Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood on J2ME takes the storied console shooter and reimagines it in a 2D top-down format. You’ll command your soldier through ten Allied missions that span from the chaos of Omaha Beach to the sands of North Africa and finally into the streets of Berlin. Despite the shift away from full 3D, the game delivers a tight, action-packed experience where map awareness and positioning are key to survival.

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Throughout each mission, you’re supported by AI-controlled teammates who provide covering fire, request backup, or push forward on their own. While they add a slice of squad tactics, most objectives still rest squarely on your shoulders. You’ll find yourself clearing buildings, capturing tanks, or eliminating high-value targets alone, relying on smart use of cover and timely grenades to manage enemy swarms.

Weapon variety keeps combat fresh. Beyond your standard rifle, destructible crates hide ammo packs, health kits, and heavy hitters like the bazooka or flamethrower. Tossing grenades into clustered foes or luring soldiers near explosive barrels can quickly turn a dire situation in your favor. Tanks and stationary machine guns are also fair game—hop into a tank turret to mow down waves of infantry or fire shells that tear through obstacles and enemy armor alike.

Progression is punctuated by short cutscenes that frame each operation, and generous checkpoint saves ensure you’re not retracing entire levels after a slip-up. The combo reward system—rewarding rapid kills and precise shots—adds an additional layer of challenge for completionists. Occasional airstrikes and bomber attacks break up the ground skirmishes, forcing you to scramble for cover or risk being blown off the map.

Graphics

Visually, Earned in Blood embraces a colorful, sprite-based style reminiscent of the Metal Slug series. While it doesn’t boast polygonal models, the hand-drawn environments and character sprites are surprisingly detailed for a J2ME title. Crates, sandbags, and terrain features pop with enough clarity to differentiate cover from hazards at a glance.

Animation is smooth even during frenzied firefights. Soldiers duck behind walls, tanks trundle across the battlefield with believable weight, and explosions light up the screen with fiery flair. Subtle touches—like smoke rising from destroyed barrels or debris scattering after a shell impact—add to the sense of a living, dynamic war zone.

The top-down perspective keeps you informed of enemy positions and chokepoints, but it can sometimes make elevation changes a bit unclear. Differentiating between ground levels or spotting snipers perched on rubble heaps occasionally demands trial and error. Still, the vibrant color palette ensures that enemies never blend into the background, and vital pickups always stand out.

Cutscene stills are basic but serviceable, using static images with text overlays to convey mission briefings. It’s a modest approach, but one that keeps loading times brief and maintains the game’s brisk pace between levels.

Story

Earned in Blood’s narrative is straightforward: you’re an Allied soldier tasked with turning the tide of World War II. From the Normandy landings to street fights in Berlin, the game stays tightly focused on the action, offering just enough context to motivate each mission without bogging you down in lengthy exposition.

Character development is minimal, but the camaraderie of your AI squad hints at the Bonds of Brotherhood theme. Teammates occasionally shout orders or warnings, reinforcing the sense that you’re part of a unit rather than a lone wolf. These brief interactions, though simple, help ground the game in its wartime setting.

Because missions are sliced into discrete objectives—capture the tank, clear the courtyard, secure the bunker—the narrative flows like a series of vignettes. Each segment feels like a snapshot of a larger campaign, which keeps the pacing tight and prevents fatigue from overly long levels. By the time you storm the Führer’s castle, you’ve already experienced the full arc from beachhead to enemy capital.

While fans seeking a deep, character-driven plot may be left wanting, the game’s punchy storytelling serves its fast-paced design. It’s all about moment-to-moment thrills rather than emotional drama, and it pulls this off with flair.

Overall Experience

Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood for J2ME is an impressive feat of mobile adaptation. By translating a 3D console shooter into a vibrant 2D top-down experience, it delivers accessible yet challenging gameplay that holds up in short bursts or marathon sessions. Checkpoints are generous, and the progression of weapon power keeps you eager to see what each new level offers.

The lack of true 3D may deter players expecting a handheld mirror of the console original, but the game’s design choices feel deliberate. The top-down view provides strategic clarity during large engagements, and the arsenal ensures every firefight feels dynamic. AI teammates occasionally stray from cover, but never enough to derail a mission or break immersion.

Performance is rock-solid even on lower-end devices, with minimal load times and responsive controls. The colorful graphics and suitably bombastic sound effects capture the chaos of WWII combat, while the compact story beats keep you charging forward. Between Metal Slug-style destructibility and tactical squad elements, Earned in Blood strikes a satisfying balance between arcade thrills and military action.

For anyone craving portable WWII action or seeking a taste of Brothers in Arms on the go, this J2ME version is a solid pick. Its blend of engaging gameplay, crisp visuals, and streamlined storytelling make it a standout among mobile shooters of its era.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10