Brothers In Arms DS

The Brothers In Arms series for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC instantly set itself apart from other WWII action games like Call of Duty and Metal of Honor by focusing on solid squad tactics instead of run-and-gun gameplay. The rhythm of getting behind cover, laying down suppressing fire to pin the enemy, and then flanking them evoked memories of Band Of Brothers instead of Rambo, and the genre was all the better for it.

In making its transition to the DS, the series has unfortunately been stripped of nearly everything that formerly distinguished it from the pack. There is no way to order a squad around, so it is you against the world. Cover is implemented but mainly becomes something you jump over while rushing towards enemy positions and spraying them with your Thompson. The ability to approach missions in a variety of ways has been ditched in favor of linear levels that funnel you through step-by-step via text overlays and brightly-lit waypoints. Even the first-person perspective has shifted to a third-person one, completing the transition from a harrowing depiction of WWII combat to just another arcade shooter, complete with tank fights and high-speed jeep chases.

If this game is a realistic depiction of WWII combat in any way, it uncovers a shocking secret: the Allies did not win because of bravery, superior tactics, or an endless flood of equipment, they won because turning around simply was not an option! In this game the D-pad (or face buttons in lefty mode) is used to move forwards, backwards, and strafe, while the stylus is used to aim and turn. The problem is that the sensitivity is set so low to allow for proper aiming that turning involves repeatedly dragging the stylus over the surface of the screen. This makes it a chore to react to the German’s innumerable flank attacks, and maneuvering a tank around in cramped city streets is painful. Several of the missions involve sniping, which turns down the touchscreen sensitivity to ridiculously low levels when the scope is used.

Although the touchscreen hampers movement and aiming, it is great for other things. Grenades are tossed by pressing on an icon in corner of the screen, dragging the stylus upwards until the proper range is reached, and then removing the stylus from the screen to make the actual throw. Weapons are easily swapped using a drop-down menu, and the screen also allows for context-sensitive buttons that make it easy to get into and out of vehicles or perform other mission-specific tasks without having to fumble around.

Prerelease footage of this game looked phenomenal for a DS game, but in reality the graphics are something of a letdown. There is severe pop-in and everything is extremely blocky, with textures looking like they escaped from a Super Nintendo game. On the plus side, the game’s missions are spread across three visually distinct campaigns set in the deserts of North Africa, the green landscapes of the post-Normandy invasion, and the snowy environs of the Battle of the Bulge - so at least there is plenty of variety. The audio experience is hurt by the lack of voiceovers but the sounds of combat are surprisingly meaty.