Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes

Every military commander knows that those who control the battlefield ultimately seize victory at the end of the day. Losing control means risking defeat, which Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes near does. Great graphics and superb action can't cover up a poor control scheme that nearly earns the game a purple heart instead of a bronze star.

Gearing up as an anonymous American soldier, Hour of Heroes chronicles the early Allied push into Europe and even makes an excursion to the African front. Three campaigns parachute you into Normandy on the eve of the naval landing in June 1944, then route you to the sands of Tunisia, and return back to the drive to Berlin over the Ardennes. There are 12 missions divided among the campaigns, plus a much-needed tutorial that eases you into the action.

Thank goodness for the tutorial because it would be practically impossible to figure out the controls without it. By default, you move using a circular pad at the bottom-left. Flicking your finger across the screen moves the camera. It's a manageable system, although awkward in a number of spots. Aim assistance draws your firing reticle toward any enemy whenever you flick the camera near a foe, which does much to reduce the difficulty of control.

Two alternative methods include placing a pair of control circles at the bottom of the screen or allowing the reticle to move by touching the screen. Neither solve the deficiencies of the default setting, unfortunately. Much of the problem with the controls stems from a lack of fluidity. Movement is choppy and adjusting the camera via finger flicks jars the view.

Tanks control surprisingly well in contrast. A few missions center on obliterating enemy outposts using tank shells, which are easy to launch thanks to the armaments' slower rate of movement. Driving a reconnaissance jeep, however, is a nightmare. Instead of sticking to the circular movement pad, you're forced to steer with a half-circle wheel. It's completely unresponsive.

Get beyond the control problems and Hour of Heroes becomes an impressive entry in the enormous stable of World War II shooters. Variety characterises the action, from intense sequences that have you sniping explosive charges in order to cripple Axis communications to tank assaults on German bunkers to lobbing grenades in enemy panzers.

Rarely does the action let up, pushing you forward in a constant battle against unrelenting foes. Enemies are appropriately challenging - never is there a moment that's too tough or unbalanced. Of course, if you feel the game's too easy, bumping it up to Veteran or Elite modes will likely change your view on the matter.

The controls are really what do Hour of Heroes in. Despite the game's stellar action and wealth of features, including achievements and bonus weapons, dysfunctional controls turn a gold medal into a silver one. Adjusting to its inadequacies is possible, but shouldn't be necessary. It wins the war, but only at a cost.