Call of Duty: Finest Hour Hands-On

If you draw up two camps and put fans of PCs in one camp and put Console fans in the other, I have never hesitated to throw my lot in with the PC camp. I am one of those PC snobs that think along the lines of 'any game that can be done on a console, can be done better on the PC'. I have been given many good examples by our own console nuts, Petrodon and Smapdey of how that kind of thinking is flawed. However, like most zealots, I continue to try to shoot down their arguments when they are not very strong and just smile and nod, saying we should agree to disagree when I can't beat with them. Physically.

An excercise in futility?

If only all snipers were hot Russian girls, I wouldn't even mind being hit by one.

About a month ago, Activison invited me out to see their new X-Men console title. You may have read the preview or the review and know that I really like that game. On that day when they were showing us X-Men, we took some time during lunch to get a look at another console title Activison were working on. As soon as I sat down at the table to watch the game I felt a slight twinge in my stomach. Something was very different with this console title.

'The graphics are good', I told myself silently, 'They are great actually, but this Call of Duty console title won't be able to compare to the PC versions...right?' I watched as the gritty scenes of combat played out before me, enthralled. I witnessed the details on the guns, tanks and planes, hearing the shouts of my men as they called out orders and cries for support, watching as shells exploded in the midst of enemy units sending the men flying, while planes screamed by overhead. I thought, "Well surely it's not going to be able to be compared to the original title. I mean, it's on a console!" I felt my strong PC convictions begin to waver.

The 30 minutes we spent that day with the developers from Spark passed too quickly. As we headed downstairs back to our super hero mayhem, I told myself that what I had seen was a fluke. I figured it was like a movie trailer, carefully selected scenes that were the best the title had to offer, but surely, that sort of quality could not be maintained through the whole title. Nevertheless, I did not factor in the most important part: the same people responsible for the original PC games Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and Call of Duty were doing this console title.

Present day, I am in San Francisco, having just returned from play session of the latest build of FH, and I am beginning to think I owe Petrodon and Smapdey an apology. Activison and Spark (made up of 30 of the original team that are responsible for the Medal of Honor series) are bringing entirely new content in the form of Call of Duty: Finest Hour to the Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube this fall. And I got to play it. Boy did I get to play it! When I say entirely new, I mean just that; new missions, new music featuring an eighty-piece orchestra and a fifty person choir, six new characters, new areas to fight through and new sounds sure are a good indication that they are not cutting corners on this Call of Duty title just because it's a console game. (Quite the contrary I'd say. - Ed.)

Spark C.O.O. and producer of FH, Scott Langteau told us that the entire team is dedicated to make this title worthy of the Call of Duty franchise and that means doing things right. First, the team brought in two military advisors. Capt. John Hiller and Coronal Hank Keirsey are men who not only have a strong background in military history but also have extensive real world combat experience. They were able to advise the development team on things like team tactics, details specific to how historic battles played out and whatever else was needed to keep the game authentic.

Second, they traveled to the locations that battles took place to get images of the landmarks and buildings so that the battles that take place on the console are as close to the real thing as possible, given the time perspective. Places like Russia, Belgium and Germany.
Third, they conducted exhaustive research (The team is rabid about research, says Scott.) on the weapons and vehicles that were used, searching and reviewing printed information and spending valuable hands on time with them. This ensures that they are modeled correctly, drive right and sound and shoot like the real things.

Aiming at those buildings won't do us any good, private!

You could try and shoot the tires out... I think.

And finally, after putting it all together, they talked to veterans who were actually part of some of the units that were in the game. The team wanted to be sure that they got the details right and that they did not miss anything. In talking to a former member of the famous 761st Black Panther tank division, Sgt. Johnnie Stevens, they garnered information on how tank teams man their tanks in combat. They were able to take this information and adjust the scenario in the game where Russian tanks storm a German held airbase on Christmas Eve to wreak havoc. This is yet another authentic mission that has been recreated with the same attention to detail the team shows for every part of the game to ensure it's authentic.

Authenticity has always been one of the hallmarks of all Call of Duty titles. Another hallmark is action; FH has lots of action. Players get to play as an American G.I., a British PPA commando and even a Russian female sniper among the six distinct characters as they make their way through different locations and missions. Like other Call of Duty titles, the game features the ability to mount vehicles or grab mounted guns to help accomplish mission goals. About 30% of the game play is vehicle-based. The game features over thirty weapons on missions that span from 1942 to 1945 so players will get to experience a wide variety of combat in the expected Call of Duty style. Remember, much of Call of Duty's appeal has been the approach they take that you are not a lone super-solider that makes or breaks important battles, but instead you are part of a team who must work together to accomplish your goals.

And you are going to need the help of your teammates because Finest Hour has a lot going on. As you play the multiple characters in the different campaigns, you will witness hordes of enemies swarming across the battlefield of Stalingrad, planes trying to flee as tanks roll through airfields blowing aircraft to bits, mortar and artillery fire that rains showers of dirt and leaves behind smoking craters. Basically, not the sort of quality or depth I used to expect from a console. It's more. Add in multiplayer support on the PS2 and Xbox for up to 16 players and it makes for a very enticing package.

From what I have seen and learned while here in San Francisco, Call of Duty: Finest Hour could be the console title that is able to bring peace to the warring camps of gamers. We will soon be able to see for certain what sort of impact it has when it ships later this fall.