Forget about all of those action heavy WW2 games, this is as real is it gets.
What I described above is without a doubt a great example of some of the most intense and satisfying gaming moments I have ever had in my life. It's a description of an hour spent with Hidden & Dangerous 2, and it's what you can expect to go through if you grab this game.
We've had tons of games set in the back drop of WWII in the past couple of years. Most of them have been FPS, and some of them have been really good, but none of them, and hear me well, none of them will provide you with the depth of game play and sheer atmospheric tension that H&D2 packs in its three CD's. I have no idea how this one slipped under my radar. I remember that when it came out, most web sites and message boards were complaining about a buggy release, six patches later though, this game is probably very close to what the developers envisioned initially, and what a game it is. One thing you must take into consideration is that this is not a run n' gun type of game. Just like in the old Rainbow Six games, you will fail miserably if your actions are not planned ahead. A methodical approach is necessary in order to overcome the many obstacles Hitler and his gang have prepared for you all over the world.
The main reason why I love this game so much is that you will constantly be put in situations that seem impossible, but with a little thinking you'll be able to conduct some extremely satisfying maneuvers that will bring whole enemy encampments to their knees, or for use of a better word, to their graves.
From a technical standpoint H&D2 is a tight little package. Nothing about the game is really outstanding, but the sum of its parts comes together creating a very compelling experience. One of the aspects I really enjoy about the game is the freedom you are given when it comes to completing a mission's objectives. Right from the start you have the choice to select up to four soldiers from a pool of forty. In order to be successful, the unit you build should have a specialized soldier in each of the following areas: medic, heavy gunner, sniper, and rifleman. With your men selected you then get to out fit them. There is an ample selection of guns, uniforms, gadgets etc… to choose from. Some items are not necessary, but if selected they can really enhance game play. A great example of this is the wire cutters. During the first mission you are tasked with infiltrating a German occupied base. There are several ways in which you could get in, but I decided to go with a combination of stealthy aggression. What I did was place my sniper and medic (with a sten gun) near the entrance and sent my heavy gunner and rifle man with a pair of wire cutters to the side of the base. Once I had stealthily broken in, I had them creep up to a vantage point and unleash a rain of lead onto the enemy. Simultaneously my sniper and medic opened fire on any approaching Nazi scum. This took care of most of the resistance I expected to meet. The sense of accomplishment was amazing. I guarantee you won't feel this sort of rush with Call of Duty 2, especially on the first mission.
Visually the game is good. It might not go shoulder to shoulder with Half Life 2 or even Brothers in Arms, but there are a lot of details here and there that help raise the immersion factor in ways you wouldn't expect. One good example is the authenticity of the uniforms and how they'll show wounds when shot. It matters not whether you heal yourself or not, get shot and you keep the scars to prove it. Animation is also worthy of a pat on the back, most of the time anyway. Soldiers will move realistically across some of the largest and most lovingly crafted levels I have seen in a WWII shooter. Running, crawling, walking, creeping, shooting, all of these actions look good and just like in Splinter Cell, you control the speed movement with the mouse wheel. I wish more games used this feature since it really adds to the character's movement. As for the death animations, I can't say for sure whether they are canned or rag doll based, but they do look very good. Another aspect worth mentioning is the draw distance. You can see for miles on end, allowing you to accurately plan your approach to a given objective. This alone adds tons of believability to the gaming environment. The artistic direction goes for realism and it succeeds. Some of the later levels feature your typical bomb-shelled European towns, and they look quite convincing., but by the time you get there you'll have experienced lavish jungles, snow covered forests, never-ending deserts, ocean-bound military ships, and all manner of interior locales. Once the credits roll you'll feel like you've battled (and defeated) the Nazi War Machine in every imaginable environment. The coolness in these levels doesn't really come from how well they are rendered though, since it's more a combination of little touches that make them feel real. I mentioned the Burma jungle right? Well, once you've cleared the village and walk in, you'll notice how the water drips from the huts' ceilings and then splashes onto the floor. You'll find stuff like this everywhere, like clouds of dust in the desert, or puffs of snow falling from a tree's branch. The levels feel real.
The texture work is kind of a mixed bag. Some textures get really blurry as you close up to them, but at a distance they can look quite decent.
Sound is also well implemented. German soldiers speak in German, Japanese in their tongue, and the English never lose their polite yet imposing tone. There is not too much voice acting, but what is there will add rather than detract from the game. Weapons also sound good, with every one sporting a very distinct and singular oomph. The sten could have sounded better, but overall sound gets the job done. The aural shinning spot is the ambient sound though. Wind, rain, fauna, footsteps, engines; in every level you'll be treated to a very realistic sounding background, and once combined with the visuals, you'll get levels that ooze realism and immersion.
So, is there anything wrong with this three year old game that really didn't do that well at retail, but has a heart of gold? Well, there is; the AI.
I am not saying it's the worst use of AI ever, it's just that every other aspect of the game is so tight that the AI while not being great, just stands out like a fly in a glass of milk. It's sporadic, but every now and then your guy will stand in front of his enemy who's only a few meters away and just won't pull the trigger. What's worst is the enemy will do they same. At one point a similar situation happened to me in one of the desert levels. It was funny because it looked like a cowboy showdown was about to go on, only it never really transcended anywhere from there. I shot them both, for being stupid. Its frustrating spending five minutes in the tactical overview map planning this complex move into an enemy barrack to have it all go sour because one of your guys just decided not to move. It doesn't happen every time, but when it does it is infuriating. Other times you'll have your unit perfectly positioned to make an ambush. You'll give them the order to open fire and only one of them obeys, the others are shot and you are left with either the option of going on as a one man "team," or reloading from your last save. These situations are not the norm, but they do tend to creep up on you when least expect them to, when you least need them.
In other cases the AI will show sparks of brilliance. The enemy will out flank you and your guys will cover your back with determination. In the first level there is a spot where you come across a stuck Nazi truck. My orders were simple; seek and destroy. The enemy was alerted and ran for cover, so did my guys. As a matter of fact, I was the only idiot crouching smack in the center of the clearing, nonetheless, we got them. I think I fired like one or two shots at most, since it was my brave companions who took care of the threat out of their own battle-ready instincts.
I think it is rather obvious that I really liked H&D2. The game is no where near perfect and has a few flaws that can drive you insane. But, if you are looking for a game that will make you think just as much as it will make you shoot, then this is the one for you. It is different from every other WWII inspired game in the market in that it trades the scripted nature of the big budget titles, for a game play experience that you can customize to your tastes and playing style.