GAMES: GameSpot | GameFAQs MUSIC: Last.fm | MP3.com MOVIES: Metacritic | Movietome TV: TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood ps2 Game Reviews
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood
Critic Score
Metascore: 71 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.6 out of 10
based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 16 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Experience authentic WWII combat as Sergeant Joe Hartsock and lead your squad beyond Carentan to liberate all of Normandy. Taking online tactics to new heights, Brothers In Arms Earned In Blood offers more unique multiplayer missions and improved online support on PC and consoles! (Including the bundled addition of modification support for the PC). Earned In Blood features an all-new cooperative Skirmish mode that allows one or two players to take a tour of duty through a series of authentic and harrowing custom combat missions. Arm yourself with additional authentic weapons and command new vehicles like the M10 "Wolverine" Tank Destroyer. More Challenging and Dynamic Combat - the game features close quarter urban environments and a new, next generation artificial intelligence system. [Ubisoft]

PUBLISHER: Ubisoft
DEVELOPER: Gearbox Software
GENRE(S): First-Person Shooter, Action
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2005

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...

91
BonusStage
Excellent sense of immersion, great storytelling.
Read Full Review
90
TotalGames.net
With so many World War II games on the market, Earned In Blood's dedication to creating an understanding of what the war meant to those who fought it, as much as providing the player with a recognisable game, should be lauded.
Read Full Review
90
PSM Magazine
this is as intense and refined a shooter as can be. No, the WWII genre is not dead. This game is proof. [Holiday 2005, p.80]
83
Ferrago
The fact that you are being asked to pay full premium for what is effectively an expansion pack in all but name, may put some off.
Read Full Review
83
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The difficulty won't have you curling up into the fetal position, rocking yourself to sleep, however -the game is engaging with all that strategy and, thankfully, plenty of save points.
Read Full Review
80
Computer and Video Games
Enemies are now far more intelligent. Less likely to be hemmed in by your squad's suppressing fire, they themselves will try to sidle down the blindside of your position and take pot shots at you. [PSW]
Read Full Review
80
Times Online
The first-person caper is satisfyingly immersive thanks to some outstanding graphical touches - heavy rain splatters neatly on Jeeps and we can even see Red’s freckles in close-up.
Read Full Review
80
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
The whole package has a polished look. I even watched a few cut-scenes long enough to figure out that the title Earned in Blood makes reference to how Red tries to gain his fellow soldiers' trust. And Brothers in Arms is beginning to earn our trust, too--as not just "another war game."
Read Full Review
78
Game Chronicles
Add to this the solid graphics, the intense sound of warfare, and the electrifying strategy of squad command, and you have another great title from Gearbox. However, our patience for ingenuity is waning, and I only hope we can see some fresh features in the next installment.
Read Full Review
77
Gamers' Temple
A decent WWII game and attractive to those who like a little strategy in their FPS but if you have a choice go with the PC or Xbox version.
Read Full Review
75
Worth Playing
There's really nothing here that wasn't previously explored in the original game, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Read Full Review
70
Digital Entertainment News
Doesn't provide much more in the way of improving upon the original formula, and manages to totally demolish the fantastic enemy AI on the trip over to Sony's console.
Read Full Review
70
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
It's a great shooter, especially if you want to use your brains as much as your ammo, but it doesn't quite add enough as a sequel. [Dec 2005, p.122]
70
GamePro
The result of a single botched command or accidental mismanagement can mean death for you and your troops, making Earned in Blood a frustrating (but not unrewarding) experience.
Read Full Review
70
Sydney Morning Herald
There are a couple of perplexing flaws in the design, such as the inability to go prone or jump over low walls and fences, but suspend your disbelief and you'll be gripped.
Read Full Review
68
GameSpot
All of the problems that plagued the PlayStation 2 version of the original Brothers in Arms are front and center once again, making for a lackluster port of a great game.
Read Full Review
66
Gaming Horizon
There are just way too many issues at hand to recommend picking up this sequel until it hits the bargain bin.
Read Full Review
60
GameSpy
One of the most impressive elements of the Xbox version of Earned in Blood was the AI (both your enemies' and that of your squadmates). Alas, the PS2 version of the game just can't keep up, and there are bugs and glitches all over the place.
Read Full Review
50
TotalPlayStation
It's a squad-based shooter/puzzler without the squad. As such, it's only half a game, and that half isn't very good.
Read Full Review
50
IGN
It's mostly AI problems that doom it, which goes as far as not only destroying your ability to command troops, but the fundamental design of the game as a whole.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 16 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Andy B. gave it a4:
While the storry telling and visuals are excellent, I find the weapons accuracy (like in Road to Hill 30) to be completely appaling. You need to empty a magazine in an ememy at 10 feet to put him down. Moreover, the game is extremely linear and, as a consequence, predictable.

Dennis H. gave it a4:
This game has several flaws. First off it is very difficul to pick up where u leave off because the chapter points are so far apart,,,second - shooting at enimies is rather dificult when u cant see them and when u do it takes anywhere from 2-10 shots to put them down. Also it needs to a way to buy or retore heatlh...I think i'll stick with the Cal of Duty games.

Bill H. gave it a9:
It is a great game, and I have it for PS2. Its so realistic. You can't just charge that machine gun nest without taking a hit, like in other games. Youll just be mowed down. The storys also good. I only find it hard to command your squad while under fire, or get them somewhere without them getting distracted and standing in the open. But the stratagy is refreshing. You have to think, then act.

Corpral Jack M. gave it a9:
Excelent and historicly accurate game! I can't beleive a developer actually got a WWII game correct!

Jeremy S. gave it a10:
one of the better war games i think annyways because of a lot of the stuff they put in there it was good i hoping for a 3 one the more they make the better they get well for some games anny ways some just get worse and worse lol. raw vs smake down or the new 50 cent one boring as hell i played them dont know if it was the worng peole who made it or what but them game sucked.

John K. gave it an8:
10 times better than the first one, better graphics, exellent weapons, very realistic.

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: iPhone 3G | Fantasy Football | Moneywatch | Antivirus Software | Recipes | E3 2009

About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use