During its 2008 release, Brothers In Arms for iPhone was lauded as the most complex 3D game on the platform. The follow-up, Brothers In Arms 2: Global Front, is now in the App Store and it raises the ante a whole other level.
Instead of a simple port, the new game was designed for the iPhone from the ground up. As such, it sheds off the difficult control system, which marred the first iteration of the franchise. It also changes perspective, moving to a largely first-person gameplay, compared to the over-the-shoulder third-person style of its predecessor. The latter is still present in many scenes (such as when you're manning the turret in a military vehicle), but the first-person perspective during regular gunfights make it more engaging.
In Global Front, you play the role of David Wilson, an American soldier tasked to help push back the Germans and Japanese during WWII. A secondary mission requires you to solve a mystery that finds your slain brother (also a soldier) revoked of his medal of honor. Yep, there's some good plotlines here that go beyond the usual battlefield shootouts.
There are three modes of play: Mission, Campaign (quick play in any unlocked locale) and Network Play (over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). In the main mission, you get a 13-level story that happens across five different theaters: Pacific, Sicily, Normandy, Germany and North Africa. Most of the locales will have to be unlocked.
Graphics are amazing, with complex environments and plenty of visual touches that bring immense realism. The control system feels highly-improved too, making for much more comfortable maneuvering throughout the game. With plenty of weapons and vehicles, paired with fast-paced action, Global Front makes you feel that iPhone gaming really has grown up.
On the downside, this is a heavy game, to the point that you'll suffer occasional lags even on a 3GS. Enemy AI isn't the smartest too. Regardless, Brothers In Arms 2: Global Front is a mature title for a console that has truly come of age. It's a good deal for the $7.99 price.
