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Day of Defeat

EMAIL PRINT pc

9.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 650 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Valve

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action

Players: 32

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: May 6, 2003

Summary

Day of Defeat is the latest online action experience from Valve, makers of "Half-Life" and "Counter-Strike." Stationed in the heat of WWII's European theater of war, players join the ranks of an elite military squad. Missions are based on key historical operations. And, as war rages, squads must battle as a unit to achieve victory. The game pits players in Axis vs. Allies battles in Western Europe at the height of the war in 1944. A class based first person action game, players can take the role of snipers, infantry, machine gunner, rifleman and sergeant. The game features authentic weaponry, multiple modes of play and 10 new multiplayer maps of action, 15 total. There are also a host of graphics enhancements, including new character models and animations, increased textures and new particle effects. There's even a new class of characters so now gamers can choose to play as a British soldier. [Valve]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

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...

2404.org

Not bad for a project that started out in a college dorm.

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GameZone

An insanely fun, insanely addictive, experience. The very nature of the game promotes teamwork and communication, and there are always memorable moments to be had.

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Game Informer

The sound of bullets whizzing past your ear or slamming into some nearby surface is disturbingly realistic. [Aug 2003, p.102]

PC Gamer

Thirty dollars may seem a bit hefty for a free modification, but the incredible experience is well worth the price of admission. [Aug 2003, p.72]

GameNow

A fun game that's worth playing, whether you download it for free or buy it. [July 2003, p.63]

Gaming Age

Getting into a game is incredibly easy, and the action draws you in like a real war movie.

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ActionTrip

And, even with those minor lag issues and outdated graphics, we honestly recommend the game to both hardcore DoD modders and genre newbies.

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Gamezilla!

For those without "Half-Life" or the motivation to download the hefty mod files, Day of Defeat is a worthwhile contender for your time.

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GameSpot

Despite its flaws, Day of Defeat offers unusually intense gameplay with excellent pacing, good weapons, and a really fine combination of all-out action and teamwork.

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Computer Games Magazine

DoD still has incredibly good gameplay, and with things like realistic gun recoil and the near requirement to stand still or go prone for any sort of firing accuracy, it's much more difficult than most WWII games. [Sept 2003, p.84]

TotalGames.net

DOD irresistibly draws you back for more time and time again. The level designs shine above so many other team-based shooters and provide the perfect stage for some unbeatably tense shootouts.

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Play Magazine

Once you go online, the adrenaline rush is unsurpassed. [June 2003, p.57]

Computer Gaming World

The newly redone character models are quite detailed, and the sound, with whizzing bullets and explosions adding real tension, is fantastic. [Aug 2003, p.76]

IGN

The sense of satisfaction you feel in taking a crucial victory location or taking out four enemies in a row simply can't be beat.

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Adrenaline Vault

Valve has proved quite effectively that solid level design and an embarrassment of style will outshine all the fanciest smoke and mirrors that today’s cutting-edge technologies have to offer.

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GMR Magazine

Day of Defeat isn't the most powerful gun in the armory, but it is the most reliable. [July 2003, p.73]

Armchair Empire

The level design makes up for much of the graphical shortcomings.

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GameSpy

Combined with the budget presentation all around, Day of Defeat feels like a bit of letdown in the end.

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Cheat Code Central

Compared to the new crop of tactical shooters such as "Return to Castle Wolfenstein," Day of Defeat may seem like a sparse offering but the straightforward gameplay is certain to captivate.

Yahoo! Games

The problem is that it cannot escape its mod roots, looking very dated and feeling rather uninspired - ironic considering many of its features were the inspiration for the successful WWII titles that followed it.

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PC Format

We admit that the dynamic has changed. Weaponry feels less accurate, the maps are smaller, though we don’t see the inherent problem in that. It’s true you can no longer hear the enemy’s footsteps, but this isn’t a fatal oversight.

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G4 TV

The gameplay is limited in scope and the maps are repetitive in theme, if not design. The visuals are decent enough, but definitely not up to the standards of most modern releases.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.6 (out of 10) based on 650 User Votes

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

Jordan gave it an8:
This is one of the best outdated games I have ever owned. Based on teamwork and intense WWII fighting even today i still play it. Addicting, very addicting. Player's who like a straight to the point first person WWII shooter this game is most definitely on your list of inexpensive classics to pick up.

aNDY B gave it a10:
I first played this game back in beta 2.1 and I was hooked from day 1. Unlike CS the emphasis was on team work to capture territory and respawn so you were back in the action much faster. It was a steep but rewarding learning curve and even back in 2002 is was highly immersive I would play for hours on one map fighting over one bridge on the map zafod or crawl throgh the mud on thunder. 1.3 as the released version lacked some of the immersion but it was still highly addictive and many of the custom maps recaptured the feelings of old where there was less of an emphasis on balancing the maps. Source for me killed my DOD experience but even now in 2009 nearly a decade on from when I first picked up my garand I can still jump on a server and re live some of my old memories when I had time to spend 8 hours in front of a game. I would HIGHLY recommend this game. It may not be pretty compared to newer games but it is untouchable for outright playability and addictiveness.

Philip Szostak gave it a10:
Hey, this isn't your typical beautifully programmed shooter like crysis and Halo 3, but people just need to open their eyes and realize that it's not all that matters in a game. DoD get's awful ratings from professional gaming websites and newsletters because they are 90% based on graphics and how realistic it is. I won't say why, how, or what, but I will say that I very much enjoy this game. The Steam community will make all of Valve's games fun. They are a pair like white and rice

Robert K gave it a10:
Best WWII Capture the Flag multiplayer game to ever be released.

Marc P gave it a5:
If you want to play WW2 "Ol' School", buy this game, if you like Good graphics and more players, go for Day of Defeat : Source. I'm not an "Old School" player, So I gave it a 5.

Bman l gave it a10:
Truly a great experience and the most fun fps i have ever played competitively.

||CSP||Machinegunner gave it a10:
I just want to give thanks to the Creators of Day of Defeat For their time for the Opportunity of letting us play this game that to me it never gets Borring,I've been Playing for about 5 yrs already and even tough Theirs is different maps to go to Avalanche is my favorite.Thanks again and I invite you to come and play with us ||CSP|| where we try to keep it fun for everyone.Let's all get togethter and ;ets bring our talent to support this game and represent the creators all the way...Good Luck guys and enjoy

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Day of Defeat

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