Jump into the action with 'Call of Duty: Finest Hour'
By Stephen Ryan
CNN Headline News
(CNN) -- You won't really earn any stripes, but you'll feel like you did if you try your hand at Activision's "Call of Duty: Finest Hour." It's a mixed-bag first-person shooter game based on some of the more epic World War II battles.
You take on the roles of six soldiers, each with his own storyline, who fight tooth and nail to change the tide of the war. The good news is that you're on the winning team. You make your way through three allied campaigns: Russian, British and American. "Finest Hour" covers it all, from the fight for Stalingrad to the Battle of the Bulge. Plan on getting your boots dirty.
War is no joke, and it seems Activision wanted to reflect that realism. "Finest Hour" is not an easy game. You'll need to use everything at your disposal, as would a real soldier. Take advantage of your scope of movement. I can't stress enough the need to duck, crawl, jump, run and "slice the pie" when clearing rooms.
Another great factor is that the troops you fight side-by-side with in the trenches actually work. Unlike some squad-based games, they don't just take up screen space. You can use your virtual team to lay cover fire, help take out enemies who have you pinned down, and yes, they actually can even assist you in achieving mission goals.
If virtual comrades-in-arms aren't close enough to real for you, "Finest Hour" also gives you the option of playing with actual people. Multiplayer mode allows you to play with 16 other people from anywhere around the world. This is a cool option because you can really work as a team to outsmart the computer. But then again, the computer isn't "playing games" in "Finest Hour," either.
During multiplayer games, you're able to chat with your teammates and opponents, depending on the type of scenario. It's simple enough. Once a USB headset is plugged into your console, it automatically detects the voice chat function. The feature uses a proximity detection system, so you'll only be able to talk to or hear other players within your general area.
Multiplayer mode is almost a separate game within the main title. In effect, you don't have to engage in "warfare" in the true sense of the word. Multiplayer allows you play in a "Death Match," "Team Death Match," "Capture the Flag" scenario, or "Search and Destroy" mode.
Another aspect of "Finest Hour" that really boosts the game's quality is its variety. Sure, you've got the trench warfare, the building searches and the various other infantry missions, but there are also vehicle-based scenarios. For example, you can command a tank in General Patton's Third Army 761st "Black Panther" battalion. There also are various other vehicles you can use, such as a Jeep equipped with a machine gun.
I highly recommend "Finest Hour" for war buffs, shooter enthusiasts or even for someone who is just getting into such games. The graphics are great, the pacing helps get your adrenaline going, and the sound effects will have you shell shocked.
