Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The heart of Brothers in Arms DS lies in its tactical third-person shooter mechanics. Players take on the role of an American paratrooper fighting through three historic campaigns—Normandy, North Africa, and Ardennes. The game emphasizes cover-based shooting, flanking maneuvers, and coordinated squad tactics to outsmart enemy positions. Each mission challenges you to think strategically rather than simply run-and-gun, rewarding careful planning and effective use of suppressive fire.

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On the Nintendo DS, controls are split between traditional buttons and the touch screen. The D-pad and face buttons handle movement and shooting, while the touch screen lets you direct your squad with simple taps. Calling in a flank, ordering a suppressive barrage, or regrouping behind cover feels intuitive, though managing both screens during intense firefights occasionally leads to fumbling. Still, the control scheme is a solid adaptation of the console Brothers in Arms experience to a handheld format.

With 16 single-player missions, the game alternates between sniper assignments, grenade assaults, theft of enemy documents, and large-scale firefights. The newly added Ardennes campaign brings fresh mission designs that complement the remade Normandy and North Africa encounters. Objectives vary enough to keep the pacing tight, whether you’re scouting under the cover of night or leading a frontal assault on a fortified position.

Multiplayer extends the replayability by offering up to four-player matches in modes such as Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Objective Defense. Local DS wireless play is smooth, and matches feel tense as squads attempt to outmaneuver one another. While lacking online support, the local multiplayer is a welcome addition that encourages strategic cooperation or competitive skirmishes among friends.

Graphics

For a Nintendo DS title, Brothers in Arms DS delivers surprisingly detailed environments. Tight alleyways in Normandy, sun-baked dunes in North Africa, and snow-covered hedgerows in the Ardennes each possess distinct visual identities. Texture work is commendable given the hardware constraints, with sandbags, barbed wire, and scattered debris lending authenticity to battlefield scenes.

Character models and animations are functional if not breathtaking. Soldiers duck into cover with believable motion, and recoil animations convey the punch of .30-06 rifles and submachine guns. Explosions and smoke effects on the top screen add dramatic flair, though the lower-resolution second screen sometimes suffers from pop-in when enemies emerge from hiding spots.

Lighting and shading make good use of the DS’s limited palette. Dawn breaks over a landing zone with warm hues, while night missions rely on muted colors and spotlights to heighten tension. The overall art direction leans toward realistic rather than stylized, reinforcing the game’s commitment to historical immersion.

Story

Brothers in Arms DS weaves its narrative through mission briefings, in-game dialogue, and occasional cutscenes. Though the DS hardware limits cinematic presentation, the story still conveys the camaraderie and hardship experienced by American paratroopers during World War II. Squadmates banter in the trenches, exchanging quips under fire, which fosters a genuine sense of brotherhood.

The campaign structure moves you through three pivotal theaters of war. In Normandy, you relive the chaos of the beach landings and hedgerow battles. North Africa missions emphasize desert mobility and ambush tactics, while Ardennes assignments evoke the bitter cold and surprise of the Battle of the Bulge. These shifts in setting keep the narrative fresh and underscore the global scale of the conflict.

While plot twists and character development are modest, the game’s primary strength lies in its authenticity. Mission objectives reference real operations, and weapon loadouts reflect historically accurate German and Allied arsenals. Text briefings include military jargon and firsthand accounts, giving context to each engagement and fostering appreciation for the sacrifices made by WWII soldiers.

Overall Experience

Brothers in Arms DS is a commendable adaptation of the Earned in Blood 3D mobile game, expanded with new missions and an entire Ardennes campaign. It balances action and tactics in a portable package, delivering an experience that feels at home on handheld screens without sacrificing strategic depth. Fans of WWII shooters will appreciate the emphasis on squad coordination over lone-wolf heroics.

Despite occasional performance hiccups and the inherent limitations of the DS hardware, the game stands out for its ambitious scope. Sixteen single-player missions provide hours of gameplay, and local multiplayer breathes new life into repeat sessions. The intuitive touch-screen squad commands add a layer of interactivity not often seen in DS shooters.

For prospective buyers seeking a portable WWII experience, Brothers in Arms DS offers a robust blend of historical immersion and tactical gameplay. Its varied environments, authentic weaponry, and engaging mission design make it a worthwhile addition to any DS library—especially for those who enjoy leading a squad under fire and making every shot count.

While purists might wish for larger maps or online play, the game’s technical achievements on the DS platform remain impressive. Whether you’re storming the beaches of Normandy or braving the Ardennes winter, Brothers in Arms DS delivers a memorable, if occasionally rough-around-the-edges, glimpse into the trials of World War II infantry combat.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10