Common Sense Media Review
By Brett Molina
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gory WWII shooter doesn't stand out in genre.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say the game provides a mix of approval and concern, highlighting its engaging story and tactical gameplay while acknowledging the graphic content and language. Many reviews note that the ability to toggle off gore and swearing makes it more suitable for younger players, suggesting it could be appropriate for kids aged 10 and up if they can handle some mature themes.
- kid-friendly options
- graphic content
- engaging story
- tactical gameplay
- age suitability
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
With the release of WWII-shooter BROTHERS IN ARMS: HELL'S HIGHWAY, you have to wonder whether war fatigue is starting to set in. The story focuses on Operation Market Garden, a series of battles spanning Germany and Holland after D-Day. As squad leader Sam Baker, you'll lead your troops through the war-torn battlegrounds to defeat German forces. You can also engage in 10 vs. 10 online battles in the multiplayer mode.
Hell's Highway places strong emphasis on cover and suppression. Red dots appear above enemy units. As squad mates fire on them, the dot starts turning grey to signify enemy forces have been suppressed. You can then approach them from a different vantage point and take them out. Squads vary from assault teams with light machine guns to bazooka squads with heavy artillery. Some missions may require you to command tanks to wipe out enemies. This battle system adds a nice layer of strategy. You must survey the landscape, then decide the best approach to defeating enemies. But computer opponents aren't as aggressive with these tactics. They tend to stay entrenched in their positions most of the time, forcing you to flush them out. Rarely do they ever attempt to outflank you.
Is It Any Good?
Hell's Highway portrays a grittier, more graphically violent image of World War II than has been seen in news clips or other games. An Action Cam feature depicts gory views of warfare, like bloody headshots up close or images of limbs being blown off bodies. During one scene where American forces cross a waterway, you'll see arms floating in the water or decapitated bodies.
Ultimately, there's nothing extraordinary that sets Brothers in Arms apart from the stacks of World War II games available. While it boasts of a solid adventure with interesting cover and squad mechanics, there are few exhilarating moments along the campaign that separate itself from the rest of the pack. Combine that with the sometimes repetitive grind of "take cover, shoot, repeat" and you've got merely a competent shooter that blends in with every other title in the genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the combat during WWII in this game compared to what really happened. How accurate was the game in depicting this? Also, with the overwhelming number of games based on WWII, are there wars or periods of history you think developers should focus more on?
Game Details
- Platforms : Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3 , Windows
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : UbiSoft
- Release date : September 25, 2008
- Genre : First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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