Ok so its not a new game, but having bought it recently i think its the best game i have played over the last 12 months.
It combines the best attributes of a good strategy game such as command and conquer generals. The controls and visual interface is very similar and is easy to adapt to.
The storyline is pro-america as of cod,bia and moh - but the action and tone of the excellent cutscenes are well judged. Its not often i am not pressing esc to avoid cutscenes.
The graphics are supposedly cutting edge for the genre. I would love to max all the settings but my athlon 64/nvidea 7600GT doesnt cope. The best feature of the graphics i feel is the changing landscape. When you blow things up (eg a building) it deteriates gradually and blends with the other map features. The water and shaddows make an impressive difference too. The default isometric viewpoint can be panned rotated, elevated so any angle is possible
The campaign takes you throught the common keypoints of the western front. The parachute drops, omaha beach, eliminating field guns, carentan etc etc. The gameplay typically involes moving groups of troups form cover to cover and making attack moves. The game shows clearly when your troops are in good/bad cover. This aids the enjoyment of making tactical moves and succeeding in clever flanking maneuvers. This objective is also achieved well in brothers in arms.
This game requires you to use riflemen, snipers, engineers, machine gunners, tanks, scouts and defensive structures together to complete missions. It is often impossible without 1 or 2 of the unit types. One cool feature is that the higher the building that you put a sniper in the more effective they are. Mortar team accuracy depends on firing distance. riflemen/airborne troops are the bread and butter of the operation and become great with veterancy and upgrades. They are clever and seek cover and wall lines well. As you defeat the opposition you take their equipment (bazookas, mg, 88's).
Upon experience you get command points (like c&c) to buy technologies, you can choose diferent routes in infantry, armour and artilary.
Skirmnish mode is fun and allows you to try diffrenet tactics, the enemy shows good AA and retaliates quickly and defends with different units. It tends to probe your defense then snds tanks or heavy guns at the weakest points.
I run v1.2 and have had one bug issue - troops stuck in some rubble, but 1.4 patch is available now. I give it 9/10