Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Brothers in Arms: D-Day brings the tactical shooter experience to the PSP with surprising depth and intensity. Players take command of Sgt. Matthew Baker and Cpl. Joe Hartstock, issuing orders through a streamlined radial menu that adapts the series’ trademark birds-eye “Brothers” view to handheld controls. This perspective allows you to pause the action, mark enemy positions, and coordinate bazooka teams or mortar fire with pinpoint accuracy—essential when you’re outnumbered and need every advantage.

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The cover and suppression mechanics remain at the core of the experience, encouraging you to use duck-and-prone maneuvers to gain the upper hand. In contrast to run-and-gun shooters, D-Day rewards careful positioning: you can direct your squad to flank enemy emplacements, destroy cover with focused fire, or lay down suppressive barrages as you advance. The addition of destructible environments heightens this tactical layer; sandbags and wooden crates shatter realistically under sustained attack, forcing you to rethink your approach on the fly.

Beyond the single-player campaign, the PSP-exclusive multiplayer options provide hours of cooperative fun. You can tackle 12 skirmish missions via Wi-Fi Ad Hoc or dive into a four-mission co-op campaign that demands tight teamwork and coordination. Whether you’re calling in mortar strikes on a defended farmhouse or racing to secure an objective under fire, the multiplayer modes capture the frantic camaraderie of squad-based warfare without overstaying their welcome.

Graphics

Given the limitations of the PSP hardware, D-Day delivers impressive visual fidelity. Character models are detailed enough to distinguish Baker and Hartstock, while German infantry maintain a variety of uniforms and loadouts that keep encounters visually fresh. Textures on buildings and terrain feel suitably weathered, evoking the mud, rubble, and makeshift defenses of the Normandy hedgerows.

The lighting system does a remarkable job of simulating shifting daylight and smoky battlefields. Explosions bloom realistically, and muzzle flashes illuminate nearby objects for split seconds, adding to the tension. Water reflections in flooded craters and the occasional lens flare at dawn missions demonstrate that the engine was carefully optimized to squeeze every drop of performance from the PSP.

Animations are fluid, particularly when transitioning into cover positions or reloading under fire. Enemy soldiers react believably—ducking for cover, feinting grenades, or scrambling to suppress your team. Occasional slowdown can occur during chaotic firefights with numerous explosions, but it rarely disrupts the flow of combat or the immersive atmosphere.

Story

The narrative in Brothers in Arms: D-Day follows a familiar yet effective blueprint, casting you as Sgt. Matthew Baker and Cpl. Joe Hartstock during the pivotal Normandy campaign. Although the story reuses key missions from Road to Hill 30 and Earned in Blood, the writing and voice acting remain solid, providing enough personality to keep you invested in your squad’s survival and success.

Each mission highlights a different facet of small-unit tactics, framed by briefings that ground the action in historical context. Whether you’re storming a fortified farm or crossing an open field under enemy fire, snippets of radio chatter and character banter reinforce the camaraderie—and dread—of frontline combat. While there aren’t any jaw-dropping plot twists, the narrative serves its purpose by motivating each tactical engagement.

Newly added cutscenes and dialogue expand on the relationships between Baker, Hartstock, and their “brothers” in arms. These touches deepen the emotional weight of losses and successes, making each hard-won victory feel earned. The story culminates in satisfying fashion, reminding players why the series is celebrated for its blend of action and authenticity.

Overall Experience

Brothers in Arms: D-Day stands out as one of the PSP’s best handheld shooters, marrying series-defining tactics with portable convenience. The control scheme is intuitive once you’ve mastered the dual analog and face-button layout, and the responsive AI makes every firefight a test of wits and reflexes. The mixture of remixed missions and new content ensures both franchise veterans and newcomers find something to enjoy.

The portable format may limit graphical polish compared to console or PC counterparts, but the core experience remains intact. Destructible covers, varied weaponry, and expanded teammate abilities work together to deliver a robust tactical challenge. Multiplayer via Ad Hoc extends replayability and fosters social competition, perfect for gathering friends for impromptu firefights.

In short, Brothers in Arms: D-Day is a triumph of adaptation. It captures the tension, strategy, and atmosphere of World War II squad combat in a compact package. If you own a PSP and crave a more thoughtful shooter than the average run-and-gun affair, Sgt. Baker’s mission to retake Normandy is well worth enlisting for.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10