How would you feel about a whole level based around driving an armoured personnel carrier, in an attempt to reach an airport, with a whole column of tanks closely on your tail? Or commandeering a tank to blow a dam? Or, as you approach the end of the game, spending an entire mission aboard a sinking ship, its deck sloping upwards and only ever illuminated by the phosphorous flares streaking through an ebony sky? Every one an innovation and beautifully crafted.

There are a few faults, however. Perhaps the AI of your team and the opposition could be improved, though they're able to climb ladders, return fire accurately and be generally trustworthy. Perhaps the group-ordering system, where you can lay way-points for the other three members to follow, could be more accessible. And, of course, your elite commandos being unable to swim is a little short of ridiculous.

But these are microscopic faults when the game as a whole is compared to every single other title in the last year that's attempted to cover this ground (this includes the aforementioned Commandos, Rainbow Six, Delta Force and Special Ops). In fact, it does the unique trick of being better than each of these games in their chosen area of excellence. Sniping in H&D is more atmospheric than in Delta Force. The building storming excels over Rainbow Six. The team infiltration of Commandos is conquered. And it beats Special Ops by just not being bad.

Add some of the most detailed, well-researched graphics yet seen (everything from trains to side-cars look history program-authentic) and a general underlying message that war-is-hell (seeing your men separated into their component limbs borders on heart-breaking) and we have something that absolutely redefines the mini-genre. This is the new benchmark.