Brothers in Arms has always been one of those series you either love or hate, and Hells Highway is no exception. Not a lot has changed since 2005's Earned in Blood, but for fans of the previous games, this isn't such a bad thing.
Player's still order squads about authentically replicated WWII battlefields, using real-life fire and maneuver tactics to outsmart, rather than outshoot the enemy. There are a few different squads this time round to add to the tactical goodness, namely machine gun and bazooka teams that liven things up a little.
The graphics are a mixed bag. By and large the levels, characters, weapons, lighting and effects look absolutely amazing and actually have COLOUR, unlike the art direction of certain other UT3 based games. On the other hand, lip syncing can get a little patchy at times and there are some environments and cut scenes that just aren't up to par with the rest of the game.
The game also suffers from some irritating flaws. While the game play remains immensely challenging and satisfying (play it through on Veteran difficulty first and no crosshairs) the levels still feel too hemmed in and don't take advantage of the UT3 engines capability for expansive environments. The much touted ‘destructible cover’ is a crushingly under-used disappointment as well and the solo and tank missions feel tacked on and out of place.
The main draw for me is the continuation of the most heart-felt storyline in video gaming to date. While some of the references may be lost on players new to the series, it seems at times to be like a missing episode of Band of Brothers, dealing with its brutal, unforgiving themes with a maturity and respect that is without peer in the industry.
If you're looking for tactical game play, an excellent story and are willing to give WWII another go, you can't go past Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway