Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
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This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game. The content may change substantially as more information becomes available. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details. |
| Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Gearbox Software |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3.0 |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 |
| Release date | August 2008[1] |
| Genre(s) | Squad-based tactical First-Person Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Rating Pending (RP) |
| System requirements | DirectX 10 (optional) |
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is the third entry in the Brothers in Arms series of video games which follow a squad of men, of the 101st Airborne Division (502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment) led by the player-character Matt Baker, through the larger Allied Operations in World War II (with Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood being a spin-off from the main story which is set in the same time line as Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, except seen through the eyes of Corporal Joe "Red" Hartsock, and with a slightly extended time line, who is a member of Baker's Squad). This game once again puts players in the role of Staff-Sergeant Matt Baker during Operation Market Garden in the later stages of WWII.
The game will be released on the PlayStation 3, Windows, and the Xbox 360 in August 2008.[1] The game has many new features, including the ability to command a further squad from a selection of new specialized units (bazooka teams and machine gun teams). When a command is issued, the player model uses hand signals to issue the command to his squad, just like the previous games in the series. The player also has the ability to take cover behind objects, in a manner similar to Rainbow Six Vegas, which is an integral part of the games strategy. The AI has been drastically improved, and your team will adapt to whether or not they are seen by whispering. The AI also makes mistakes such as tripping, and helps each other when these mistakes are made. The game is built on the Unreal Engine 3 and the PC version can take advantage of the features in DirectX 10 which allows for an enhanced graphical experience for more realistic gameplay.
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[edit] History and setting
Operation Market Garden was a plan devised by Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. The plan was to send in three divisions of Parachute Infantry, two of the U.S. Army (101st Airborne Division and 82nd Airborne Division) and one of the British Army (1st Airborne Division). These divisions would land in The Netherlands, behind enemy lines, and secure three bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem. The British XXX Corps would then make a rapid advance along connecting roads and link up with their Comrades in Arnhem (the furthest bridge from the front line), this would then cut the German line and leave them very vulnerable to attack. It would get the Allies over the Rhine and hopefully into Berlin by Christmas 1944. The operation was executed on 17th September 1944, four months after Operation Overlord of the previous games in the series.
Unfortunately, whilst initially successful with (but with drawbacks and large delays) secured bridges at both Eindhoven and Nijmegen, the well equipped II SS Panzer Corps stationed at Arnhem proved too much for the (comparatively) modestly equipped British 1st Airborne Division. Supply drops frequently missed target, which made it difficult for the British in Arnhem to survive as they could not re-arm and thus found it difficult to fend off the attacking Germans until XXX Corps arrived. Again, unfortunately, XXX Corps never arrived. The British Armour reached Nijmegen and decided it would be too risky, considering the overwhelming German forces stationed just up the road. Rescue operations were staged to get the surrounded British soldiers back to safety. However, of the 10600 British Servicemen who dropped on 17th September, only 2398 were left.[2] What made matters worse was that because the position of the Allied troops was along one stretch of linked roads, the inevitable (and expectedly swift) German counter attacks were fierce, locking the Allies onto a narrow stretch of Dutch land which extended beyond the previous Front Line. The narrow stretch leading up to Eindhoven (which the 101st Airborne Division had to defend from counter-attack whilst XXX Corps made its way up the road) is what became known as "Hell's Highway", and that is where this game derives its name from.
Staff-Sergeant Matt Baker is a squad leader in the 101st Airborne Division. Him and characters from the previous game are reassigned to Fox Company's special recon unit before the drop into The Netherlands. Therefore this game will follow the 101st's assault and securing of Eindhoven, and the subsequent defence of the surrounding area from German counter attacks.
[edit] Characters
- Staff Sergeant Matt Baker: The player character, and squad leader. Provides monologues throughout the game showing an insight into the development of his brotherly relationships with his men.
- Staff Sergeant Joe "Red" Hartsock: So named for his fiery red hair, Hartsock began as a Corporal back in Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30. He was promoted at the end of the Hill 30 game to Sergeant, becoming a squad leader himself. Matt Baker does not lead Red in Hell's Highway, instead Red is a Staff Sergeant with a full squad of his own who will fight alongside Baker, being supported by and supporting Baker in certain missions of the game.
- Corporal Sam Corrion: Another familiar Brothers in Arms character, Corrion leads the squad's assault team.
- Private Jasper: A soldier armed with a Bazooka. He named his weapon Stella and talks about it as if it was his girlfriend. Jasper is also a member of Baker's machine gun team, so he also carries a 30 calibre machine gun.
- Private Conners: Jasper's assistant on the machine gun and Bazooka
- Technician 5th Grade Nathan Holden: The radioman in Baker's platoon
- Pfc Mike Dawson: A transfer from the 502nd PIR Pathfinders after Normandy, A mysterious character, Dawson doesn't wear a helmet and speaks with a British accent.
- Private Franky LaRoche: LaRoche is a young soldier in Baker's squad who lied about his age to join the army.
- Corporal Thomas Zanovich: An old friend from Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, Zanovich is now Baker's fire team leader.
- Pfc Jack Courtland: Another familiar face from Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, Courtland is a member of Baker's assault team.
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole: One of the games real to life characters, killed by an enemy sniper during the game.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Direct link to the Full E3 Video Demonstration - WMV, 108mb (Right-Click, Save As) (stream)
- Same video, except in 720p (1280x720) - WMV, 800mb (Link takes you to a list of areas to download from) (torrent)
- Trailer From Ubiday 2007
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