Activision's Call of Duty franchise started in World War II before leaping forwards in time to a modern-day scenario. Glu's Frontline Commando has headed in the opposite direction.
Armed with your trusty rifle and a handful of grenades, you're pushed out onto the beaches of Normandy and instructed to crush the German army and give Hitler a solid kick up the behind.
This epic struggle for justice plays out as a 3D duck-and-cover-style shooter, with your soldier popping his head around corners to snipe at the delicate craniums of various identikit German infantrymen.
Never surrenderThe gameplay in Frontline Commando: D-Day is broken up into sections. Most of the time you'll be cowering behind a wall, with a quick button-press causing your avatar to pop his head out of cover in order to take aim. Another button triggers the scope, allowing for precise targeting, and yet another on-screen key takes the actual shot itself.
Once you've cleared an area of hostiles, the game will automatically put your soldier into a sprint, with you having rudimentary control over his horizontal movement. This allows you to avoid obstacles (which can be leapt over, if you time it right), dodge deadly minefields, and generally get yourself into the optimum position for shooting another cluster of nasty Germans at the next combat point.
Along the way you'll also man anti-aircraft guns and fire bazookas into heavily-armoured tanks - all part of the gruesome spectacle that was WWII.
Medal of honourVisually, Frontline Commando: D-Day is a real treat. The characters and environments wouldn't look out of place in a 360 game, and some of the lighting effects are genuinely stunning. Audio presentation is also of a high quality, although the overbearing voice acting can become a little annoying at times.
Glu is rather fond of freemium mechanics, and this game is no exception. Thankfully, it's just about possible to get through the campaign without having to spend any cash, but some of the best weapons are only available if you're willing to dig deep. Resisting the urge to lay out actual cash means you're stuck with the basic kit for the entire duration.
Frontline Commando: D-Day has the look and feel of a truly top-notch product, and plays as well as it looks. In-app purchasing does impact the appeal ever so slightly, but not enough to totally rob the game of its ability to entertain.
If you've got an itchy trigger finger and you like the sound of WWII-meets-Whac-A-Mole then this comes recommended.
Frontline Commando: D-Day
With its incredible presentation and easily accessible action, Frontline Commando: D-Day ticks all the boxes, although the focus on in-app purchasing can be irksome
Damien McFerran
Damien's mum hoped he would grow out of playing silly video games and gain respectable employment. Perhaps become a teacher or a scientist, that kind of thing. Needless to say she now weeps openly whenever anyone asks how her son's getting on these days.