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Brothers in Arms DS

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8.6 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
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Based on 22 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Gameloft

Genre(s): Third-Person Shooter

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: June 19, 2007

Summary

(Also known as "Brothers in Arms: War Stories") Brothers In Arms DS brings all the action and strategy of the series to a handheld, utilizing the DS Touch Screen to control the squad. Exclusively designed for Nintendo DS with easy-to-use, stylus-based controls such as using the Touch Screen to aim, with the camera following the stylus. Features detailed 3-D environments with highly believable characters and enemies, cinematic camera angles, and great animation. Drive a recon car or a Sherman Tank. Use a wide range of weapons such as bazookas, sniper rifles, grenades and more to destroy your enemy. 16 Missions and Three Different Campaigns: Relive the intensity of WWII through three different campaigns, from Normandy to North-Africa and Ardennes. Redesigned New Multiplayer Experience: Fight major multiplayer battles with three of your friends in different multiplayer modes, including Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. Contextual Movements: Gameplay adapted to the Nintendo DS hardware with auto-cover behind walls or auto-recovering life system. Experience a stronger emotional factor, due to the third-person view and dialogue between soldiers. [Ubisoft]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameFAQs

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Cheat Code Central

An excellent example of what can be done on the DS platform when a developer puts enough time and effort into a project.

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Nintendo Power

If not for a few minor AI, collision, and camera issues, this game might have been a contender for the first perfect-10 rating in Nintendo Power History. [Aug 2007, p.86]

Play.tm

Gearbox Software have managed to squeeze another ounce or two of power out of the DS, and it's all put to very good use. The game ultimately makes a success of itself because the experience is not only believable, but great fun to play.

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Game Almighty

An extremely fun and well-designed game that sets a new standard in terms of graphics and sound. If it proves successful, we will hopefully see a slew of shooters arrive for the platform, shooters that will hopefully implement WiFi Connect so we can all start going head-to-head.

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Game Chronicles

Brothers in Arms DS pushes all the boundaries of technology while delivering a solid action war game whose only fault is that it is over all too quickly.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

You'll be amazed at what the developers are squeezing out of the DS. [July 2007, p.78]

Games Master UK

Far better than we had any right to expect - this is solid third-person action on DS. [Aug 2007, p.77]

NGamer UK

A full console game intelligently squeezed into a handheld. [Sept 2007, p.58]

games(TM)

There’s no reason why sharpshooters shouldn’t like this version as much as any other. [July 2007, p.112]

IGN

It looks and sounds absolutely fantastic, and the gameplay is almost up to that same quality.

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Worth Playing

My personal opinions about the overproduction of WW2 titles aside, Brothers in Arms DS is utterly playable and an incredibly ambitious graphical step for the DS. It's slick, action-packed and surprisingly atmospheric for such a small screen, although its problems are very noticeable, and getting shot through supposed "cover" can get extremely irritating.

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Computer and Video Games

Brothers In Arms DS is a good little action-shooter that makes great use of the DS's unique interface. With the tactical aspect of its gameplay removed in favour of a linear action approach, it loses some of its style and identity, but it's nevertheless the first war shooter for DS, and sets a high standard to beat.

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GamingTrend

Brothers in Arms: War Stories would have seriously benefited from some focus group testing, especially considering the fact that playing the game can bring on physical pain. It isn't a bad game, it just...really doesn't feel necessary.

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GameShark

Though Brothers in Arms DS is admittedly short and has only a 'barely-there' multiplayer component the single-player gameplay is involving and the engine shows off what the DS is capable of doing.

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GameZone

A technically impressive game, but a few weak elements keep it from being a truly great game.

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GameDaily

It'd be great to see a sequel with better multiplayer options and a few more single-player goodies. These war stories deserve a read – and definitely an expansion.

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AceGamez

Unlike its more strategic predecessors, Brothers In Arms DS is an out-and-out shooter, and the fast action, the usefully wide-angled over-the-shoulder camera, the intuitive controls and the short missions all combine to make this a brilliant handheld game. Make no mistake - shortcomings aside, this is fantastic.

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Thunderbolt

It may be a little short but the replayability comes in from the extra difficult levels and their newly gained in-game bonus features.

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Game Informer

It’s too bad that the game feels so bad. Literally, this hurts to play. The controls are a mess. My hand cramped shooting with L and aiming with a stylus.

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PALGN

Good while it lasts. It’s just a pity it doesn’t last very long.

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VideoGamer

Quite how Gearbox's pocket shooter turns so many negatives into such a playable game is inexplicable, but sometimes the most unpolished combat boots are the most comfortable.

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G4 TV

The controls just feel flawed and the mission design is remarkably uninspired.

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GameSpot

With Brothers In Arms DS, Ubisoft has proven that it's technically possible to bring the series to the DS--but just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

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GameSpy

If you're looking for a break from the usual DS fare of brain boosters and quirky "impress the girl by beating a billion mini-games" titles, this game will fill the need. But for those looking for a more definitive way to defeat Hitler -- and in the original "story boards" for the war, he sported a Fu Manchu moustache -- the wait continues.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Besides some seriously bad camera angles where you lose sight of the action briefly and a skimpy wireless multiplayer mode, Brothers in Arms DS is a solid WWII action experience. It lacks the high gloss HD-ness of its console counterparts, but makes up for it in cinematic quality and pacing.

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Eurogamer

With some tighter programming, and far fewer invisible barriers and dumb deaths, BiA could have been rather good. As it is - flawed and fun - it's a fantastic signpost.

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1UP

Impressive a feat as creating a 3D shooter with cinematic aspirations for the DS may be, it doesn't mean much when it's not fundamentally fun to play.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 22 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

J V gave it a9:
I think the graphics in this 3D shooter are great and what help to send this game over the top. I'm a bit surprised at the critic's reviews. The user ratings would be more accurate in my opinion. I have completed this game and can say the game overall was alot of fun and somewhat challenging at times. I liked the fact that you had multiple weapons at your disposal and were able to drive various military vehicles. I have several games and this one is in my top 3 list!

2 1337 4 U gave it a7:
This is an okay game for the DS. The graphics are pretty good, considering it is a DS game, and the controls feel very nice. Also, the wide variety of weapons is pretty cool. I do, however, have quite a few problems with it. The vehicles are very hard to control and there are quite a few bugs and glitches. If you stray too far from the area where you are supposed to be playing the enemy soldiers there unresponsive. Also, some of the instances feel as if they are set. For example, if there is a machine gunner in a tower and you step on a certain area you will automatically be killed by the gunner, no matter what. Also most of the weapons are not authentic. The Thompon SMG holds 32 rounds while in real life it holds 20 or 30. Overall, I would say this is a good game but not a great one. It definitely isn't Road to Hill 30.

Forget_your_life no-last gave it a1:
Starts off great. look at the graphics!!! Then as soon as your outta the tree you start running into battle. unfortunatly you also run into everything else, invisable walls, fences and the back of non-reactive enemies since you went the wrong way and the game has no idea where you are!? Then there is the vehicles!! dont even get me started on those...they drive so bad there sould be an in game cop issuing you a DUI and a night in detox!

Hunter R. gave it an8:
An impressive use of the DS's hardware, and a uniquely capable third-person shooter. Controls are tight, although precision aiming can be difficult. The tactical commanding found in the PC games has been dropped, and although there is still an aspect of taking cover and flanking enemies, this game has a much more run-and-gun feel. Still, it is a good, simple shooter for DS, which is something the system has been aching for since day one. With a little more polish, this could have been a flagship title for the DS, but as it stands, BiA is a tempting glance at what's still to come for Ninetendo's three-year-old handheld.

Captain Calamity gave it a9:
I have this on both my PSP and my DS....the PSP version is so different to the DS version...here is why I gave the PSP version a 6 and the DS a chunky 9... To start with you are dropped literary into the firing line hanging from your parachute in a tree with a barrage of gun fire and mayhem going on around you as you gawp at the DS screen whilst effortlessly scroll about with the stylus, I hung there for a while just amazed at the graphics...ON A DS...soon you have to cut yourself free and meet the action which never stops from then on, its full on second world war in your pocket and it feels like it, its gritty, scary and sometimes very realistic as you hear bullets whiz past from the right speaker and then the left...blood and stunned effects whirl about you as you travel through your way points to meet the objectives set out for you...possibly a little linear but nicely done. The controls for me are spot on, really felt right, the sound is brilliant and the graphics as i said before are the best seen on a DS, its a difficult game but you can't stop playing, somehow the PSP version leaves me feeling stale and I wander off to watch Coronation Street instead, the DS on the other hand, you haven't a clue what's happening outside of your DS WW2 action packed game...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, would have been a 10 but a few glitches and if only online Wifi multiplayer was available this would hit 11.

Tom W. gave it an8:
Very nice game, probably the best shooter on DS. 8 is the maximum because of invisible walls and a few other little things.

Steven L. gave it an8:
Good game... entertaining, but a little difficult to control.

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Brothers in Arms DS

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