Evan Birkby, the QA Director here at Gearbox, has given BiA DS a close look. He provided me with some information about the game - we've been getting tons of questions about it, so I thought I'd share what resources I could gather with you all and talk about this cool new addition to the Brothers in Arms world! Evan's write-up about the game follows:
With Brothers in Arms DS, gamers can now experience rich 3D BiA action right on their own DS. The innovative interface allows the player to use the stylus and control buttons to have easy access to the third-person action and well-designed gameplay.
Making a 3D game look good on the DS was a clear goal of the design team, and I believe they really succeeded at that goal. The player can move through the 3D world with a remarkable amount of control and freedom. Perspective and distance are modeled very nicely, allowing the player to use a variety of tactics - including the use of cover and flanking, which have been hallmarks of the Brothers in Arms series. Characters are well-animated and special effects such as explosions and smoke are done particularly well.
The audio in the game is high quality and sounds authentic. Hearing the clatter of tank tracks or the zing of bullets can really bring the player into the intense combat experience. As with other BIA games, the music has a lot to add to the enjoyment of the game experience as well.
Although the player does not command squad mates in this Brothers in Arms game, there is still the presence of friendly soldiers that can help in big fire fights. The player is able to drive vehicles and has a good variety of weapon types to choose from. Much has been done to give the player interesting and fun objectives and the game is diverse and can be quite challenging at times.
The main issue for the game being fun will likely come back to these issues - does it play well, and does it look good? My answer to both questions is yes, and more importantly I believe players will find the feature set to be a good balance. The engine puts a lot of detail and fun stuff on the screen at the same time. It can be a matter of opinion how much one is willing to sacrifice in smooth game play for higher detailed graphics. I believe the designers got it right for this game. The graphics are crisp enough to really enjoy and see targets with and the game runs smooth enough to make aiming and moving around a fun experience.
This was not the kind of game I expected would work for a DS but this design really did work for me and make me change the way I think about the DS as a 3D game system. My DS is more capable than I realized and this game is a lot of fun.
QA Director
Gearbox Software
If a game can impress our QA Director, it gets a big round of applause in my book. Way to go, Gameloft! BiA DS features 16 missions in three different campaigns, and utilizes the unique DS hardware to bring you a Brothers in Arms experience you won't want to miss... but don't just take OUR word for it! IGN and Gamespot have both published previews and have given the game some glowing remarks! For more info about the game, you can visit the Ubisoft page for BiA DS, which has a feature list!
Don't forget to check out the trailer! Be prepared to rush out to the nearest game retailer to get your hands on BiA DS!
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