Handheld ports of existing franchises are always cause for concern, as control schemes are adjusted and the downshift in technology often involves snipping out gameplay elements that made the original titles popular in the first place. Brothers in Arms: D-Day combines missions and features from the PS2 versions of Road to Hill 30 and Earned in Blood, albeit with a number of changes to accommodate the handheld platform. While the differences could have easily made this portable WWII game a bomb, fans of the series should consider it a blast.
Fantastic Four
The core features distinguishing this series from the glut of WWII shooters are happily accounted for. While there is only one squad to keep track of, with most missions focusing exclusively on the two-man team of Matt Baker and Joe Hartsock, the tactical-driven gameplay is very much intact. Players must carefully advance past enemy lines, following the four Fs of combat: find, fix, flank, and finish. Spotting the enemy on a map is a snap with the situational awareness mode, which is accessed by hitting the select button. This zooms-out the surrounding area in a black-and-white display, where players can view enemy positions and plan their strategy.
Flank You Very Much
The suppression indicators from the console games let you immediately know an enemy's current state, with circles above heads indicating who is suppressed so you can safely flank them. Orders such as "move," "fire," "assault," "fall in," and "fall out" are easily initiated using either the directional pad or the analog nub, and you can even have the AI teammate take control of a mortar, bazooka, or a stationary machine gun. Movement by default is with the analog nub, with precise aiming accomplished by switching to a view from behind the equipped gun, locking in your position so you can concentrate on hitting your target.
Out of Control?
Where the control system falters is in close-range combat, as the four Fs quickly turn into fumble, flounder, frantic, and failure. Of course, this can largely be avoided by approaching enemies with caution and by flanking them, which is what the game is all about anyway. Brothers in Arms will not appeal to the Medal of Honor crowd, as the action is more deliberate and the focus is on proper strategy instead of going in with guns blazing. The control scheme isn't the only aspect that might cause grief, however.
Saving Sergeant Baker
Other issues include slight hitches in the frame rate and the inability to save at any time. D-Day is generous in doling out checkpoints, but for some strange reason you can only save after completing a chapter. Since many chapters can take over 30 minutes to complete (there are 20 chapters in total), this is a big oversight for gamers on the go. Online support is also absent, but the included skirmish option is more than an afterthought, offering plenty of replay value in three modes, 12 maps, and the opportunity to play against adjustable AI bots if your friends are too busy or if they just plain stink.
Brotherly Love
Though it has some faults, Brothers in Arms: D-Day retains the heart of what made the console versions stand out, and it's an excellent choice for tactical war game fans looking to exercise their brains as much as their trigger fingers.
Article by: Scott Alan Marriott
Video produced by: Tim Jennings
