Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

Too often, WWII shooters have tried to create over-the-top missions, having you fight in diverse places across Europe. Variety is nice, but it overshadows the day-to-day struggle of the war's real citizen soldiers and underplays some of the most important campaigns. Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

80%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, grinding

86% User Score Based on 770 reviews

Critic Score 92%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $4.03

About

"Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30" is a historical first-person shooter set during the Normandy invasion in WWII. Players step into the shoes of Sgt. Matt Baker, leading a squad of 101st Airborne Paratroopers in a challenging campaign based on real military tactics and augmented by a revolutionary AI system. The game combines an authentic and immersive atmosphere with an engaging story, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes.

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Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 776 reviews

story133 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

The tactical gameplay is innovative for its time, requiring players to use suppression and flanking strategies to succeed.
The story and character development are engaging, making players feel invested in the squad's survival.
The game offers a unique perspective on WWII, with a focus on realism and historical accuracy.

The AI can be frustratingly incompetent, often leading to squad members getting killed unnecessarily.
The aiming mechanics are clunky, with significant weapon sway making it difficult to hit targets accurately.
The game suffers from bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with checkpoints and character pathfinding.

story
380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The story of "Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30" is widely praised for its emotional depth and historical authenticity, drawing players into the experiences of soldiers during World War II. Many reviewers highlight the strong character development and the immersive narrative that fosters a connection with squad members, making their fates feel significant. However, some critiques mention that while the story is engaging, it can be hampered by dated gameplay mechanics and occasional narrative inconsistencies.
- “The story is fantastic.”
- “The story, the gameplay, and the characters are all top notch.”
- “The story is very enjoyable but the gameplay is soooooo short, but what do you want, from this oldie?”
- “The story is so genuine and so real, and the way it is presented is flawless and genius, making you feel part of it.”
- “The story's damn near non-existent.”
- “It failed at getting me emotionally invested in the characters because there isn’t much development to them and there wasn’t much plot progression or really any significant events that take place throughout the story, only a few.”
gameplay
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
59%
9%
The gameplay of "Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30" is characterized by its unique blend of tactical squad mechanics and first-person shooter elements, emphasizing strategy over the typical run-and-gun approach found in many WWII games. While the game offers a satisfying mix of realism and emotional storytelling, it suffers from clunky mechanics, outdated AI, and occasional frustrating controls, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its age, the core gameplay remains engaging for fans of tactical shooters, though it may feel rough around the edges compared to modern titles.
- “It's not just its uncompromising realism or its emotive theme, it's the whole package -- great looks, fantastic sound, and a gameplay and plot structure that promotes bonding with the men under your command.”
- “The squad commanding functions provide a level of gameplay that you simply cannot find much elsewhere, and the story of Sgt.”
- “Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 immerses players in the World War II setting, offering a unique take on gameplay by highlighting team strategy over the fast-paced run-and-gun style seen in titles like Call of Duty or Medal of Honor.”
- “The gameplay mechanics designed to simulate strategy are easy to learn, albeit overly simplistic and somewhat rough around the edges.”
- “The movement and shooting mechanics of Road to Hill 30 are by far the weakest aspects of the game.”
- “It's a phenomenal game when it works, but you'll come up against a few levels that so badly implement the gameplay that playing through turns from a joy into a chore.”
graphics
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
16%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2005 release, yet many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and immersive environments that still hold up reasonably well. While some criticize the muddy textures and lack of modern polish, others highlight the attention to detail in character animations and settings, suggesting that the visuals, though not cutting-edge, effectively contribute to the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress by today's standards, they are acceptable for their time and do not detract significantly from the gameplay.
- “Visuals also work really well for immersion; the animations look natural, people and environments are faithfully recreated. The visceral blood splatters and minimal but very impactful gore add greatly to the experience.”
- “Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 for an old game has aged like fine wine; the graphics still hold up to this day.”
- “Despite being dated, I think the graphics hold up really well. Animations can be a bit stiff, but everything looks pretty good considering its age.”
- “The graphics are very poor, but mostly the guns are just not accurate or responsive.”
- “Awful graphics, stilted movement controls, and sparse save points make for a tedious frustrating experience.”
- “One is that the visuals have not aged well at all, and even for 2005 this game looks meh.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
59%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the main theme and certain cutscene scores for their emotional impact and orchestral quality, likening them to iconic WWII films. However, some players note a lack of in-game music during missions, which detracts from the overall experience, leading to a perception of the soundtrack as forgettable aside from key moments. Overall, while the soundtrack is celebrated for its composition, its limited presence during gameplay is a notable drawback.
- “The soundtrack still holds up and is probably the best part of the game aside from the unique FPS strategy gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, listening to it might remind you of the soundtrack to Saving Private Ryan or the Band of Brothers series.”
- “When I first popped in the disk and heard the Brothers in Arms theme, the music just hit me right to my core.”
- “There's no music in the game (besides the title screen).”
- “One of the major drawbacks that this game has is the lack of soundtrack.”
- “Honestly, I never notice music during missions.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its exploration of the protagonist's struggles amidst the backdrop of war, creating a strong connection with the characters and their experiences. Players report feeling deeply invested in the storyline, with some even shedding tears during intense moments, despite criticisms of outdated graphics and voice acting. Overall, the game's narrative and character development resonate powerfully, making it a memorable emotional experience, particularly for those familiar with the WWII genre.
- “The game's storyline is engrossing, and you'll find yourself getting emotionally invested in the characters.”
- “Brothers in Arms is one of the only games to actually get me to shed a tear.”
- “The in-between narrative is what really makes Baker's character profound though, because it's evident that the war is affecting him emotionally as some of his men die.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
14%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive depiction of World War II, with players noting the effective use of sound design, environmental effects, and a compelling soundtrack that enhances the experience. Despite some minor criticisms, such as the narrow field of view, the overall ambiance—marked by intense gunfire, realistic battle sounds, and atmospheric visuals—successfully transports players into the chaos of wartime scenarios, making it one of the most atmospheric WWII first-person shooters available.
- “Finally, the game has a great soundtrack that adds to the overall atmosphere.”
- “You’ll be running through the fields of Normandy while mortars are being shot near you, you’ll hear tanks rumbling towards you, each bullet you fire out of your gun is loud, bullets can whiz around you at high speeds, it’s very atmospheric and amazing.”
- “The sound design is top-notch for a game like this and creates a fantastic atmosphere against the set-pieces of D-Day and the skirmishes that followed.”
- “I guess the only thing that stands out a little negatively is the constant cloudy weather, but even that small thing mostly adds to the atmosphere, especially in rainy levels; and a big no-no is the super narrow field of view that you can't change in-game, so if you feel dizzy, be sure to look up a guide on how to increase it.”
- “However, they serve the gameplay well, and some special effects such as dirt clogging your vision and muzzle flashes help reel you into the atmosphere.”
- “+ I guess I can't talk much about this when it was released in 2005, but the graphics, sounds, and atmosphere are fine even by modern standards.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on modern systems like Windows 11 and offers native 4K support, players frequently encounter significant bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including crashes and AI issues. Many users report frustrating experiences with character movement and mission progression due to these technical problems, although some still find the game enjoyable despite its flaws. Overall, while nostalgia and fun elements are present, the stability issues are a notable drawback.
- “Great old game and runs great on Windows 11, with native 4K support and looks fresh as ever.”
- “I don't know what changed, I played this on PC a while ago, but now it doesn't load correctly, crashes, and sometimes freezes my PC.”
- “There is even a level when a key character cannot move over a piece of sidewalk, making the game impossible to finish when it glitches.”
- “The game itself is good but... the game has many glitches and bugs.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive tasks like managing squads and engaging in combat. Many reviews highlight the lack of engaging mechanics, with players often feeling stuck in a cycle of monotonous actions, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some appreciate the historical accuracy and moments of fun, the outdated design and sparse save points contribute to a generally tedious experience.
- “Parts where you have to blow up panzers could suck since 99% of the time you had to use one and done panzerfausts and run back and rearm, very tedious.”
- “The game certainly had its moments, and I could see why people who were kids 15 years ago would love it, but playing it today it just gets tedious running from chest high wall to chest high wall.”
- “I found the squad manipulation painfully tedious; suppress, flank, wash, rinse, repeat.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it unintentionally funny due to glitches and poor voice acting, reminiscent of a "hilariously bad teen drama." Others appreciate the witty banter and character dynamics, highlighting the optimistic and humorous interactions among the characters as they navigate the challenges of war. Overall, the humor can be both a source of amusement and frustration, depending on the context.
- “The voice actor tries to put in emotion and it just ends up being on the level of a hilariously bad teen drama.”
- “There was a part on the last mission where Mac's voice actor just flat out changed, like it was a different guy just kind of reading the lines. I'm not kidding, look it up, it's hilarious.”
- “The characters have great dynamics, interacting and bantering with hilarious dialogue.”
- “Not funny and terrible.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Overall, the game's performance is generally smooth and well-optimized, though some users note the need for adjustments to remove the fps cap and make standard tweaks typical of older titles. However, there are also mentions of unoptimized elements that may affect the experience.
- “In terms of performance and optimization, it's flawless.”
- “Based on my observations, the gameplay runs smoothly, albeit with adjustments needed to eliminate the FPS cap and make typical tweaks, as for any older game.”
- “The game is severely unoptimized, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I can't believe how unoptimized this game is; it struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even on high-end hardware.”
- “The performance issues are a major drawback; the game feels unoptimized and often crashes unexpectedly.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
"Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30" offers decent replayability for completionists through unlockable medals, but the long, unskippable cutscenes can hinder the experience for players looking to replay the game quickly.
- “The story may be great, but the cutscenes are long and unskippable, so replayability can be a bit frustrating at times.”
- “For those seeking replay value, Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 also caters to completionists with unlockable medals.”
- “The story may be great, but the cutscenes are long and unskippable, making replayability a bit frustrating at times.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game features strong character development, particularly for the squadmates, making players genuinely care about them amidst intense WWII combat. While the overall story is gripping, some reviews note that character development is limited outside of the main character, Baker.
- “One of the best WWII shooters ever made, it truly captures the theme of war through its intense firefights and unique combat system. It's a game where you actually care about your squadmates, who each differentiate themselves from one another through great character development.”
- “It's fairly short, but the story and characters are pretty gripping, especially for how little real character development there is for anyone not named Baker.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay, particularly affecting aiming mechanics. While it offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of older WWII shooters, the overall execution, including ballistic mechanics, is deemed subpar compared to more polished titles in the genre.
- “The ads shake all the time, making it difficult to aim.”
- “The ballistic mechanics are also pretty terrible considering that when using ads mode, your weapon sways around like a drunk rhino.”
- “It's standard fare for a WWII FPS before they were all streamlined with regenerating health and ads gameplay; however, Hell's Highway is a much more polished version of this game, so I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to learn how to make an old school WWII shooter.”