G4TV

Once upon a time there was a game called "Half-Life." You may have heard of it. The game was a big hit on its own, and some enterprising fellows started making great mods for it like "Counter-Strike" and "Team Fortress." The cool thing was, these mods were free to download. But peep this. The Man came along and figured he could make some green selling what was previously given away. Enter "Day of Defeat," one of the more popular free "Half-Life" mods, now available for your paid consumption at stores everywhere.

War is a team sport

"Day of Defeat" is a World War II-themed team shooter with an emphasis on the close quarters of urban combat. You can play as the Germans on the Axis side, or either the Americans or British on the Allied side. Each nationality has its own player classes to choose from, which is really just a fancy way of saying that you get to choose only one main weapon to carry. Armaments range from powerful but inaccurate machine guns to balanced normal rifles to accurate sniper rifles. Because of the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon, you must adjust your style of play accordingly.

Although there are over a dozen maps included, the gameplay in each basically consists of capturing and holding points, although some missions do involve destroying items. Teamwork is essential to success, so those who can communicate and coordinate with their teammates will get the most enjoyment.

You won't be alone

This is an online-only game with no single-player mode, so you must have an Internet connection (preferably a fast one) and the willingness to play nice with others. "Day of Defeat" is team-based, so getting up to speed is not as intimidating as going it alone for the first time in a competitive first-person shooter.

That's not to say it's easy. The game was released as a download in early 2001, so you will face some very good players on the opposing side. While it's simple to start playing, you'll have to stay with it for a long time to make any worthwhile contribution to your team. Luckily, the game is set up so that it's easy to hang back and experiment with different playing styles without getting shot too much. Patience is key, though. Run into the open with guns blazing and you're sure to get a slug in the back of the head.

The price of admission

Overall, "Day of Defeat" is an excellent and accomplished mod that can be a lot of fun, but it comes up lacking when compared to the polish and completeness of similar retail games. The gameplay is limited in scope and the maps are repetitive in theme, if not design. The visuals are decent enough, but definitely not up to the standards of most modern releases. Its origins as a "Half-Life" mod show through, and there are a few glitches here and there. So, depending on how you acquire it, "Day of Defeat" will either make you think, "Wow, this is so cool, it's free!" or "Hmm, this is pretty good for 30 dollars."

Shop smart

Gamers jonesin' for a WWII shooter would be better off buying "Battlefield 1942" for its multiplayer action, or "Medal of Honor: Allied Assault" for its rich single-player experience. But if you've played both to death and are after something new, here's our advice. Download "Day of Defeat" for free if you have "Half-Life" (or the retail version of "Counter-Strike"). If you don't have "Half-Life," why the heck don't you? It's one of the best games of all time. Go out and buy it, play it, then download the "Day of Defeat" mod. If all this sounds like too much trouble, go ahead and fork over your 30 bucks. See if we care.