Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire
- December 20, 2017
- Illusion Softworks
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire" is a tactical shooter game set in World War II, where you lead a small squad of Allied soldiers on secret missions across Europe, Africa, and Asia. This version includes nine new campaigns in France, Africa, and Sicily, with the option to play alone or co-op with friends. Your strategic decisions directly impact your team and the outcome of the mission, making it a thinking person's shooter.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Hidden & Dangerous 2 is a classic tactical shooter that remains engaging and enjoyable even 20 years after its release, showcasing innovative gameplay mechanics that surpass many modern titles.
- The game offers a rich variety of missions and environments, allowing players to approach objectives with different strategies, whether through stealth or direct confrontation.
- The immersive atmosphere, detailed settings, and the ability to customize squad members and their equipment contribute to a unique and rewarding gameplay experience.
- The AI can be inconsistent, with friendly soldiers sometimes acting irrationally, which can lead to frustrating moments during missions.
- The controls and user interface are considered clunky and outdated, requiring players to remap keys for a more comfortable experience.
- The game suffers from bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall experience, especially for new players unfamiliar with its mechanics.
- story163 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 87 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is set during World War II, immersing players in a richly detailed and historically accurate environment where they command a squad of elite British paratroopers on diverse and challenging missions. Each mission is unique, requiring strategic planning and offering multiple approaches, from stealth to full assault, while cutscenes and character interactions enhance the narrative experience. Despite some technical issues and frustrating mission mechanics, the overall storyline and mission variety have left a lasting impression on players, evoking nostalgia and a sense of attachment to the characters and their backgrounds.
“Immersive WWII setting: set during World War II, the game immerses players in a richly detailed and historically accurate world, where every mission feels like a journey back in time.”
“The story-driven campaigns really do give the impression that you're executing a very serious and important situation which has the potential to change and evolve depending on your actions.”
“I played this game for years... for me, Hidden & Dangerous 2 is a pure masterpiece... it captured me to the storyline, to the woods of Norway, to the deserts of Africa.”
“This game is chock full of bugs, a terrible initial controls setup, a bad polish in terms of story particularly towards the end, and has generally frustrating and unclear basic game mechanics that make it very difficult to predict the course of a mission, which is arguably this game's most basic gameplay element.”
“The sabre squadron expansion adds new campaigns and some new weapons, but some missions cannot be completed stealthily and there's no option to take enemy uniforms, which is a shame.”
“On the hardest difficulty, capturing enemy soldiers is disabled and the game is unbeatable as in the Alps mission the goal is to capture the truck driver, get his uniform, ID, and steal the truck.”
- gameplay58 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Hidden & Dangerous 2 is praised for its innovative mechanics and strategic depth, offering a blend of tactical squad management and WWII-era action that remains engaging despite its age. While the game features a variety of approaches to missions, including stealth and direct combat, it suffers from dated AI and occasional frustrating mechanics that can detract from the experience. Overall, it is considered a hidden gem that provides a unique and challenging gameplay experience, appealing to fans of tactical shooters.
“Hidden & Dangerous 2 stands as an absolute gem among tactical shooters, offering a captivating blend of World War II-era action and strategic gameplay.”
“Planning missions, commanding a squad, and executing precise strategies are the keys to success, providing a rewarding experience for fans of strategic gameplay.”
“The attention to detail, ambiance, interesting and complex game mechanics, excellent music and sound effects, and intensely satisfying gameplay all make this game great.”
“Dated gameplay, really rough mechanics that can be borderline unfair at times, and terrible AI where the enemy forgets you ever existed after a few minutes, and your allies are so stupid they'll try to climb on top of razor wire and die.”
“This game is chock full of bugs, a terrible initial controls setup, a bad polish in terms of story particularly towards the end, and has generally frustrating and unclear basic game mechanics that make it very difficult to predict the course of a mission, which is arguably this game's most basic gameplay element.”
“Some missions feel unfair, as you cannot do a whole lot to improve your situation, like an on-rail defense section (that feels woefully out of place gameplay-wise) or a mission where you're bombarded by artillery and it's pretty much the luck of the draw if you'll be able to make it through.”
- graphics52 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Hidden and Dangerous 2" are widely acknowledged as outdated, reflecting its nearly 20-year-old origins, yet many players appreciate the charm and detail that still hold up reasonably well compared to contemporary titles. While some minor graphical issues are noted, the game's visuals are often described as serviceable and even impressive for its time, with calls for a modern remake to enhance the experience. Overall, players suggest that those who prioritize gameplay over graphics will find much to enjoy despite the visual limitations.
“The game sports some gorgeous graphics and powerful audio.”
“What impresses me even more are its graphics; they are pretty good considering when this game was made!”
“The graphics look great for a game from 2003; the game feels great to control, and it is chock-full of content, including different ways to play the single-player missions.”
“The graphics are outdated; it is almost a 20-year-old game.”
“Graphically it's a 2003 game, so you are not going to get the eye candy of some of today's offerings.”
“Of course, graphics are very dated, but there are remaster mods available to improve graphics as well as other aspects.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, often described as unmatched by modern titles. Reviewers highlight the combination of engaging mechanics, a compelling story, and atmospheric sound design, which together create a nostalgic yet intense experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay and emotional engagement.
“This game was a part of my childhood and it's still as good as I remember it to be. It has some of the most interesting mechanics and better atmosphere and story than modern shooters today; it can be hard as nails though and definitely more of a thinking man's shooter.”
“Nothing has really come close to the great mechanics, story, and general atmosphere this game offers.”
“Challenging gameplay, superb atmosphere, and a great soundtrack.”
“All I can say is that it is indeed a very old game; however, it has an atmosphere that no other game of this day and age has, and I cannot recommend it enough!”
“Atmosphere cannot be beat.”
“It's just the right mix of intense and challenging, and the atmosphere cannot be beat.”
- music14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its orchestral quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its effectiveness in creating an immersive experience. However, some players criticize the repetitive nature of the tracks, which can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a desire to turn the music off after extended play. Despite these drawbacks, the soundtrack remains a highlight for many, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
“Plus it has an amazing atmosphere and a great soundtrack.”
“The attention to detail, ambiance, interesting and complex game mechanics, excellent music and sound effects, and intensely satisfying gameplay all make this game great.”
“Once you're dropped into that large Norwegian woods, looking at the beautiful skybox, light sources barely illuminating the soft mist, listening to the ambient music of the level, you'll feel that all your pain during keyboard mapping and training level definitely pays off.”
“The gunplay and movement is satisfying, the graphics are serviceable, the vehicles are meh, the sound is used sparingly but effectively until the music loop drives you mad.”
“The music changes with each environment, but repeats the same short tracks over and over.”
“It was tolerable when I played the game years ago, but nowadays, I turn the music off for this reason alone.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its ambition and detail, but it suffers from numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay and mission progression. While some players appreciate its status as one of the best WWII shooters, the stability issues, including problematic AI, detract from the overall experience.
“Yes, the number of bugs and glitches is great, but that is because the game was so ambitious and detailed; unfortunately, the technology back then wasn't that advanced yet.”
“- Flaws of older games, bugs in missions which prevent you from finishing missions and progressing through the campaign, and other glitches.”
“- It has quite a few bugs and glitches, as well as terrible allied AI.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its extensive campaign and diverse mission variety, providing players with hours of engaging content. While some users note that it may not be as replayable as other titles, the combination of a long campaign and enjoyable gameplay makes it a worthwhile experience. Additionally, players are encouraged to update their registry entries for optimal performance.
“The content, multiplied by its replayability ensures that it is definitely value for money and I couldn't recommend it enough!”
“The levels, the replayability, hell, even the soundtrack in the main menu is on point.”
“Great variety of missions and replay value.”
“Not that replayable but has one hell of a long campaign!”
“Even the graphic performance has been outdated, but it's still more playable than most FPS fast food games where you just need to pull the trigger before reaching your destination.”
“The content, multiplied by its replayability, ensures that it is definitely value for money and I couldn't recommend it enough!”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding the dialogue and voice acting to be amusing, albeit sometimes unintentionally due to poor execution. Many users appreciate the comedic moments and memorable experiences, while others highlight the humor stemming from the game's flaws, particularly in AI behavior. Overall, the game is seen as fun and entertaining, contributing to its positive reception.
“The dialogue is pretty humorous at times!”
“AI is hilariously bad sometimes, though.”
“I have a lot of very nice and funny memories from that.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While the graphics may feel outdated, the game's optimization allows for a more engaging and skill-based experience compared to many fast-paced FPS titles, enabling players to develop their skills and earn rewards based on performance.
“Even though the graphic performance is outdated, it's still more playable than most fast-paced FPS games where you just need to pull the trigger to reach your destination.”
“Players will develop their skills and earn medals and ranks based on their performance.”
“Even the graphic performance is outdated, but it's still more playable than most FPS fast-food games where you just need to pull the trigger before reaching your destination.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than game-breaking, as the ability to manually switch between characters offers some control over the experience.
“Since you can manually switch to each character, it's not exactly game-breaking; it's more tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the gameplay feel monotonous.”
