Activision brings its epic and intense World War II (WWII) seriesCall of Duty to the Xbox®. Combining historical accuracy, majestic cinematography, and overwhelmingly fast-paced action,Call of Duty™: Finest Hour™ is a deeply immersive gaming experience.
First-person-action fans take on the common roles of six Allied soldiers in three key theaters of operation to topple the evil Nazi war machine. You'll play as a Russian sniper defending her home at the siege at Stalingrad, as an American tanker from the famed 761 Black Panther Tank Battalion in the liberation of Belgium, and as a Brit commando fighting the desert campaign in North Africa.
Experience the siege at Stalingrad.
The Stalingrad mission in Call of Duty: Finest Hourbegins in a small rowboat. Your character is one of thousands about to storm the gates outside Stalingrad. As your sergeant tells you, in no uncertain terms, your job is to kill Germans and force them out of the city. It won't be easy, though. The Nazis are firmly entrenched and have the shoreline covered with a series of machine gun nests and concrete bunkers—and at first, you don't even have a weapon. Machine gun bullets cut down your comrades every step of the way as you follow your sergeant up to the walls of the city. Along the way, you'll acquire a weapon and learn the basics of movement, taking cover, and using health packs to stay alive.
Just as other great WWII first-person titles have done with the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Invasion of Normandy, Call of Duty: Finest Hour captures the vast and almost overwhelming scale of the siege at Stalingrad. You get the real sense that a war is going on … a huge, sprawling, city-wide conflict where heroes are made and soldiers die by the hundreds. Muzzle flashes light up room interiors in the distance as glowing tracer rounds show how close their fire is getting. Thick smoke blocks out the night sky, but the scene is lit up by burning buildings and mortar fire. All the while, you hear soldiers shouting and screaming as your sergeant tries to make sure you hear the orders that will keep you alive. It's a jarring, nerve-racking experience, but it does approximate what it must have been like for the young men who were tossed onto the battlefield and expected to fight however they could.
Europe lies in ruins.
After delivering this initial rush of panic and overwhelming dread, the game starts making more specific mission objectives clear. This doesn't mean things get easier, however. One of the first things you have to do is visit three separate German machine gun positions and take them out. And, of course, they're shooting at you all the while. There is no shortage of large-scale battles, but there are also missions that require a sneakier touch, like sabotage and sniper missions. Some of the Great War's iconic vehicles are also ready for action, both on rails and free-roaming. The weapons, vehicles, and ordinance have all been created with painstaking attention to authenticity.
Whether if you're on foot as a Russian infantryman or behind the wheel of an American tank, the action is fast and furious. The enemies are numerous and well-disciplined. Don't expect these Nazis to break ranks or disobey orders because, if they're told to hold a position, they hold it until every last one of them is dead. Luckily, each of the Allied soldiers is supported by an A.I.-controlled squad, and with teamwork, you can keep the enemy contained and off-balance until you're ready to mount your own offensive.
Tank battle!
Speaking of teamwork, Call of Duty: Finest Hour also supports online multiplayer via Xbox Live™. Last year’s PC game drew as many rabid fans for its online component as it did for the immersive and intense single-player campaign. The all-new Xbox version packs the same kind of fast-action and on-the-fly squad tactics, and you can choose to play as either Axis or Allies in any of the online modes.
While the competition among WWII-themed first-person action games is intense, Activision has made sure to give Call of Duty: Finest Hour an identity all its own with its cinematic global scale, intense action, and deeply immersive gameplay.
