Taking Command isn't Easy. Taking Consequences is Even Harder. Story 9 In Earned in Blood, the main character's perspective shifts to newly promoted Sergeant Joe 'Red' Hartsock, who was previously a corporal in Baker's fire team in the previous game. Red's story is told through his interview with S.L.A. Marshall, a real-life military historian and journalist who has interviewed hundreds of WW2 soldiers. The narrative recounts Red's war experiences during Operation Overlord, from the chapter where he was still separated from 3rd Squad and helped 1st Squad secure Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, to being part of Baker's 3rd Squad and carrying out missions from different perspectives not previously explored in Road to Hill 30. Red's journey culminates in his promotion to Sergeant and leading 2nd Squad of the 82nd Airborne Division to clear Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. There are both pros and cons to the narrative development in Earned in Blood compared to Road to Hill 30. The pros include a more fleshed-out and grounded character complexity for Red compared to Baker's characterization in the previous game. The theme revolves around earning respect and leadership through experience rather than titles alone. However, the downside is that at the expense of developing side characters, Red's new squad feels more like "workmates" than "brothers," even though they go through hell with him. Overall, Earned in Blood offers a more introspective storytelling experience and is closer to the resonance of Red's journey than the more brotherly narrative of Road to Hill 30. Gameplay 7.5 Beyond utilizing the core gameplay mechanics from the first game, including the concept of the "Four F's" (Find, Fix, Flank, and Finish) with an assault team, fire team, or optional tank team, Earned in Blood introduces several new elements and tweaks to the gameplay. These additions include the M3A1 "Grease Gun" SMG, FG 42 automatic rifle with a Zeiss ZF4 scope, and the M10 "Wolverine" tank destroyer. Although these additions are not numerous, they are significant, especially considering the game's relatively short development period of just eight months. To replace the now-discontinued multiplayer mode, a skirmish mode has been introduced, allowing for both single-player and multiplayer gameplay with various mission types. While it can be challenging to play alone, it offers a rewarding experience. Two notable improvements in the game are the enhanced enemy AI and the utilization of more open maps, which provide greater tactical flexibility. The emphasis on smarter gameplay and varied strategies to overcome obstacles enhances the overall tactical experience. However, it is disappointing that these improvements are undermined by the lackluster performance of friendly AI, which remains as ineffective as in the previous game. Furthermore, some level designs are subpar, such as placing a friendly tank destroyer on a visually limited map only to have it instantly destroyed by a few Panzerfaust 60s and an 8.8 cm Flak 37. Additionally, being confronted by an MG42 post and a Panzer IV Ausf. D without any shortcuts to flank is frustrating and the only viable option is to use the same weapon next to them. In summary, these improvements are barely noticeable due to these issues, and sometimes they even make the game harder in an annoying way. Graphics 9 Similar to Road to Hill 30, Gearbox Software's art and design team aimed to create graphics that are as realistic and accurate as possible, capturing thousands of photographs and dozens of hours of video footage in France to achieve this level of authenticity. While there are no significant graphical changes, Earned in Blood offers more varied environments with more elaborate battlefields and towns for its chapters. Notable examples include Château Colombières, The All Americans Part 1 and 2, and Eviction Notice. The new battle areas appear more detailed and interactive, providing a fresh graphical feel compared to the more rural and open levels of Road to Hill 30. The user interface and animations in Earned in Blood are largely unchanged from the previous game, but this is not a negative aspect, as they have been well-received since the first game. In terms of optimization, the game is definitely improved over its predecessor, but there are still some rare bugs that can be encountered, such as vertex explosions on character models or texture corruption when your face clips the ground, resulting in distorted effects. Although these bugs detract from the immersion of the game, I am beginning to accept them as the "quirks" of this WW2 game. Sounds 8 Composed by David McGarry, the voice of Red himself, the soundtrack features melancholic and dramatic cues that capture the gravity of battle and the personal struggles of the characters. However, the tracks sound quite similar to one another, lacking the variety found in the Road to Hill 30 soundtrack, which makes them feel less distinct. Additionally, the decision to remove the game's soundtrack from gameplay to enhance the 'immersion' of historical accuracy detracts from the overall experience. Regarding voice acting, it maintains the high-quality performances from both returning and new characters, such as Sean Hennigan as S.L.A. Marshall and Chad Cline as Corporal Seamus Doyle. However, there is a slight shift from the first game, while that game aimed to convey a wider range of emotions, switching between suspense, camaraderie, and hope, Earned in Blood adopts a more deliberate or one-note tone, focusing on introspection and seriousness with a touch of humor. Replayability 8.5 Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood has enhanced its replayability, offering the same amount of extras to unlock and a similar number of mods as the first game, along with a new skirmish mode featuring objective-based missions and a multiplayer mode that includes new maps with fresh environments and real German side chatter through Rendroc's WarZone mod. However, the replayability issues from the previous game persist, particularly in authentic mode, which often feels like a "one-man army" scenario, except you aren't as lucky as Private Ryan, making it quite challenging to unlock all the extras. You can use the "shortcut" by opting for the "2ndsquad" profile, which is just as useful as "BAKERSDOZEN" in Road to Hill 30. The core gameplay loop can become repetitive, which may diminish motivation to replay. While these features aren't groundbreaking, they do introduce some unique additions compared to Road to Hill 30, making Earned in Blood more replayable from a tactical standpoint, even if overshadowed by other replayability concerns. Overall 8.4 Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood shifts focus to Sergeant Joe 'Red' Hartsock, offering a more introspective narrative that explores his war experiences during Operation Overlord. The gameplay builds on established mechanics while introducing new weapons and a skirmish mode, though it suffers from inconsistent AI performance and frustrating level designs that can detract from the tactical experience. Graphically, the game maintains a realistic aesthetic with varied environments, although some bugs persist that can disrupt immersion. While replayability is enhanced through additional modes and unlockable content, the core gameplay can become repetitive, limiting the motivation to revisit the game despite its tactical improvements.
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