Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway marries realism with spectacle in other ways too. The most significant example is its health system, which is both true-to-life and visually stunning. When your character is in jeopardy of being hurt, the dangerous parts of the game world become infused with red while the safe parts retain their original colors. Start trading fire with a field full of Nazis, for example, and the two-thirds of your screen representing their encampment will grow darker and bloodier in appearance while the hedge in front of you will stay green. Duck for cover and the whole world will slowly return to normal.

The crimson filter represents your health by representing your risk. As the developers explain, "The bullets aren't hitting you yet, but if you don't move, they will be." In Hell's Highway, as in life, one or two hits will kill you. But since constantly dying and reloading is neither fun nor realistic, the unique warning system will give you the videogame equivalent of a soldier's focus and enable you to avoid getting hit in the first place.

To see much of what we've been describing, check out the very cinematic trailer below. Soak it in now, because although Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is set for release on 360, PS3 and PC, an exact date has yet to be decided.