Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
Preview
A WW2 franchise that stands out is back
by Chris Davis
previewed on X360
More Strategy
Brothers In Arms developer Gearbox Software prides itself in creating authentic, true-to-life realism that is hard to parallel, and Hell’s Highway looks to be no exception. This pride is clearly evident from the first moment you pick up the controller in this series, as each gun feels and fires exactly like its real-life counterpart. This new title also utilizes a new movement system that attempts to minimize clipping in and out of textures, something that even in this new generation of games has yet to be accomplished fully.
If anything however Brothers In Arms is less of a shooter and more like a strategy game than anything else. As leader of a full squad of soldiers Baker must command both a fire and an assault team in order to accomplish his objectives. Using a genially simple command mechanic, all a player has to do to order his men around is to simply pull the left trigger, aim at a spot or target, release it and watch on as the currently selected team will take the appropriate measures. Each team can be set to an offensive or defensive stance, similar to Rainbow Six Vegas worked last year.
Once combat begins however the game takes on a whole new approach to the traditional fire fight. This is one of the key components to the Brothers In Arms series as it is distinctly strategy-based. The combat system is based on the actual tactical training given to soldiers during that timeframe so it really feels authentic. Once the enemy has spotted you a circle will appear over their location signifying their status. When fully red the Germans will attack you, popping up out of cover to aim and fire at you and your team’s position. By returning fire at their position or actually nailing one of them the enemy squad’s status circle will reduce to a grey color, indicating that they are suppressed and will not likely attempt to fire back until the opportune moment. This comprises almost 90% of the combat in the game, enemy armor and times in which Baker is separated from his squad notwithstanding.
Get to Cover!
The controls for Hell’s Highway are quite user friendly and should compliment the overall experience nicely when the final product ships. Like Rainbow Six Vegas the game uses a third-person cover system that players can duck in and out of with a simple press of a button. Cover is destructible however so players must make careful decisions as to where to hide when under fire. The game also uses the ever popular Halo health system, dispatching the health-bar system in the process. This is done however with a twist: the player is not being hit as his screen turns red; instead his potential for being shot by the enemy is increasing as it grows in color. Staying true to authenticity, the game will have limited amounts of ammo and weaponry available, something paratroopers in 1944 would have experienced across the board.
The new additions to the game make this title stand out from its predecessors quite a bit. One of the most promising new abilities players will be able to utilize different team sets. Instead of being stuck with just fire and assault teams, players can choose to use bazooka, mortar, and machine gun teams instead, as well as the ability to use a radio man to call in artillery and air support. The game also incorporates what are called Brotherhood Moments, which are scripted events that temporarily take control out of the player’s hands in order to do actions such as catching fallen comrades. The game will also use a slow motion effect that will engage when specific random events occur, such as the detonation of a grenade that sends an enemy flying.
The Future of Combat Years Gone By
Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway is shaping up to be one of the top shooters of 2008. While no concrete information has been released in regard to the game’s obligatory multiplayer component, rumors suggest co-op campaign play as well as the standard thoroughfare of gameplay modes. With no set date for release don’t lock this one into your calendar just yet but definitely watch for something after April. What with all the new shooters coming down the line, such as Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and other definite hit titles like Burnout Paradise, Tom Clancy’s Endwar, and Star Wars The Force Unleashed, 2008 looks to be shaping up to be the greatest year in gaming since, well, 2007.
