Where does it fall down? Unfortunately, Strike Force tries to compete with the other big World War II games: Call of Duty and Brothers in Arms. Some levels drop the Green Beret, the sniper, and a small contingent of Allied troops into half-hearted gun battles.

The problem: we've seen a lot of astonishing, choreographed violence already - Strike Force suffers in comparison. It's just not as perfectly scripted or as deviously balanced as the big boy World War II games.

There is a bigger flaw, however. It becomes clear, via gaping holes in the story, that scenarios and levels have been viciously cut from the game with no attempt to paper over the cracks.

As for how the game looks, those who remember the gorgeous 2D art of previous games have good reason to worry: how could any 3D game possibly maintain that level of immaculate detail? It can't. But it can come close.

As this is a cross-platform release, the textures and structures are limited by that lowest common denominator, PS2. That's resulted in some bland character models and odd-looking faces. Don't start crying yet, though. More than in any recent game, these levels feel natural - as if weathered and aged.

Even if the level designers were limited by the available technology, it never feels like they had to scale back their imagination.

Enemy soldier animation, too, is oddly engaging. They evoke a certain sympathy as they kick at the dust, scratch their backsides and polish their rifles. They look bored, but professional.

The sound, meanwhile, is nothing short of heart-stopping. Much of the incidental noise is deliberately muted - you'll be reaching to turn up the volume. But the guns are brilliantly, disproportionately loud. That first sniper rifle shot will leave your ears ringing.

Despite its slow pace and somewhat incoherent story, Commandos Strike Force's sneaky gameplay and affinity to its 2D strategy origins make it unlike others in the expansive WWII-shooter field.