Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway
Developer(s)	Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Series	Brothers in Arms
Engine	Modified Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
Release	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360: EU: September 26, 2008 Microsoft Windows:
Genre(s)	First-person shooter, Tactical shooter (Squad-based)
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer

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. This game once again puts players in the role of Staff Sergeant Matt Baker during Operation Market Garden in the later stages of World War II.

The game was released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 23, 2008 in North America, and the game was released in stores September 24, 2008 with the Microsoft Windows version following two weeks later on October 7, 2008.

Gameplay

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 game's strategy. A new health system has replaced the more punishing set health per mission system of previous titles in the franchise. The AI has been drastically improved, and the player's 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 enemy AI has also been improved allowing the Germans to counter your actions. The game is built on the Unreal Engine 3 and the Windows version can take advantage of the features in DirectX 10 which allows for an enhanced graphical experience for more realistic gameplay.

History and setting

Main article: Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden was a plan devised by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. The plan was to drop three airborne divisions, two American (82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division) and one British (1st Airborne Division) later to be reinforced with the 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Brigade. These divisions would land in The Netherlands, behind enemy lines, and secure multiple bridges primarily at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem. British XXX Corps would then make a rapid advance along connecting roads and cross the River Rhine at Arnhem (the furthest bridge from the front line), this would then cut the German line and leave the possibility for exploitation into the Rhur valley. The operation was executed on 17th September 1944, four months after Operation Overlord, which is covered in the previous games of the series.

Unfortunately, whilst initially successful with bridges at both Eindhoven and Nijmegen eventually secured, the well equipped II SS Panzer Corps stationed at Arnhem proved too much for the underequipped 1st Airborne Division. The British Landing Zones were captured early in the battle, resulting in the supply drops falling into the hands of the Germans, 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 armour reached Nijmegen but could not advance further to capture Arnhem, as the bridge was now in German hands and around 4,500 British paratroopers were captured. What made matters worse because the position of the Allied troops 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 advanced) became known as "Hell's Highway", where this game derives its name from.

The fictional Staff-Sergeant Matt Baker is a squad leader in the 101st Airborne Division. He and characters from the previous game are reassigned to the division's special reconnaissance unit before the drop into The Netherlands. The game will follow the 101st's assault and securing of Eindhoven, and the subsequent defense of the surrounding area from German counter attacks.

Characters

• Staff Sergeant. Matthew "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. Baker takes the death of his men and anybody close to him very hard. He uses a M1 Garand Rifle and the M1A1 Thompson Sub-Machine Gun. Baker seems to be suffering from hallucinations and some form of PTSD. In several missions he sees "ghosts" of his former compatriots who died under his command. In the level "Lost" Baker sees the deformed version of Legget and when he finds Hartsock he ends up shooting at the wall because he thinks Germans are trying to sneak up on him. Hartsock begins to wonder if Baker is mentally stable and brings it up while talking to Mac, who is neutral on the matter. In the final cut-scene, after a heartbroken Baker tells Hartsock he will never be able to walk again, Baker goes outside the medics tent and sits near a tree. He is then confronted by Leggett, (actually Baker's conscience and possible rising insanity) who blames Baker for all the deaths that occurred. After a long argument with himself Baker is able to control himself and finally rids himself of the "cursed" pistol.
• Matt's cursed pistol is a nickel plated M1911 .45 given to him by his father. After being dropped from the plane in the D-Day invasion he lost all his weapons. Allen and Garnet find this pistol. When Allen and Garnet Die it ends up in the hands of pfc. Leggett who witnessed their deaths. When Leggett dies at hill 30 Matt got his "cursed" pistol back. All the men in bakers squad believe this pistol to be cursed because all the men that came in contact with it died with it on them, including Matt's father.

• 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. He uses a M1A1 Thompson-Submachine gun or M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. Hartsock is wounded and sent home in Hells Highway and Paddock takes over 2nd squad.

• Corporal. Sam Corrion: Another familiar Brothers in Arms character, Corrion leads the squad's assault team. Corrion was a corporal with Baker and Hartsock before the jump into Normandy and is still a corporal going into Holland, much to his dismay. He believes that he can perform better than Baker and Hartsock on the battlefield, if only given the chance. He uses a M1A1 Thompson-Sub-Machine gun. Corrion is wounded in the mission "Hell's Highway" right after he and Baker have a friendship breaking argument. In the final cut-scene Corrion tells Baker that they will never fight together ever again suggesting that he may request a transfer or go AWOL.

• Pfc. Gary Jasper: A soldier armed with a Bazooka. He named his weapon Stella, named after his girlfriend. Jasper is also a member of Baker's machine gun team, so he also carries a .30-caliber machine gun Browning M1919. Jasper loves to have fun and make jokes. Gary is the only team leader who is not a corporal.

• Pfc. Conner: Jasper's assistant on the machine gun and Bazooka.He also carries 2 ammo belts for the machine gun on his body stretching from his back to lower abdomen and cross his chest or a backpack contain bazooka shells whenever he uses the MG or Bazooka he has ammo for the situation. He uses an M1 Carbine. Conner also has a cigarette box attached behind the elastic band on his helmet.

• T/5. Nathan Holden : The radioman in Baker's platoon, a job that fits him perfectly, he is constantly concerned with the efficiency of the communications and tactics and he is quick to question the squad's methods or orders, the rest of them don't take him seriously in the fact being that his logic rarely applies when things go FUBAR. He uses an M1 Garand Rifle. Nathan often complains about orders given to him and finds Baker a little too dramatic.

• Pfc. Mike Dawson: A transfer who served from the 502nd PIR Pathfinders in Normandy, A mysterious character, Dawson doesn't wear a helmet saying it messes up his aim, and speaks with a English accent, Dawson finds interest in Baker's and Hartsock's stories, it is because of this he is isolated from the rest of the team for they would rather not re-live those events but the others still listen to him and respect him as a equal. He is a member of Baker's assault team. He uses a M1 Carbine. Dawson starts off on a friendly note with Baker but gets on his bad side after attacking a British soldier who apparently found (and wore) Franky LaRoche's jacket. In the final cut-scene he notices Baker talking to himself. Dawson simply ignores this.

• Corporal. Franklin Paddock: Red's Assault-Team Leader introduced in Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. He uses an M3A1 Grease Gun. Franklin is a capable and courageous assault team leader for Red's squad despite being somewhat arrogant and reckless. He often refers to Corrion as "Sammy-Boy." Paddock is show to have saved Baker's life in hells highway by throwing a German out the window of a tower. He is show in a video to end up on Baker's assault team as the only soldier either separated or lost from his original squad. He also helps baker hunt down the sniper and his platoon that killed Lt Col Cole. After Hartsock is wounded Paddock is promoted and placed in command of 2nd Squad.

• Corporal. Jacob Campbell: Red's Fire-Team Leader introduced in Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. He is shown to be distraught about the death of Marsh on the ambush of the 2nd Squad and is wondering how did Paddock possibly have know it was gonna happen. Jacob is a dedicated soldier who wants to prove himself in battle and isn't one for small-talk. He uses an M1 Garand. Campbell is wounded in the explosion that wounds Baker and Hartsock and kills Friar; he survives, but is wounded in the neck, preventing him from speaking for the rest of the game. It is unknown as of now if this is temporary or permanent.

• Pfc. James Marsh: A member of Red's fire-team introduced in Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. Marsh is shown to have perished in the Baptism by Fire mission due to sniper fire. Supposedly Paddock predicted that a team member would die (the team member was Marsh) He carries an M1 Garand.

• Pfc. Dean "Friar" Winchell: A member of Red's Assault-Team introduced in Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. He uses an M1 Garand Rifle. He is killed in the mission "Black Friday". His death was also predicted by Paddock.

• Private. Franky "Beans" LaRoche: LaRoche is a young soldier in Baker's squad who lied about his age to join the army. Young, and filled with heroic ideals, he is eager to rush into action- and all too willing to put his life on the line. He is the fresh replacement or new guy on the assault team and the youngest in 3rd squad. During the celebration in Eindhoven, Frank meets a young dutch girl and then reveals that he has never really had a girlfriend. This is proven to be true due to the fact that Frank risks the safety of himself and his squad just to rescue her during the Baptism of Fire mission. Afterwards Franky manages to find an abandoned hospital (that is actually a German hideout) and hides in there. It is there that he and the dutch girl are confronted by 2 German guards and they run in opposite directions leading to the death of the Dutch girl by German hands and Franky getting lost in the hospital and eventually dying of fatal wounds. Before Franky Dies, Baker confronts him and tells Frank that his efforts were not in vain and the Dutch girl did manage to make it to safety, however, Frank knew the girl was dead and instead calls Baker a "liar". He is then crushed by the collapsing ceiling.

• Corporal Thomas "Zano" Zanovich: An old friend from Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, Zanovich is now Baker's fire team leader. The"old man" and veteran of the squad, Zanovich served in the French Foreign Legion for many years before enlisting in the U.S Army. Despite all the combat he's seen, Tom remains good natures and has a strong sense of humor-even when the situation doesn't exactly call for it. Zano also dis-likes the jeep columns the paratroopers drive in. He uses an M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle.

• Pfc. Jack Courtland: Another familiar face from Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, Courtland is a member of Baker's assault team and is a member of the bazooka team and machine gun team. He uses a M1A1 Thompson-submachine gun. A bit of a hot-head, Jack joined the paratroopers with dreams of glory and wooing French girls with his tales of valor. His eagerness to be a hero quickly faded after being lost for days in Normandy. Now, Courtland just wants to get back home and fighting for the man next to him is the best way to do it.

• Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole: One of the game's true to life characters, killed by an enemy sniper during the game which leads to the mission "Written in Stone" where baker and Paddock find the man who is labeled as a criminal for assassination. He uses an M1A1 Thompson-submachine gun.

• 1st Sgt "Top" Greg "Mac" Hassay: He appears in a cameo role and indeed survives his wound received during the events in Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. He is promoted to 1st Sgt. HE is now acting as an orderly (military assistant) for LT COl Cole and is no longer in command of Baker's platoon. He uses an M1A1 Thompson-submachine gun

• Pfc. Dale "Kid" McCreary: Another face from Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, McCreary is a member of Baker's fire team. It is believed he is the character who Baker stops from hitting the ground during the demonstration video (he does not die in the actual game). He uses an M1 Garand Rifle. Dale has a small packet on his helmet most likely because it's to distinguish him from other soldiers.

• Tank Commander Redwood: Redwood is the player character during the tank missions. He may be a part of the Irish Guards, due to his accent and the fact that is the forward unit of XXX Corps. He introduces himself to Baker by saying "My name's Redwood, we're here to help you get through this shitehole".

• Pfc. Derrick McConnell: Another familiar face from Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, McConnell is a member of Hartsock's fire-team. He uses an M1 Carbine.

• Private James "Jimmy" Roseli: Roseli is a replacement for Hartsock's assault team, he is shown in most videos to be another one who rarely speaks and acts when time calls for it. James replaces Marsh who was switched to the fire team after Normandy. Jimmy was first seen in second dev-diary fighting with Paddock with Hartsock holding Roseli back. He also has a cigarette box attached behind the elastic band on his helmet. He uses an M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle.

• Col. Robert Sink: Commander of the division's 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who appears as a cameo role. Voiced by Dale Dye, who also played as Sink in Band of Brothers.

Limited Edition

Gearbox has officially announced a special, limited edition version of the game. The limited edition includes a 6 inch plastic Sergeant Matt Baker figurine with 13 accessories, a blister pack holding the figurine and accessories, a 32-page Brothers In Arms First Edition Comic book, a full color map of Operation Market Garden, special packaging and 2 more playable multiplayer characters.

Development

Official system requirements

	Minimum	Recommended
Windows
Operating system	Windows XP with Service Pack 3 or Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
CPU	Pentium D 925 3 GHz	2.6 GHz dual-core
Memory	1 GB	2 GB
Free space	8 GB of free space
Graphics hardware	DirectX 9.0c compliant card with 128 MB RAM must support Pixel Shader 3.0ATI RADEON X1600/1650/1950/HD 2000/3000 series and NVIDIA GeForce 6800/7/8/9 series
Sound hardware	DirectX 9.0 or 10.0 compliant
Network	Broadband internet connection with 384 Kbps upstream

On September 15, 2008, Ubisoft & Gearbox announced that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game have gone gold. The Windows version went gold two days later. Playable demos on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network will be available soon.

Reviews

Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway has received generally favorable reviews. As of 28th September 2008, Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway holds a 77% rating (Xbox 360) and a 75% rating (PS3) on the aggregate reviewing site Metacritic.

Eurogamer	70%
TeamXbox	81%
Official Xbox Magazine U.S.	90%
Official Xbox Magazine UK	80%
Computer and Video Games	79%
Video Gamer	80%
PC Gamer UK	80%
PSM3	70%
Game Reactor	70%
IGN	76%
X-Play	3/5
Gamespot	85%

Novel

Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway has also been published into a companion novel for the video game by the video game's historian, Colonel John Antal (United States Army Ret.).

External links

• Official website