nce in a while, a game is released that has the potential to rule my life. Day of Defeat is one of these games. Although it is a mod of Counter-Strike, which in turn was a mod of Half-Life, it has kept a lot of the core gameplay that made its cousin so successful. Gone is the "if you’re dead, you wait" phenomenon of CS that put deceased characters into a spectator buffer until one side completed its objectives or everyone from one squad was annihilated. Instead, there are still objectives, but players respawn after being dropped – which produces a non-stop cornucopia of action.

Better yet, the game is available for free, but like most things that are free, there’s a catch: You have to own Half-Life to run Day of Defeat. However, if you just get off your penny-pinching butt and buy the game, you won’t have to worry about that. At the same time, this is a mod of an old game, and it shows. Textures are muddy, structures are blocky, and the animations are decidedly low-end. The particle effects are good, however, and the noise is incredible. The sound of bullets whizzing past your ear or slamming into some nearby surface is disturbingly realistic. As a pure action game, this is a perfect purchase for those who want to kill, kill, kill!   

ANDREW REINER   8.5 From a graphical standpoint, Day of Defeat isn’t quite up to code. However, if you can overlook the bland texturing, archaic lighting, and blocky environment designs; the remainder of the game proves to an exhilarating experience. Much like Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat is a Half-Life mod with gameplay that focuses on quick, close-quarter combat between two squads. Due to the microscopic size of the maps, you’ll always find yourself in the thick of the fray, praying that a sniper hasn’t drawn a bead on you. The matches come and go at breakneck speeds, and all of the maps promote teamwork to seize territories. The gameplay functionality is simple, but deep enough for FPS junkies to sink their teeth into. With a blistering pace, well thought out map designs, and incredible sound (like bullets ricocheting overhead), Day of Defeat hits you with adrenaline-filled intensity and an addictive gameplay hook.