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Awesome groundbreaking look at WWII.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 73 / 76
Date: March 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I've been syked for Brothers in Arms since I first saw it's trailer in June 2004. When I finally got it, an extreme feeling of excitment came over me. I knew I was in for something extrodinarie. Before I continue, let me just say I wasn't wrong at all in thinking this. After completing the game about an hour ago, i feel as though I have made friendships and also lost several. The men of Fox Company 502nd regiment of the 101st airborne come alive in Brothers in Arms. They aren't dumb ai bots running into walls and getting killed for not returning fire. They are smart, almost to the point of creepiness. Level after level I was continuely worrying about the welfare of my men. Not because I couldnt survive without them, but because I didnt want to survive without them. I wanted to see all of my men through to the end. Sadly not all of them can be saved and your always wondering who is going to die next. As you get closer to the end of the game you begin to feel that the rest of your "dozen" has a chance. The game's opening scene is intense with violence as well as profanity. It is brutal and sets the mood for the scene that follows. Don't go into Brothers in Arms thinking its another "Americans win everything" game. Many of the levels are sad and some moments are downright scary. If you've viewed, no, experienced and enjoyed the film Band of Brothers, this game will appeal to you. The story is so gripping I literally played it for 24 hours straight until I beat it. The gameplay in Brothers in Arms is solid enough to get use to fairly quick and both the game's sound and visuals are top notch. They obviously can't stand up completly to the Xbox version but I do believe a little more detail could have been put into the character models. In the Xbox game, soldiers have better lipsyncing as well as more detailed uniforms. In the PS2 version the soldiers look good but not quite as authentic as the Xbox soldiers. I noticed a few landscape changes between the two versions of the game but not enough to make me feel as though I was in a different place. This game is very solid on all systems and in still shots, looks almost indentical. The "glow effect" was used to make Brothers in Arms look really polished. Mercenaries and Star Wars Battlefront (PS2 version are the only other games I've seen use this method of detailing the atmosphere. It looks nice. The weapons in Brothers in Arms are true to life weapons that feel more real than ever before. You need to be precise in your aiming, be careful where you take cover, and think like a soldier because two well placed shots is enough to drop you. Over all, Brothers in Arms on the PS2 is very nice and offers split screen multiplay (very sweet), online play (havent played yet), and tons of extras (love um). On the down side, I wish I could turn off the dang subtitles, this bothers me and reminds me all too often that Brothers in Arms is just a game. The harsh language in the game can be muted, but is still visible (something Xbox players can change) I dont understand why subtitles are present in the PS2 version but they are hardly enough to keep me from enjoying this awesome game. Check this game out, its incredibley good.
Thanks for reading.

Good WWII game with Potential

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 14
Date: June 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is a novel approach to WWII or war games. Instead of fighting your way alone, you are placed in charge of a squad of soldiers. This forces you to think not only of your own safety but of your squad as well. I liked this system a lot -- it's a lot more realistic and a lot more fun to play once you get used to it.
That said, the game only gets four stars from me because there are several areas that need improvement. For example, the game should allow you to choose your equipment before you begin each mission. Also, the targeting, while good, isn't top notch. The game designers tried to stimulate what happens when you try to shoot while running or from an unsupported positon, but they didn't quite make it (the targeting should not randomly jerk around but make a inverted fiqure 8 -- the more exertion the bigger the 8).

Having said all of that, I think this series has a lot of potential and I am really looking forward to the sequal.

Best WW2 shooter for the PS2

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: March 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I'm a WW2 buff and I've played all the WW2 games for the PS2 and this one just gives you the best feel among the others. I guess the plus points of this game is the authenticity and realism.

Things that are realistic:
1) You die real quick.
2) You need your squad to get things done.
3) Real tactics: suppress the enemy and flank them. A frontal assault will get you and your people killed even if it's just one German.
4) You're troops do not follow your orders 100%.
5) You have very limited ammo... you usually have up to 10 magazines / reloads. You have to pick weapons and ammo up along the way. This is realistic because most vests and belts in WW2 only have 8 to 10 pockets. And the ammo should match your weapon (a German SMG clip won't work with your Tommy Gun like in Medal of Honor or Call of Duty).
6) No health packs.
7) You are not a sharp shooter. Even if the crosshair is pointed to the enemy, you will miss it 80% of the time if you shoot too quick and the enemy is too far. If you use the zoom view, you will find the sights moving around and going off-target with every shot. (Games like Ghost Recon and Rainbow 6 hit 90% of the time no matter how far the enemy is).
8) Sound is authentic. Real gunshots sound like "Pops" instead of "Bangs". Grenade blasts don't set off big exposions, just a "Thud" and some smoke.
9) Decent maps. Most concole games only have one path. Although this game has linear maps, it gives you 2 to 3 alternate paths and a lot of shooting space.

Of course the game is not perfect...
The bad things:
1) Your troops stay in the open and get themselves killed.
2) Non-existent musical score. Although you won't hear music in real-life. Adding background music can improve one's gaming experience.
3) Stereotypical American G.I. dialogue.
4) Relatively short. I can finish the game in a weekend.
5) You can reload your M1 even if you have a few shots left in your clip!!! All previous WW2 games do not allow this, don't know why they missed this.

Conclusion:
This is not a game for everyone. This game will appeal to people who are into "realistic" squad-based shooting games, who are into strategy games, and WW2 buffs... and those who can live with the limitations of the game as pointed out in all the user reviews. It's either you like this game or you don't... nothing in between.

good, but not great

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: January 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was really exited when I heard that this game was comming out.
After playing the first level, I found out that is no ordinary W.W.2. game. You controll two squads: A fire team and an Assult team. One surpresses the enemy while the other flanks them. At this point you may be wondering why I gave the game 2/5 stars because I have been saying good things about it, but I hate to say there are more bad things then good ones...
The good: 1.Not just another shoot em up, 2.fun to controll up to six men at once, 3.you are never fighting tons of enemies by yourself, 4.if you press the select button the game pauses itself and it shows you the entire map and where the enemies are.
The bad: 1.The way Sgt. Matt Baker shoots is very stupid. one time I put at least 30 M1A1 Carbine rounds into a German soldier and diddent hit him once! Whith 10 rounds left for my Carbine and only halfway through the level I pulled out my pistol and fired one shot blind and killed him! I happen to know that the M1A1 Carbine is a pretty accurate rifle and certianly more accurate then a M1911 Colt .45 so any soldier who shot that unaccurateley would never make Sargent and probibly would never be accepted into the Army let alone the elete 101 Airborne! 2.I am not German but I can speak it well and the German soldiers say: ''AAA!! I am hit'' every time you shoot them and it can get very annoying (if you dont speak German you probibly wont notice this) 3.your soldiers also talk and can also get kind of repitive too. 4. Even though this is a different type of W.W.2. shooter, your task is always the same: have one team pin the enemy down and have your other team flank them and after a while it can get kind of boreing. 5. The soldiers under your command can be kind of stupid, for example: I was leading my squads and we came under fire from an MG42 machine gun and some other enemies with rifles, so I orderd my men to take cover and all of them did execpt one, he just stood there in the open fireing his M1 Garand at the MG42 and he was quickley shot dead. 6. The soldiers under your command can die dureing gameplay but they come back to life ready to fight another day in the next level. 7. Soldiers on both sides sometimes hide behind thin wood fences and barrels, if a soldier were to do this in real life he woulg be killed fast because almost any gun could penetrate wood but in the game bullets dont seem to get through. 8. It dosent matter where you shoot am enemy, it always takes two shots to kill him. In conlusion: a good game but dont expect all the good things you may have heard about it.

A more realistic FPS

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: October 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The first time I played this I wasn't sure if it was worth the $30 or not. The graphics are not as sharp as other FPS. Aiming is not steady. Enemies will kill you quickly. After some time playing, I started to get it. More realistic. This is not a arcade style FPS. Vision is distorted at long distances. No soldiers' hand is perfectly steady. You have to use statics in your gameplay, and use your team to accomplish the overall goal. You must use covering fire and flanking techniques, as well as survey the battefield for enemies and use cover to take them out. If you like more of the run and gun FPS games, stay away from this one. If you like FPSs, but want something a little more realistic, this is a pretty good choice.

A very "different" shooter for the PS2

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 08, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is very "diffrent" than other shooters for PS2.

The tactical part of the game is great and is a real develpment for shooters overall. The game uses the concept of suppressive fire and flanking movements. The AI also uses this stratagey when they attack you.

The weapons are great. The shooting is extremely difficult. I believe that the shooting is very realistic. As one other reviewer said, I can't believe that they missed the fact that you can't reload the M1 while there is still ammo in the rifle.

The online portion of the game was a let down for me. The most players that can be in one game is four, and it takes forever for all the screens to load to play. You can not use your mic while in the games online, only when you are in the pregame set up. Furthermore, no one plays online, and it is very difficult to find a good game. Why can't game designers copy the Socom 2 model? Have clans, good maps, decent mic communication, and good lobbies.

Overall, this game is very authentic in it's gameplay. The sterotypical diolague is kinda dumb, but I can get beyone that. The tactical elements of the game is a huge development and should set a new standard in terms of FPS tactics. However, I would recomend Call of Duty: Finest Hour or Socom 2 (for online play) before playing this game.

Not quite there yet...But almost.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: July 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Hats off to Ubisoft for making the best WWII game I've ever played. The enemy was not a group of moronic retards (*cough*MOH) who would stand out in the open and shoot at you. Your squad could deal with just about anything you wanted it to. Controlling your squad was also easy. But, as is the case with all WWII shooters, it falls short in some areas.

The enemy, although not completely stupid, did not fight very well against you. They were dispersed and not very well organised: they just basically took cover and shot at you. And I was disappointed with the levels. I was anticipating intense combat situations with complex decisions: go around the building and flank the MG, or stay to the side of the building and attack head on. But mostly you would have the option to dash out into the open, or hide behind the barrels.

I was also hoping to be able to defend some areas in some levels. The answer to my prayer was a level that reminded me of, dare I say, MOH. Sigh. You took a sniper rifle and picked off Nazis and ordered you men around, from about 50 feet off the ground. Big disappointment.

And of course, with all WWII shooters, there were no serious injuries. Your squad members were either alive or dead. No serious wounds. This irks me.

All things considered, I loved this game. Its a thrill to have your character to scream "Covering fire!" While you attack an MG nest with you assault team. Its definitely a must have.

lanuage ?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 16
Date: December 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The only that I did not like was the Lanuage in the game. I maybe old but the constant F word and others it just got in the way of the game. Plus if you have young childern and with the words being printed at the bottom were you can read them its hard to play the game in front of them. It just bugged be.

No Medal of Honor

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: October 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game isnt just another shooter taking place in WWII. The game is an FPS, but you also have to work with your squad which you command. Using simple instruction like go here and fire at this, may not seem like much but there is a lot of detail taht went into making your squad useful and it is a great element to the game. However the downside is this can get repitive, because an average battle goes about like this. Use part of your squad to supresss the enemy then flank with the other squad then take the enemy by surprise and kill them. This game if unique so that alone is a good reason to pick it up, and try it out. Some people wont like it because they are use to games like Medal of Honor, but for those looking for something new this game could provide some entertainment.

Very Very Good game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 25, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Listen, I read some reviews on here before I even went out to rend the darn game. I was thinking it was going to be medeocre or maybe good. Well anyone that didn't appreciate what the developers of this game did very well, must not even like the genre. If you liked Medal of Honor, just take similar graphics, less ememies that are way tougher to kill. Yes, you actually have to think a little bit while playing this game, which may hamper the plans of traditional"Run an Gun" fans. Well, I guess this game just isn't for them. I agree that you should be able to choose your weapons. The book says that there are no health packs, yet fails to mention the crucial ability to heal your characters randomly when your start from a checkpoint.

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