"Prepare for WAR!"

Introduction:
Taking place throughout World War II, this realistic first person shooter will throw you into epic World War II battles. You can play as many different world powers such as Russia, United States, Germany, Japan, and the British. You must capture and hold the map and hold of the opposing army's forces. You must use the resources given to you such as artillery, armored vehicles, jeeps, fighters, bombers, submarines, destroyers, aircraft carriers, and more. You are just one soldier in a Great War and you are able to switch your soldier's class. You can be a scout who is armed with a sniper rifle and can scout for artillery. You can be an assault soldier who is armed with weapons for the assault and defence of strong points on the map. You can be a anti-tank soldier who is armed with a rocket launcher which is capable to take out armored vehicles along with planes. You can be a medic who is capable of healing other units and they can also support in killing. You can also be an engineer who can lay mines and remote detenated TNT. He is also capable of repairing vehicles and support in killing. You will be able to change your soldier's class every time you respawn at death or if you pick up another dead's soldier's equipment. You play a significant role in your army and you must do your job whatever it may be. If you choose to hop into a plane, then you must use that plane to its full capabilites and effectiveness. If you choose to hop into a tank, then use the tank and do all that you can in it. Otherwise you may be overrun by the enemy and you will lose the battle.

Gameplay:
You are a single soldier capable of yelling commands in large scale epic battles during World War II. You will play in historical battles such as Iwojima, Stalingrad, Tobruk, Midway, Operation Marketgarden and many many more. You are a single soldier, a part of the army of one of the most powerful nations in the world. You have to take and hold ''spawn points'' on the map. From these spawn points, more soldiers can respawn. If you hold majority of the spawn points, your army will most likely prevail. Some maps capturing all of the spawn points will be necessary for victory. Each side of the battle has an amount of soldiers and these resources of soldiers will dwindle during warfare, each time a soldier dies. You will be able to interact and use machine guns, pilot planes, control artillery, drive tanks, shoot stationary AA guns and much more. Do whatever you can to take the spawn points and hold them. Continue your push to take more enemy positions while holding the ones you already have control of. It is possible to hide in buildings and on top of them. Some of the buildings are reduced to rubble and concealing your location is easy. On some maps, there will be chaotic close combat on the streets. Some other maps are wide open plains of war where tanks and small planes dominate. Infantry are left in the open for snipers and tanks rolling forward in a desperate attempt to take the next line. Welcome to the battlefield. The campaign is where you battle the computer's artificial intelligence, however the real challenge is online where you face off with other intelligent strategically inclined opponents.

Story: The game is set during World War II. Play your way through as the Axis or Allies. It is possible to change history. You will play historical battles and the outcome is up to the performance of you and your fellow comrades. Will the axis prevail over the allies or will the allies claim victory over the axis? Its up to you.

Sound: The music during the game's main screen and other screens such as the loading screen is excellent. It really has a World War II feel to it. Beautifully orchestrated musical pieces sound great and make you feel ready for war. During battle however there is no music. Only the sound effects of bullets, artillery blasts, sniper shots, and a ambient noise of shelling. The sound effects are realistic and it actually feels like you are fighting in a World War II battle. The sound is very impressive. However, some sounds are repetitive.

Graphics:
The graphics are awesome. They aren't the best but they are very good looking. The soldiers have facial expressions and they are very well done. Smooth animations except the death animations could be better. Whenever they are ''blown away'' from a tank, artillery, or an explosion of some type, the animation is only mediocre. The vehicles are excellent and smooth. The larger ships on the ocean are also pretty. They actually look like what they are meant to represent. The destroyers are beautifully designed and each of the countries are different. There are many different types of tanks, planes, and other stuff. Each is designed and programmed its different attributes and on the battlefeild, you will be afraid of a inbound tank. The graphics are decent. The rubble of Berlin and all the map's details look nice. The buildings, bunkers, barb wire, sandbags, it really is a World War II setting.

Flaws:
Without the patch, the artificial intelligence is a bunch of crackshot idiots. They won't stay in a vehicle with you, they will bail in and out. However, with the patch, the artificial intelligence is much much better. I have no problems with it now. The reason for this is because the game was rushed for its initial launch.

Replayability:
This game will leave you something to do for a long time. You will play the campaign for both sides. Also, online play will keep you very busy. You will continue to play different scenarios since the situation of the battle is sometimes different. Some maps you will be struggling to capture that one spawn point that is extremely hard to get. Some maps the chaotic scramble for the same spawn point will be different all over the map. This will keep you entertained for a long time.

Conclusion:
Two things I really enjoy are realistic games and secondly, large scale battles. This delivers both. This is a game that I always wanted, however it really was never created. This is that dream and more. It has the openness of a real war and you play a somewhat small role in the outcome of the battle. You are just another soldier and your performance can effect the outcome of the battle believe it or not. I really enjoyed this game. You will too most likely if you like realistic first person shooters. If that persuade you to get this game, then maybe the large scale online battles will. I highly recommend this game.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/06/03, Updated 01/06/03