Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

[Food Nipple]

Rented it. Played it. Hated it.

The problem is that they're trying to map all the controls of an RTS and FPS onto a controller simultaneously, so something is always going to be placed on a weird button.

I found myself crouching when I thought I would sprint (L3) and moving troops when I thought I was bringing up my ironsights (LT). I normally have no problem internalizing a game's control scheme, but this was just wacky enough where it detracted from the experience because I had to concentrate on what my hands were doing when I should be thinking about the game. The 'B' button doesn't even back you out of the map, you need to press the 'back' button, yeah that's right, the 'back' button as in the one we used to call 'select,' that's the only way to exit the map. At least get the damn menus right.

The biggest problem isn't the button mappings, it's the aiming and the cover system. Sure, you've got squads, and sometimes they can take out enemies, but there's solo sections where you're forced to use the horrible shooting mechanics, as well as sections where your squads aren't effective enough and it's easier just to do it yourself.

There's no aim assist, which makes it a pain in the ass to hit enemies, especially since the dudes in BiA are pretty good about staying in cover. As long as you pop back into cover whenever your screen turns red, you'll never be shot, so the game plays out like a tedious game of wack-a-mole. In fact, that's exactly what this is: a long, monotonous game of wack-a-mole where you're forced to hold the mallet with your feet and occasionally hop into the ball pit so you don't get shot by a nazi mole. Sometimes the tedium is broken up by checkpoints that don't load or buggy invincible moles which make you restart.

Oh, and it doesn't look all that great either, it's not actively bad, but I did find myself thinking "This level looked better when I played it in Battlefield: Bad Company." Also, if you're going to have dialogue while I'm in combat, make the main character's mouth move when he speaks next time.

There is also a multiplayer component, but it is a joyless experience. The less that is said, the better.


The most disappointing part of the whole experience is that I'm now more uncertain about Borderlands, which I was really excited for. If these guys can't get a competent aiming system in BiA, I'm worried that Borderlands will be similarly awful. I really hope they don't screw up Borderlands.

[Deadend]

I am hoping the aiming and shooting sucks because it's supposed to be "tactical" as Gearbox HAS made good shooting games in the past. So it's not like they can't.

I am disappointed about solo sections in a game not built for it.

[Wasson_]

oh wow, I was thinking it was a pure FPS. Granted, the whole thing it would be if it were an FPS would have been done to death...it looked rather good at least.

[Gerbs]

I was considering renting this.. Did you play Turok? I'm playing that now before I crack opens Mercs 2.

[The Iron Weasel]

I loved the first two games (more specifically the first game, loved it so hard), so I don't really know why I wouldn't like this one, but I'm waiting for Far Cry 2 regardless. Maybe down the road I'll grab this.

[Food Nipple]

I am hoping the aiming and shooting sucks because it's supposed to be "tactical" as Gearbox HAS made good shooting games in the past. So it's not like they can't.

I hope you're right, but most of their best work has been on the PC side. I think it's another case of a PC developer not quite grasping what it takes to make their game work on a console. Had I played the PC version instead of the 360 one, I think I'd probably have liked it a lot more, maybe I'll try again when that version comes out.

[Bingley Joe]

Oh wow.. this isn't good. I had basically got myself all psyched up to play this one based on some first-impressions I read on ... a different site, and now I'm all confused! This game sounds like a love it/hate it affair now (which is actually consistent with past entries in the series)..

Anyone know if there's a demo planned?

[fishbang]

Rented it. Played it. Hated it.

~food nipple's completely legitimate criticisms~

I couldn't possibly go so far as to say that I'm liking it, but for some reason I am enjoying my time with it. I could echo your thoughts, but why? There they are and I really do agree.

All the same I can play it for a stretch and come away from it with respect for the storytelling and having had a small amount of fun without it having made me too angry. By all rights this shouldn't happen and I'm not sure why it does.

[Deadend]

I hope you're right, but most of their best work has been on the PC side. I think it's another case of a PC developer not quite grasping what it takes to make their game work on a console. Had I played the PC version instead of the 360 one, I think I'd probably have liked it a lot more, maybe I'll try again when that version comes out.

Well, the PC version of the first had awkward feeling controls as well... Agh, I want Borderlands to rock, and for the Mysterious Aliens Vs. Marines game as well to be awesome.

[Food Nipple]

I couldn't possibly go so far as to say that I'm liking it, but for some reason I am enjoying my time with it. I could echo your thoughts, but why? There they are and I really do agree.

All the same I can play it for a stretch and come away from it with respect for the storytelling and having had a small amount of fun without it having made me too angry. By all rights this shouldn't happen and I'm not sure why it does.

I've played games so bad that they illicit anger, BiA isn't one of them. I wouldn't say that there was anything so bad that it turned me off from the game, but there wasn't anything done well enough for it to capture my attention. I only played the game in short spurts before it lost my attention and I'd switch to something more engaging. I set the controller down out of boredom, not frustration.

I think part of it is just my own personal quirks, I'd much rather play a game with a horrible story and good controls (for example, Devil May Cry), than a game with poor controls and and excellent story. I did think that the story was pretty well done, but if that's the only part of the game I'm enjoying I'll just wait a week and watch the rest of the cutscenes on youtube.

If I were reviewing the game, I wouldn't give it an F; it's more like a B-, which is exactly the score 1up (http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3170178&p=4) gave it.

[Virtual Machine]

I'm really enjoying it thus far. Haven't had any real issues with the controls - though once or twice i did try to use the right trigger for iron sights and wound up sending a few good men to their doom.

Graphically it's pretty snazzy, and i love that Gearbox has put more effort into the narrative side of things.

It's definitely not for the "call of Duty" crowd though.

[IIntrude]

I loved the 1st one, and I am enjoying this one. Yes it does have its issues, but the controls are easily grasped within the 1st hour of play. The story telling is quite good, its ability to go from action to narrative, back to action is pretty good.

My biggest gripe with the game would be the enemy AI, I have yet to see the enemy try and flank and kill you, and in a game that is all about flanking, that sticks out in my mind.

[Soap]

It's definitely not for the "call of Duty" crowd though.

True 'Dat.

I don't play as much CoD4 as I used to, but I am part of that "hardcore game play" crowd. The control scheme really was hard for me to adjust. I ended up using the Ring World scheme, but the squad AI wasn't the greatest. I'll admit, I have barely put time into this game. I'm at the squad training session and not getting flanked by the enemy is kind of disappointing.

[King3567]

I loved the first one (never played the second one and didn't play the first one that much, but I like what I played of it). I was looking forward to this and still am. My friend picked it up and likes it alot. 1v1 in Brothers in Arms is so much fun.

[Disgustipated]

Food Nipple exaggerates. This game is a lot of fun. It's not perfect, but for what it is, it's pretty damn good.

I'm just surprised Ubisoft let this one fly under the radar.

[Ghost Rider]

I'm not usually into war type games but the adverts I've seen for it have actually made me want to get it. It doesn't come out here for a few more days anyway, so I've got time to decide.

[kropotkin]

I've only ever played the PC version and that arrives in Europe today so I may be checking it out over the weekend. Depending on course on my ability to stay away from Warhammer which is not easy.

Once I do get hold of it I'll post something on this thread as the OP focusses its comments on the controls which the PC version should be immune from. One would hope anyway!

[Khrymsyn]

Food, I'm sorry to hear you were dissapointed.

I'm actually having a very different experience with the game. Granted, I'm very biased as I LOOOVED the first two... but... well... where to start.

Controls. I agree the default controls, especially to someone used to CoD4 are very, very tricky to get a handle on. However, Gearbox was nice enough to add quite a variety of different control types. I chose "Tour of Duty" style, which, non-coincidentally enough mimic's CoDs controls fairly well. Left Trigger = Iron Sights. Right = Shoot. B = Crouch. Right Bumber = Grenade, etc, etc. I found that helped me immensely.

The lack of auto aim for some reason doesn't phase me. I turn off ALL of the icons, cross hairs, etc, and found that even with doing that, the game is tough but I don't have a problem aiming, except occasionally when in cover. When you're standing or crouching left trigger (In Tour of Duty control mode) pulls up iron sights. I can pick guys off with very little showing above/around cover when using the iron sights. When "in cover" using the cover system, it does a slight "zoom" kinda like R6 does, but without the crosshair on and without the ability to switch to iron sights in that mode DOES make it kind of tough to aim. But for some reason that doesn't bother me that much. I usually use my squads more in those cases.

Graphics are decent. Nothing mind blowing, but solid, especially the smoke and debris effects. I love the destructable items, but it's definitely not "all encompasing".

The game does have a couple of problems (I've seen some AI oddities, and a Nazi warp through a wall once), but overall I think this is actually a very good game. Not as excellent as CoD4, but honestly, better than most other shooters I've played. Great atmosphere and story elements.

Probably a B+ / A- from me.
*note, I didn't try Multi. BiA was never about multi for me.

[Mdot]

Hmm mixed views so far. I really enjoyed the first one and am still planning on checking this out at some point. Khrymsyn answered my only question about different control schemes, since that seems to be one of the biggest gripes. I feel like I need a game to hold me over till the Fable/Far Cry week, so maybe this will fill that gap.

[Khrymsyn]

Hmm mixed views so far. I really enjoyed the first one and am still planning on checking this out at some point. Khrymsyn answered my only question about different control schemes, since that seems to be one of the biggest gripes. I feel like I need a game to hold me over till the Fable/Far Cry week, so maybe this will fill that gap.

Yeah, there's like 5-6 different control schemes, all with names similar to what they are based off of, such as "Tour of Duty" (CoD), "Ring Worlds" (Halo), etc... I know there's a Rainbow 6 based scheme, and 1 other at least but I forget the names of them.

[Virtual Machine]

Tactical 6 i think

That one works pretty well actually.

[Bingley Joe]

Yeah, there's like 5-6 different control schemes, all with names similar to what they are based off of, such as "Tour of Duty" (CoD), "Ring Worlds" (Halo), etc... I know there's a Rainbow 6 based scheme, and 1 other at least but I forget the names of them.

OK, see.. now that's some really helpful info. It's back on the "to buy" list again. Thanks!


Further to this, I think it shows a lot of thought and insight that Gearbox implemented controls schemes based on other games' layouts. It can be really hard to re-train yourself on a new setup after having spent a lot of time with a game, and this just seems like a perfect solution. I wish more developers would do stuff like this.

[Food Nipple]

Yeah, there's like 5-6 different control schemes, all with names similar to what they are based off of, such as "Tour of Duty" (CoD), "Ring Worlds" (Halo), etc... I know there's a Rainbow 6 based scheme, and 1 other at least but I forget the names of them.

I wish I had looked at some of these alternate control schemes before I sent it back, it sounds like a lot of my issues could have been resolved. I was doing most of my shooting from cover, but it sounds like I would have been better off shooting down the sights.

[Khrymsyn]

I wish I had looked at some of these alternate control schemes before I sent it back, it sounds like a lot of my issues could have been resolved. I was doing most of my shooting from cover, but it sounds like I would have been better off shooting down the sights.

Yeah, shooting from cover is very, very tricky. Who knows, maybe it's worth a rent sometime? I'm just such a big fan of the series that I was determined to make it work (as long as the game wasn't total crap), and I found the control schemes helped.

What I typically do is get to cover, and duck behind it a few moments.
Then pop up, and, if it's a squad level, tell my squad (who is tucked away elsewhere) to lay down covering fire. After a second or two, I take 1 step away from cover, crouch, and use the iron sights.

I only really fire from cover when I'm in the solo section(s), like clearing a house. Otherwise I very heavily lean on my squads.

[King3567]

Yeah, shooting from cover is very, very tricky. Who knows, maybe it's worth a rent sometime? I'm just such a big fan of the series that I was determined to make it work (as long as the game wasn't total crap), and I found the control schemes helped.

What I typically do is get to cover, and duck behind it a few moments.
Then pop up, and, if it's a squad level, tell my squad (who is tucked away elsewhere) to lay down covering fire. After a second or two, I take 1 step away from cover, crouch, and use the iron sights.

I only really fire from cover when I'm in the solo section(s), like clearing a house. Otherwise I very heavily lean on my squads.

Yeah, this is how BiA was pretty much meant to be played. This strategy works really well.

[Dukefrukem]

I see the mixed views in this thread. I've started playing this tonight, on PC though. There wasn't a PC thread and I didn't feel like making one. That said, I'm finding the gameplay very inconsistent...the opposite of smooth. I remapped the controls from default, but we'll see how that works in the long run. They had me sprinting with space bar. WTF?

[Adam Blue]

I played this on the 360, and really liked it. It can be had for really cheap, and one of these days I will add it to my collection. I can see myself playing through this again. It reminded me of a puzzle game, as you had to figure out how to advance at each section of enemies.