Call of Duty: Finest Hour

 Xbox
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 55
  3. Negative: 0 out of 55
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  1. Times Online
    100
    What singles out this series from the rest is that it homes in on the sheer intensity and ugliness of war.
  2. Next Level Gaming
    93
    One thing Call of Duty: Finest Hour manages to do with success is take everything from graphics to sound, from music to gameplay; and toss it all into one big can of whoop-ass and make a great game.
  3. GamingTrend
    92
    The game is realistic and fun, albeit an on-rails shooter at the core. Some parts of the game just beg to be replayed while others have you scratching your head why they aren't longer to begin with.
  5. TeamXbox
    88
    A perfect example of how attention to detail can make an average game much more than the norm. First-person shooters are nothing new, and even though Finest Hour doesn't really introduce any groundbreaking aspects into the gaming world it does show just how well crafted a video game can be, blurring the line between gaming and cinema.
  6. GameBiz
    88
    While not the most difficult or longest FPS game on the Xbox, or PS2 it is a competent shooter, and is worth checking out.
  7. Play Magazine
    88
    I love the urgency of a slow-to-load rifle, the way your fumbling and learned cadence strikes a unique tension in the shootouts; too bad the clumsy grenades aren't nearly as much fun. [Jan 2005, p.60]
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  8. Kombo
    86
    I hope to see the community surprised by the shockingly high production values which its single player holds. That being said however, the multiplayer game of Call of Duty: Finest Hour is practically a throw away. The game modes are generic, communication poorly chosen, and fun level is shockingly low.
  9. Game Informer
    85
    Much like the PC Call of Duty (which I should note is a completely different game), this console title features a brilliant targetting mechanism that allows players to zoom in and aim down the sight of the firearm. [Jan 2005, p.115]
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  10. 1UP
    85
    Unlike "Rising Sun," Finest Hour goes beyond the epidermal layer and strives to provide a realistic yet still engaging and addictive experience on all fronts, not just for your eyes. And, luckily enough, it succeeds.
  11. PGNx Media
    85
    The game's single-player campaign is enjoyable despite some questionable design choices, and the multiplayer is capable, as well. That said, while Finest Hour is always good and often times great, it never quite reaches excellence.
  12. XGP Gaming
    83
    Throughout the game, you'll be thrust into different roles. Before it ends, you'll have been an American, Russian and British solider. Each of these soldiers will have their 'day in the sun' so to speak.
  13. Cinescape
    83
    It's the best of its kind on the consoles with the historical details, cinematic gameplay and fun factor overwhelming some unoriginality and glitches.
  14. Xbox Nation Magazine
    80
    The shoddy A.I. and other flaws are rare or negligible enough so as not to detract from the overall enjoyment of an otherwise great game. [Jan 2005, p.89]
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  15. AceGamez
    80
    With the lovely graphics comes lovely sound.
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  16. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    80
    Even though gameplay is pretty much the opposite of innovation (with the exception of the multiple characters, and more chances to drive a tank compared to the PC version), the presentation is second to none. [Jan 2005, p.124]
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  17. GameSpy
    80
    Although the single player campaign is on the short side, a solid multiplayer mode will ensure that you'll still be playing it a few months from now. If you're looking to fight in the Big One, it's time to answer the call.
  18. Gamer.tv
    80
    A wild ride through some of mankind's most violent episodes holds its own against the orginal PC masterpiece.
  19. Game Chronicles
    79
    The lack of any cohesive story spread thin by too many distracting viewpoints kept me from ever getting involved with the characters. It was almost like I was trapped in an episode of "Quantum Leap."
  20. Worth Playing
    79
    Expect to be frustrated anyway. The tank levels are the worst offenders, with missiles coming at you from every direction, your armor evaporating like dry ice, and the bizarre rules under which you're allowed to disembark.
  21. Gaming Illustrated
    76
    Going into and out of some of WWII's most intense battles will keep you coming back for more. If you can get by the average graphics and a couple of A.I. wobbles you'll have a great time playing this game.
  22. BonusStage
    76
    If there had been offline multiplayer support, the score would've been higher for the game.
  23. RealGamer
    76
    At the end of the day it just feels like another run of the mill shooter.
  24. GameZone
    75
    A fine WWII shooter, but doesn't quite capture the pure intensity of the PC version.
  25. eToychest
    75
    With the exception of the very first level (the Battle of Stalingrad) you hardly get the sense of urgency that you should feel while playing this game.
  26. DailyGame
    75
    If it existed in a vacuum it'd rank better, but this is a strong holiday for videogame shooters.
  27. Pelit (Finland)
    75
    Too linear and short, but it has a nice atmosphere to it and many enjoyable missions. Poor graphics and moronic companions detract from the experience, though. [Jan. 05]
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  28. Gaming Age
    75
    For those who have played the original PC version, I'm sorry to say that the console version just doesn't meet up to it in the end.

Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Best Xbox Game of 2004
41
#41 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2004
19
#19 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 39
  3. Negative: 11 out of 39
  1. BlueFalcon
    Nov 28, 2004
    6
    It's a slightly above average title. The game plays similar to medal of honor frontline, except not as well executed. There's many It's a slightly above average title. The game plays similar to medal of honor frontline, except not as well executed. There's many scripted events and a set path which you must follow (or die). The whole war atmosphere is well done, but the graphics aren't exceptional. In particular, the textures in the environment look grainy and unnatural. Many of the missions seem unexceptional too. It's like they included all the cutting room floor levels or something. While this isn't the worst war game to come out recently, it's not something that's particularly memorable.… Full Review »
  2. Dperks
    Dec 7, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I really didn't want to give this gamer as low of a score as this but after returning to this game after years and even with my nostalgia glasses on its just not that good. So for context this was the first COD game I ever played. At least I'm pretty sure its kind of of hard to remember but needless to say I remember loving it as a kid. But after coming back all the bad stuff in this game has come rushing back to me. So for starters this was the first COD game on consoles and it takes a lot from the first COD but is still its own game. The only scene ripped straight from COD 1 is the crossing of the Volga river except this time its at the beginning of the game. And I think this makes for a very strong opener along with the second level where you have to storm a fortified hill top. In fact I'd say that other then the third level which is a sewer level and it looks really bad visually like its just a mess of grey. The whole soviet campaign for the most part is actually fairly solid. If the whole game were like it it would probably be a 6/10. But its the British and especially the American levels that you see the crap in this game. But I'm getting ahead of myself lets start with some core issues. Visually and sound design wise the game is very generic even for its time the games visuals were criticized back then and today they only look worse. There are some levels that look a lot better then others but most of them use a lot of greys and dark colors that just make it really boring to look at. And gunplay isn't much better and controls were weird which I can excuse a bit for being the first COD on console. The gun selection is very pitiful though there are no handguns or shotguns and so its pretty much rifles and machine guns for the most part and their animations and sound effects aren't very punchy or impactful. And grenades are just terrible you can through one right by someone and it may not kill them and then in the later levels enemy's love to just spam grenades at times and with some fairly unforgiving health pack placements and at times no check points in levels makes for a very frustrating experience. For example the last British and American levels don't have checkpoints what so ever. And in both there's tons of enemy's and machine gun placements that can chew right through you if unprepared. The British levels aren't to bad as there's only 4 of them and there fairly short. But it makes that whole chunk of the campaign really forgettable. And the American campaign is where all the most frustrating aspects come out. With escort missions, way to many enemies who take way too long to kill and unforgiving checkpoints along with some crap level design makes nearly half of the game just not fun to play through. Except for one American mission where you got to paly as an all African American tank division which It thought was interesting. The level itself did start to drag on and the tanks don't handle very well but it was still a nice change of pace I thought. One last thing the enemy AI is really dumb sometimes with enemy's just mindlessly charging you or running past you the most they ever do is take cover and it makes the gunplay all the more boring by time you get to those later missions. In conclusion despite Finest Hour having some solid levels and set pieces in its first half the meandering second half really drags the whole game down and puts a spot light on the many issues the game has. And while the game overall feels more grounded in reality then the first COD game it isn't nearly as fun and doesn't save it from blending in with the mediocre WW2 shooters that were so prevalent in the early 2000s.… Full Review »
  3. Rick
    Mar 2, 2006
    8
    Me and my nephew played this straight thru as it was a challenge. The gameplay keeps you on your seat and unlike the just released Call of Me and my nephew played this straight thru as it was a challenge. The gameplay keeps you on your seat and unlike the just released Call of Duty 2 the A.I doesnt suck. You dont have squad members taking up all your fire like the sequel so to survive and beat the damn thing you have to hug every corner and attempt assualts from different paths. Buy this, rent the sequel.… Full Review »
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