Although switching characters every few missions took away from my enjoyment of the game, I found experiencing combat in different locales to be very entertaining. The Eastern and Western campaigns were pretty standard WWII fare, complete with bombed out buildings and abandoned train yards. However, the North African campaign was a blast, mostly because it's a part of the war we haven't seen exposed in many shooters. The bright, sunny deserts were a great contrast to the drab environs seen in the other levels. Most of the level design is linear, as you must move from objective to objective, following the directions given on your onscreen compass. Most of the levels were constructed well, too, except for one in which your sniper took to the sewers. Not the best place for long range shooting, huh?

Though the majority of the game featured some run-of-the-mill ground combat, there are large chunks in which you'll hop behind the controls of a tank, rumbling through the war torn streets from one objective to the next. The standard view for the tank segments is first person, with the trigger firing the main cannon, while clicking the thumbstick will allow you to cut down Nazis with an auxillary machine gun. There is also a third person view (helpful for those moments when you're a bit stuck), as well as one that lets you fire on baddies from atop the tank. The first two were useful, but the last is not: you're a sitting duck up there, and you risk running out of ammo. All in all, the tank segments bring more variety to the game, and they're a nice break between on-foot battles.


Once you finish with the surprisingly short single player campaign, all that's left to do is play against your buddies in the online multiplayer mode. Up to 16 people can do battle across a multitude of maps taken from the single player campaign, and there is a very nice variety, from the wide open Red Square to the cramped sewers of Stalingrad. All of the gametypes you'd expect are available, including deathmatch and Capture the Flag. My personal favorite was the assault games, since instead of protecting (or attacking) one area, you had to deal with two, which really encouraged team movement, rather than forcing everyone to stand around in one spot. While there isn't anything truly groundbreaking in the game's multiplayer mode, it's a nice addition to the game.

Like its PC brethren, audio effects play a huge part in Finest Hour. There are certainly some moments when the directional sound comes in handy particularly during some of the darker segments. The score is excellent, as well, and it will build to a dramatic crescendo during some of the more intense battles, before gently sinking back into the background as you get through danger. The game has a very polished look, too, especially when you take a look at some of the smaller details. All of the weapons are meticulously modeled, all the way down to the movement of the bolt when you fire. I was most impressed, however, with the smooth animation, which runs without a hiccup even when the screen is full of enemies.

While it's certainly not going to steal any thunder from its PC-based brother, Call of Duty: Finest Hour is the best WWII shooter currently available on a console. It's rich with historical details, colorful characters, and interesting locales, and you'll find yourself immersed in the intense combat sequences. Although the single player campaign is on the short side, a solid multiplayer mode will ensure that you'll still be playing it a few months from now. If you're looking to fight in the Big One, it's time to answer the call.