Hell Let Loose

The game map is divided into various sectors, and each unit of six, under the control of a designated leader, must try to capture more of the map than the other team. There are two ways to play: in warfare mode you win by claiming the whole map by beating the other side off every sector, or by possessing more than half of the sectors by the time the timer runs out.

In this game, communication is absolutely key, especially as you are playing with strangers who may or may not decide to obey orders! There are various ways to communicate with proximity mics for yelling at people who are close to you, unit-only mics through which you get your orders and can communicate with your unit leader, as well as network which allows unit leaders to liaise with each other and with their own higher-ups. As well as this, there is a more informal text chat system.

The maps in the game are based on authentic World War Two sites, using a combination of satellite imagery, archival footage, contemporary records and even street level recreations. During gameplay, try to keep an eye on the maps to see where everyone is as the maps are so large that even the fifty people on your side can be spread pretty thin, never mind the six that are supposed to be your immediate companions.

All the weapons and equipment in the game are historically authentic. The developers went to great pains to get it right to give you the best possible game-playing experience.

Get the Best from the Game

Because you are randomly assigned unit-mates, the experience is vastly different each time you play, with good tactical patient leaders showing a very different unit to bully-boys shouting orders and getting in their own way as happens from time to time! Try to stick it out with the bad ones and remember what to do better when you have earned a promotion.

Also, stay in your unit! While you can wander off, if you decide to make your own missions, going off alone will get you killed, most often with a quiet sniper’s bullet taking you out before you even know you’re in danger.

If the game is not fully packed, or if you are in a quiet area on the map, there will not be many players around, and you can use your senses in a quite realistic way, for example, you can listen out for footsteps or unwary chatter, and dodge out of sight.

But in more crowded areas – close to the mission goals, for example, or if the game is fully packed, then the warfare is a bit more realistic: loud and confusing! Bombers fly overhead, bullets fly all around and it can sound and feel a bit overwhelming in an overexcited, trying-not-to-die kind of way!

Be All You Can Be

There are various positions open to the eager and obedient soldier. While you all start out as lowly riflemen, it does not take long to earn promotions, and you can begin to specialise into the fourteen career paths, some of which are detailed below:

Medic – race around patching up your fellow soldiers and earning their undying (hopefully) gratitude

Engineer – come up with creative solutions to get across wide rivers, repair roads and more

Crewman – in it for the camaraderie and banter, be a team player and win through against the enemy

Tank Commander – nothing can stand in your way as you direct the tank to where it needs to go

Anti-tank – work out how to stop the unstoppable and delight in tipping over tanks, shunting them into rivers or finding new and unusual ways to block their progress

Officer – get a taste of being the boss with officer duties. Keep your unit under your command and get them to do what you want them to

Scout – if the spying life is for you, then be a scout, creeping over to the other side and checking out what they’re up to. Amongst other things!

Sniper – set up ambushes for unwary enemies, and take them out stealthily. Great to undermine their morale!

Machine gunner – if mindless gory violence is the cathartic pleasure you need right now, then spraying the opposition with bullets is the job for you