Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway is no Call of Duty

I started Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway (Ubisoft; PC, PS 3, Xbox 360; rated mature) the same way that I always approach a game—with optimism. All I had heard was how un-Call of Duty 4 this game was. As if that’s a bad thing. I started the story mode wishing on some shooting star that it would be fantastic. It turns out I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The game places you as a squad leader in the Netherlands during World War II. From the start, the cut scenes were refreshing—the opposite of those found in Call of Duty 4. In Hell’s Highway, you get some control over your squad members, and sometimes even control multiple squads at one time. Employing simple “stay here” and “go there” commands, the game’s artificial intelligence seemed more capable then most. Unfortunately, when not issuing commands, the game’s AI throws you a curveball by running into open fields or displaying worse shooting accuracy than someone with no index fingers.

The cover system in Hell’s Highway takes its flavour from the Rainbow Six franchise. Overall the cover system works well; however, there are destructible environments. So I found myself getting shot kneeling on the ground thinking that I was safely hidden.

When I decided it was time to whip up some multiplayer action, I again tried to avoid comparisons to Call of Duty 4. But every player on-line seemed to offer his two cents, bashing Call of Duty. I found that there is a lot more strategy in Hell’s Highway. You get split up into two squads (the Germans and the Americans). There is only one game type on-line, and it’s slightly open ended. You can storm the opposing base and take down their flag, replacing it with you own (one guys starts with the flag). You can also get your buddies together and just wipe out the other team, because there is no respawning within each round. All in all, I really found myself loving the multiplayer.

The game shows off a colour palette that contrasts with that found in the dark and dreary Call of Duty 4. Although it still looks fairly realistic, the brighter colours give the game a more obvious “you’re just playing a game” feel. The blood splatter of your opponents looks good when attacking, although the bullets in the air make it look like you’re playing a Star Wars game with lasers (green for Americans and red for Germans).

I found Hell’s Highway a fresh change from the ever-expanding Call of Duty franchise. I would recommend that you give the game a shot if you’re not a hard-core fan of the Call of Duty series.