Gearbox

Shaking in frustration!

HIGH A sequel to an all-time great game.

LOW Achieving an A ranking through most of “Tequila” (Super Hard) only to plunge to an E within the last ten notes.

WTF The Hustle move requiring one controller above your head and the other between your legs!

Brothers in Arms is one of the best World War II first-person shooters (FPS) that I've ever played. This is not to say that the game is without flaws—because it has a few that are fairly significant—but the game is so intriguing that it overcomes the majority of its shortcomings without annoying the player in the process.

Game Description: Brothers in Arms is the only first-person tactical shooter set in WWII. It takes you into the uncensored reality of military history. You become Sgt. Matt Baker, a squad leader committed to completing his mission and bringing his men home alive. Guide his squad of 101st Airborne Paratroopers as you're immersed in the historic 8-day Normandy invasion; As you play, you'll face difficult choices where you'll weigh the good of the mission against the lives your fellow soldiers—your Brothers In Arms.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

Anyone who reads GameCritics.com regularly will know that I'm not a big fan of first-person shooter (FPS) games. I don't hate them, but I don't think it's particularly fun to just run around and blast things, either. Most of the games tend to be very repetitious and unimaginative, and the genre has rarely captured my attention. Being the non-fragger that I am, I was particularly interested to check out Half-Life.

Trying to gauge which game was the first to blur the line between game and movie is a daunting task (and one sure to inspire more than a few arguments). However, the game that tends to stand out as one of the first to do it effectively is Half-Life—a classic PC game that is now making its debut on the PlayStation 2 gaming console.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Violence

Game Description: Half-Life features an integrated storyline with stunning visual effects and a huge, sprawling environment filled with aliens determined to hunt you down and kill you. You no longer just point and shoot—Half-Life is a dynamic, plot-driven, complex world where you need to play smart to survive. Monsters have a strong instinct for self-preservation. They will duck, jump, hide behind barriers to avoid gunfire, and even retreat if feeling threatened. Superior AI drives these behaviors and they are different for each species. Plus you can choose from 18 different weapons, ranging from a crowbar to laser-guided rockets.