"Okay...maybe not better than CS, but surely its equal..."

For a long time, I played the Counter-strike mod for Half-life. I enjoyed its realism, its intensity, and, of course, the fact that it was free. Now, with the recent release of Day of Defeat version 1.0, the multiplayer crown has been taken by Day of Defeat, probably forever. I've been playing DoD since the release of Beta 1.3, and it's easily the best simulation of WWII small unit tactics.

GAMEPLAY - 9/10

The major addition to Beta 2 (and the element missing from most WWII-flavored games) is the machine gun. The omission of one of the most vital weapons of WWII was glaring for a long time, but it was difficult to balance the super-strong and super long-range monsters with hand-held weapons like the M1 Garand.

Now, though, one can experience D-Day with MG42s raining down bullets like raindrops on the beach, each one lethal. Adrenaline rush, indeed. Machine guns are fun, uberdefensive weapons. There is the classic .30-cal for the Allies, and the Axis get the MG34 and the MG42 machine guns.

Aside from the machine gun, the M1 carbine provides a long-range assault option for the Allies, and is ridiculously fun to use.

Recoil is realistically handled, and sniping is even more accurate than CS - it takes time to zoom in, just like with a real rifle. You can't fire in many situations, like when moving while prone, and zoomed-in snipers are stationary. These changes make every player class useful but susceptible to certain attacks - just as in real life.

GRAPHICS - 9/10

I'm taking this aspect of the game in comparison to other HL mods, not next-gen shooters like Half-Life 2 or Doom III. All the weapons and animations look more accurate and more believable. The ambiance of some maps, like Flash and Merderet, is great. Tracer, bullet hit, and grenade effects are cooler than ever. Very nearly CS-quality graphics.

SOUND - 10/10

Bullets whiz and splatter blood through the battlefield. The clatter of weapons fire echoes everywhere. Voice communication is handled decently, as well. The sounds just feel right, from the jingle of movement to the thud of falling prone to avoid enemy fire.

REPLAY - 9/10

This time, the two sides feel VERY different. Axis forces are geared towards a long-range, blitzkrieg style. Allied weapons tend towards a more-balanced, assault game plan. This balancing means more gameplay, as playing Axis isn't just like playing Allies with slightly different weapons and skins.

There is also the inclusion of the British forces in version 1.0, so pack your Lee-Enfields!

CONCLUSION - 9/10

It's a monster download, but DoD is perfect for modem users (I connect at a pithy 28.8k). Instant kill weapons level the playing field considerably, as good tactics (ambushes, flanking, etc.) are now more important than good reflexes. GET IT NOW!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/10/02, Updated 07/22/03