Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy, known around the world as D-Day. The largest seaborne invasion in human history, D-Day was a turning point in World War II as an Allied force, mainly from the United States, England and Canada, stormed the beaches at Normandy, securing a foothold in German-occupied France.
Over the years several war based games have captured the moment which are very true to life, like the Brothers In Arms franchise, while others, like Battlefield 1942, use D-Day as just another map in a World War II game.
While a lot of us do not really relate to the World War and D-Day landings, but it is certainly one of most vivid scenes captured by gamers over the years.
Close Combat: Invasion Normandy (PC)
Close Combat: Invasion Normandy stands due to its management system with which you choose the units that fight these battles. You can swap out the ineffective bazooka troops for additional snipers or machine gunners. Choose wisely, however. The Krauts will easily cut down a squad following ill-advised orders. War buffs appreciated most, however, fighting through an accurate map of Normandy, through beaches and cities, taking each area one piece at a time.
Call of Duty (PC)
Playing the part of a US Paratrooper in the 101st, you fall from the sky into France to begin hitting targets before the D-Day landings begin on Normandy shores. It’s eerily quiet as you fall by yourself in order to place a beacon for other paratroopers to have a point of reference to drop on. After dispatching a couple of lone guards, you place your beacon and wait for the planes to fly overhead dropping their human cargo onto German occupied territory. As those aircraft cruise past, sirens begin to blare and anti-aircraft weapons start to thrum and light up the sky in the background. As more troops join you on the ground and begin to move towards nearby buildings, all hell breaks loose. Shutters open to expose MG42 emplacements while German soldiers take up positions in the houses to fire out on your advancing squad. The sudden eruption of gunfire is truly a moment to savor.– Dan Adams
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (PC)
There are better, newer games out there. Even the console version of MOH: Frontline improved upon MOH: Allied Assault’s Omaha Beach level. But this was the first time anyone tried to take Omaha Beach as a shooter, and to this day the level remains one of the most visceral experiences in a shooter of all time. The trailer ran at E3 nonstop, and we couldn’t get enough even after we played the level several times through.
