Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood is a tactical first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, Xbox and PlayStation 2. It was ported to the Wii in 2008 as a part of the Brothers in Arms: Double Time compilation.
| Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Gearbox Software |
| Publisher(s) | Ubisoft |
| Director(s) | Brian Martel |
| Producer(s) | Mike Wardwell |
| Programmer(s) | Patrick Deupree |
| Artist(s) | Matthew Vandolen |
| Writer(s) | Mike Neumann |
| Composer(s) | David McGarry |
| Series | Brothers in Arms |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 2 |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | Windows, XboxPlayStation 2 |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Earned in Blood continues the Brothers In Arms saga as newly promoted Sergeant Joe "Red" Hartsock (Hartsock was the Corporal of Baker's Fire Team), who was part of the historic Normandy invasion in the previous game. Earned in Blood includes several new multiplayer missions, weapons, and vehicles, plus a new co-op skirmish mode. The AI of enemies has also been improved considerably in this game, while level designs are more open-ended than the original.
Story
editThe story is essentially told as a "reflection" on the events that took place earlier, as Army historian Colonel S.L.A. Marshall is interviewing paratroopers 15+ days after D-Day. The story is divided into three parts. The first part of the game is a recollection of Hartsock's time in Sergeant Matt Baker's squad during the initial D-Day invasion. The second part picks up when he takes command of 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon during the liberation and defense of Carentan, and the eventual link-up between 82nd and 101st Airborne Division at the town of Baupte. The final part will take place in and around Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. Although the first part takes place under Baker's command, every mission is one not included in Road to Hill 30. The player commands Desola, Allen, and Garnett from 3rd Squad, and some soldiers from 2nd Squad at first. Then the game switches the player to command the entire 2nd Squad after the Battle of Bloody Gulch (Hill 30).
Hartsock's squad consists of the remains of the original 2nd Squad (Cpl. Franklin Paddock, Pvt. Dean "Friar" Winchell, and Pfc. James Marsh) and the remnants of 1st Squad (Cpl. Jacob Campbell, Pvt. Will Paige, and Pvt. Derrick McConnell). In addition, the player will also be in command of Corporal (later promoted to Sergeant) Seamus Doyle of the 82nd Airborne during the initial D-Day invasion in early parts of the game.
Gameplay
editThe gameplay in Earned in Blood is similar to Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30. The player usually assumes command of two teams of paratroopers to use the Four Fs - Find, Fix, Flank, and Finish—tactic against the enemy. The game discourages the use of solo run 'n' gun tactics by limiting the player's ability to aim, by decreasing the player's health, and by placing large numbers of enemies behind cover. To successfully complete a mission, the player has to study the layout of the battlefield, fix/suppress the enemy with overwhelming suppressive fire with one team (usually the fire team), and direct another team (usually the assault team) to flank the enemy by sneaking to the side or rear of the enemy to finish them off.
In Earned in Blood, the enemy constantly repositions according to the player's action, regardless of danger. This change makes stealth and distraction important considerations when the player is attempting to flank the enemy. At the same time, tactics such as forcing the enemy into kill zones is possible. The enemy AI allows the player to be attacked more frequently.
Development
editThe games uses the same graphics engine as Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, which is based on the Unreal Engine 2.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS2 | Xbox | |
| Metacritic | 84/100[26] | 71/100[27] | 85/100[28] |
| Publication | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS2 | Xbox | |
| Edge | 8/10[4] | N/A | 8/10[4] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | N/A | 8.33/10[5] | 8.33/10[5] |
| Eurogamer | 8/10[6] | N/A | N/A |
| Game Informer | N/A | N/A | 8/10[7] |
| GamePro | N/A |    [8] | N/A |
| GameRevolution | B+[9] | N/A | B+[9] |
| GameSpot | 8.7/10[10] | 6.8/10[11] | 8.7/10[12] |
| GameSpy | [13] | [14] | [15] |
| GameTrailers | 8.9/10[16] | 8.9/10[16] | 8.9/10[16] |
| GameZone | N/A | N/A | 8.9/10[17] |
| IGN | 8.8/10[18] | 5/10[19] | 8.2/10[20] |
| Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | N/A | [21] | N/A |
| Official Xbox Magazine (US) | N/A | N/A | 9.6/10[22] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 87%[23] | N/A | N/A |
| The Sydney Morning Herald | [24] | [24] | [24] |
| The Times | [25] | [25] | [25] |
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood received "generally favorable" for PC and Xbox, and "mixed or average" for PS2 reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[26][27][28]
During the 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Earned in Blood received a nomination for "Outstanding Achievement in Story and Character Development".[29]
References
edit- ^ a b Thorsen, Tor (September 21, 2005). "Earned in Blood demo dripping on DLX". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 12, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2005.
- ^ Van Leuveren, Luke (October 3, 2005). "Updated Australian Release List - 03/10/05". PALGN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ van Leuveren, Luke (October 25, 2005). "Updated Australian Release List - 24/10/05". PALGN. Archived from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Edge staff (December 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (Xbox, PC)". Edge. No. 156. p. 103.
- ^ a b EGM staff (December 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 198.
- ^ Clare, Oliver (October 7, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (PC)". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 7, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Kato, Matthew (November 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned In Blood (Xbox)". Game Informer. No. 151. p. 166. Archived from the original on 2007-05-28. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Bones (October 28, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on January 15, 2006. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ a b Gee, Brian (October 18, 2005). "Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood Review (Xbox, PC)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Colayco, Bob (October 6, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Colayco, Bob (November 2, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Colayco, Bob (October 6, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Abner, William (December 8, 2005). "GameSpy: Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (PC)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Tuttle, Will (November 3, 2005). "GameSpy: Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Tuttle, Will (October 4, 2005). "GameSpy: Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, Review". GameTrailers. October 7, 2005. Archived from the original on October 15, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Lafferty, Michael (October 6, 2005). "Brothers In Arms Earned In Blood - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Butts, Steve (October 4, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (PC)". IGN. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Roper, Chris (October 27, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (PS2)". IGN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Onyett, Charles (October 5, 2005). "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood (Xbox)". IGN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. January 2006.
- ^ "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood". Official Xbox Magazine. December 2005. p. 113.
- ^ "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood". PC Gamer. December 25, 2005. p. 56.
- ^ a b c Fish, Eliot (October 29, 2005). "Goooooooal!". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood". The Times. October 8, 2005. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2014.(subscription required)
- ^ a b "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ a b "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ a b "Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
- ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 30 October 2023.