Call of Duty Finest Hour Review

Overview

Released in November 2004 by Activision and developed by Spark Unlimited, Call of Duty: Finest Hour represents the series' first game built specifically for consoles. This first-person shooter adapts the intense combat and multiple perspectives of its PC counterpart while crafting a unique experience tailored for console players. The game spans three major campaigns across the Soviet, British, and American forces, with particular emphasis on the Eastern Front battles that defined the early years of World War II. As the first Call of Duty title on the Original Xbox, it established many of the control and gameplay conventions that would influence future console iterations of the series.

Graphics and Presentation

Finest Hour's visual presentation shows both the ambition and limitations of early Xbox World War II shooters. The game creates atmospheric environments that capture the devastation of war, from the ruins of Stalingrad to the desert expanses of North Africa. Character models, while basic by today's standards, convey enough detail to make key characters recognizable and enemies distinct at combat ranges.

Weather effects play a significant role in setting the mood, with snow, rain, and dust storms adding to the atmosphere of each theatre of war. Weapon models and animations show attention to historical detail, though environmental textures can be noticeably low resolution. The game employs effective use of particle effects for explosions and debris, creating convincing battlefield chaos.

The presentation benefits from historical footage integrated into mission briefings, though in-engine cutscenes show their age with stiff animations and limited facial expressions. The user interface remains clean and functional, providing essential information without cluttering the screen.

Sound and Music

The audio design stands as one of Finest Hour's strongest elements. The soundtrack combines orchestral pieces with period-appropriate military themes that effectively underscore both dramatic moments and quieter sequences. Voice acting demonstrates surprising quality, particularly in the Soviet campaign where authentic accents and emotional performances bring characters to life.

Battlefield sound effects create an immersive combat environment, with distinct weapon reports, convincing explosion effects, and atmospheric ambient noise. The positional audio system, while basic, provides adequate directional awareness for identifying threats. The mixing prioritizes important audio cues like enemy movements and command shouts, ensuring crucial information isn't lost in the chaos of battle.

Gameplay Mechanics

The core gameplay successfully adapts the Call of Duty formula for console controls. The shooting mechanics feel responsive, with an aim-assist system that makes precision targeting possible without sacrificing challenge. Weapon handling reflects the World War II era appropriately, with each nation's arsenal offering distinct characteristics and tactical considerations.

Vehicle sequences, particularly tank missions, provide welcome variety to the infantry combat. These sections maintain good pacing and offer unique challenges, though the controls can feel somewhat rigid by modern standards. The level design follows a linear path typical of the era, with carefully scripted sequences and set-piece moments that guide players through historic battles.

The AI system shows its age, with enemies following predictable patterns and squad mates occasionally struggling with pathfinding. However, the game compensates with well-designed combat scenarios that maintain tension through intelligent enemy placement and resource management.

Story and Setting

The narrative structure follows three distinct campaigns, with the Soviet storyline standing out for its powerful portrayal of the desperate defence of Stalingrad. Character development benefits from focused storytelling within each campaign, though the transitions between perspectives can feel abrupt. The writing effectively balances historical accuracy with dramatic necessity, creating memorable moments that respect the gravity of the historical events.

The game's attention to historical detail extends beyond combat to include authentic locations, equipment, and military operations. Mission briefings provide context for each operation, helping players understand their role in the larger conflict. While the storytelling may lack the sophistication of later entries in the series, it successfully conveys the scale and significance of the battles it portrays.

Content and Value

The single-player campaign offers approximately 8-10 hours of gameplay across its three major storylines. Each campaign provides distinct experiences with varying weapons and objectives, though the core gameplay loop remains consistent throughout. The difficulty levels provide good replay value, with the hardest setting offering a significant challenge.

Multiplayer features support up to 16 players online and 4 players in split-screen, though the mode selection is limited compared to contemporary shooters. At its current pre-owned price of £11.99, the game offers reasonable value for its historical campaign, despite limited multiplayer longevity.

Technical Performance

On the Original Xbox hardware, Finest Hour maintains generally stable performance with occasional frame rate drops during intense combat sequences. Loading times between missions are moderate, typically lasting 20-25 seconds. The game demonstrates good stability with few crashes, though texture pop-in is noticeable when entering new areas.

The save system uses a checkpoint-based approach supplemented by manual save options, providing adequate progress protection. While some visual bugs and clipping issues occur, they rarely impact the core gameplay experience significantly.

The Verdict

Call of Duty: Finest Hour succeeds in bringing the series' signature intensity to consoles while carving out its own identity through a focus on less-explored theatre's of World War II. Despite technical limitations and dated mechanics, the game's strong Soviet campaign, atmospheric audio design, and well-adapted console controls make it a historically interesting entry in the series. While it may not match the polish of its PC counterparts, it remains a worthy experience for fans of military history and classic console shooters.

Pros

• Strong Eastern Front campaign narrative
• Excellent sound design and atmosphere
• Well adapted console controls
• Diverse mission objectives

Cons

• Dated graphics and animations
• Basic AI systems
• Limited multiplayer features
• Uneven difficulty balance

Final Score: 7/10

Call of Duty: Finest Hour represents a solid first step for the series on consoles, offering engaging campaigns and memorable moments despite technical limitations. While showing its age, the game's historical authenticity and atmospheric presentation maintain its appeal for World War II enthusiasts.

By OGXbox Archive