"Good, but takes some getting used to."

First off, I would like to say that I've been playing DoD for years now. I'm not quite sure, but it was the version when the cross hair was a dot that moved in between two brackets, and you could bleed from injuries. Vets of the game will know what I'm talking about. So, let's get this show on the road!

Graphics: 9/10

While still beautiful, the Source engine is slightly showing its age. The rag doll physics are superb, and sometimes quite funny. Seeing someone fly up from a grenade explosion and land in a balcony awkwardly will surely get a chuckle out of you. HDR is used in this game, and though many complain about it because it is a FPS killer, but I have a computer that can handle it, so no complaints here. It adds a slight touch of realism by brightening or darkening when you enter indoors or outdoors. Yes, all the player models for their respective army are the same, but this is to be expected. Besides, the Army soldiers have a cute little part in their hair. Some people complain about the models of the guns, but I have no problem with them. Sure the MG-42 is a little too clean and shiny, but maybe it's straight from the factory, right? Maybe not, but still, it doesn't detract from the game. Overall, a HUGE improvement in the graphics department.

Sound: 10/10

This is where the game really shines compared to the original. It sounds to me as if I was really in a war (or from what I gather from movies and the news, anyway) with gunfire being muffled the farther you get away from it. None of the sounds have been ported from the original, and this goes for the voice commands. This is especially evident with the Wehrmacht, with German phrases coming out in two or three ways sometimes. Gunfire is realistic and sounds like the guns in other games, like CoD. Soldiers even shout when injured, which helps to alert you where an enemy is when you throw a grenade. I was absolutely blown away by the sound improvement from the original, and even CS:S.

Game play: 7/10

Ah, the all important game play. This is where you either love it or hate it. My first impression was, "Oh my...What did they do to my beloved game?!" Perhaps the thing that stunned me most was the addition of grenade launchers. Riflemen now get 2 grenades to launch at their enemies. Also, the ever-useful melee attack was taken out for riflemen, and I'm still trying to cope with this. I can't tell you how many times I right click, thinking I'll bash the enemy with my Garand, only to have my iron sights come up (oh yeah, Riflemen get iron sights too). Here's a list of everything added and taken away. This probably won't be perfect because I'm doing this from memory.

Added:
Grenade launchers, punching with SMGs, smoke grenades, iron sights with rifles, rockets do much more damage, the Army's knife doesn't stab; it punches (did Americans really love punching that much? I don't.), ability to "cook" grenades, automatic pistol for Panzerjagers, winning team can slaughter losing team because losing team cannot fire

Taken away:
MG-34, the M1 carbine is now part of the Rocket class, destructible walls(not sure on this one, but so far I haven't seen any), FG-42, destroying of objectives, THE BRITISH!!!, M3 (Grease gun), one hit kill Mauser 98 and Springfield , jumping no longer detracts from stamina, accuracy of MG-42 and the .30 cal

Please note that as of release there are only four maps available. There are no British, which kind of ruined Flash, my favorite map, for me. Overall, this game will take some getting used to if you come from the original DoD. It seems that game play is much faster now. No longer are there 20 minute battles over one flag, it seems like flags are taken and lost very quickly. I didn't like it at first, but now I enjoy it. In the state that it is in, it can only get better.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/28/05, Updated 09/30/05