more specifically, his mental breakdown. He witnessed an event (I won't spoil it) that set him apart from his comrades. The story really details his coming to terms with things and doing his job, but the way it is presented is so well done that you will want to play from start to finish.
The multiplayer is also enjoyable. Although it’s not too popular, the games I played yesterday played similarly to call of duty (the first or second ones, but not cod4). The game continues to have squad based command, however it seems largely unnecessary because of how they do it and also just pathetic. Each player is assigned to a squad with one squad leader to control everyone. You are designated a target to go towards and in the servers I went to they had to strictly enforce rules about obeying the leader. Aside from this one flaw, the game played well, there is balance and skill definitely shows.
Overall:
The game has a great and unique combat system. Squads are a nice change from the feel of most FPS games and thus this system holds interest for longer than the average shooter. Squad AI works exceptional well considering that the same system hasn't been implemented else ware, even if there are a few movement bugs every now and then. The levels are designed well, however the indoors ones tend to be needlessly dark. Multiplayer provides a refreshing new experience and although it too requires many tweaks, still remains interesting for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Score: 80/100 – Worth playing, not perfect
