"Jesus CHRIST sir! Whadda we do?" Shit, shit! I don't know. Between the stone chips and the dust that's thrown up as rounds hit the bricks, it's hard to breathe let alone think. I'm lying in the mud, pressed close to the wall. As I raise my head, the beauty of the French countryside takes my breath away. Then I see the enemy - a little way up the hill. Sandbags are torn apart by gunfire, the grit stings my eyes; they've got us pinned like butterflies on display.

"I never wanted this job. I never asked to be in charge. But, as I duck down and turn to my men, I see a huddle of terrified children's faces, expectant with the hope of some way out of this goddamn mess. What am I going to do?"

If you want some idea of what Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 feels like then down a gallon of coffee and follow it with an all-night session of Saving Private Ryan and the whole series of Band Of Brothers. Hill 30 provides its excitement through a more realistic recreation of war than other shooters. Forget ammo-spunking heroics and convenient medi-packs, Hill 30 offers authenticity - you can almost smell the mud thrown into the air as the bombs explode around you. Playing as Sergeant Matt Baker, you and your men scurry behind walls and dash across courtyards, attempting to outwit and outflank an entrenched enemy. Edgy stuff.

"It all looked so peaceful. Passing through the village, the only indication that anything was wrong was an upturned cart in the road. Then all hell broke loose: someone screamed "Machine gun!" Bird song was drowned by gunfire and we scattered like pins in a bowling alley. We were safe behind a wall but the Krauts were pretty cosy behind theirs too - a little way past the cart, in a garden. We could both trade ammo all day and we wouldn't hit shit. The only way to beat Fritz was to get the drop on him - move behind him and get a clear shot - before he tried the same."

To outwit the Hun you need to exploit your surroundings. Pressing SELECT freezes the action and pulls the camera out for a wider view of the area. Here you can study the positions of your men, the enemy, and scan the terrain; then press SELECT again to return to the action. Enemies that aren't suppressed (the military term for hiding) are marked with a red icon. Fire a few shots their way and it switches to grey, showing they've wisely decided to duck. When this happens, it's safe to break cover and run to a new position. It's an anxious game of cat and mouse as you and the enemy dart from trench to hedgerow, trying for a clear shot at each other. And it's all based on real military strategy. Fortunately, ordering your men is so simple it'll make you weep with gratitude. The D-pad's direction buttons switch between units and issue 'hide' or 'regroup' commands, and the L1 button controls a cursor that indicates a position to take, or target to fire at. Effectively, the main commands are 'go there', and 'shoot that'. It's exceptionally simplistic, but rewarding tactics soon unfold once all hell starts breaking loose.

"I could see a way behind the enemy. 'Suppressive fire now!'

"We broke cover as the first unit opened up. The enemy hid and we dashed across the bare ground. Slowly we began to edge around the village.

"'God, there's more of them!'

"A second group of soldiers emerged across the road. I gave the order to hold position and return fire. Now, with my second unit busy it was down to me to take out the enemy's machine gun. Switching from my rifle to the Thompson automatic I crept to the corner of the house. I could hear whispers in German from around the corner. Flicking the safety off, I took a deep breath and stepped out..."

Hill 30 is a complete change of pace for WW2 shooters. Battlers are no less brutal, but relying on the position of your men and the best use of cover produces a completely different dynamic to the likes of Medal Of Honor or Call Of Duty. This is further enhanced by a conspicuous lack of Hollywood bombast - for example there are no over the top set-pieces or crass characterisations. It's a far more thoughtful interpretation of warfare and one that relies on your leadership skills as much as your ability to fight.

Criticisms? Only one, really. The fire and flank strategy is overwhelmingly the way to success. Which ultimately leads to a slight lack of variety. Hopefully, the online mode, reviewed next month, will compensate. Either way, this is a spectacular and involving dose of authentic WW2 action.

Graphics 80%
Ace scenery but jerky animation.

Sound 80%
Good effects enhance the atmosphere.

Gameplay 90%
Brilliantly addictive, intelligent action.

Lifespan 80%
A challenging change of pace and style.

Overall 80%
This is a deep, edgy shooter that will shred your nerves and test your brain power. Very impressive indeed.