Backed by the History Channel, Civil War took us into the trenches of a different war that rarely gets the first-person shooter treatment. The shooter fan in me cheered at the idea of a shooter revolving around the Civil War period after having stormed the beaches of Normandy during WWII way too many times in a game. It’s unfortunate that the game was a frustrating mess but once again, we find ourselves back in the frontline as the Confederacy as well as the Union in History Civil War: Secret Missions for the Xbox 360.

The South will rise again 

Like the title suggests, Secret Missions focuses on secretive operations that the Union as well as the Confederacy side has participated in during the war between the North and South. Relying on various actual historical accounts and key moments during the war, the missions on each side helped tilt various battles in the favor of each side. For example, in one of the early missions in the game, you are ordered to intercept a series of ammo boxes for a Gatling gun that - at the time - was just recently manufactured for the Union army. As a Confederate soldier, you even get a direct order from General Robert E. Lee to take out Union sharpshooters during the most brutal moment of the battle of Gettysburg.

There’s no story to be found in the game but rather it unfolds over a series of mission scenarios that have you playing as both sides with campaigns that are historically accurate. We even get a History Channel-like narrator that brings up historical facts about various campaigns as well as provide the visual aids. You basically assume the role of a nameless/faceless soldier with the ability to duck for cover and fire any of the era’s firearms you come across during your mission. The weapons have improved over the last game with guns that are a bit faster to load like the Henry rifle, a Sharps sniper rifle or even a Spencer rifle. You’ll even get to man the Gatling gun as well as cannons.

The missions themselves not only contain main objectives but also bonus objectives that have you searching for maps, ammo crates as well as revive fallen comrades. Like the last game, though, the main missions are very straightforward with very few exciting moments that really stand out. When the campaign scenario does stand out it is either too short or plagued by a number of problems that cramp the game’s style as well as frustrate seasoned and casual fans of first-person shooters. This is too bad since missions like the Great Train Raid of 1861 is actually kind of fun.

Yankees out of control 

These problems come in the form of a wonky hit detection as well as a few other weird issues that will get your character killed quickly. Sure, you can upgrade your character by increasing his ammo intake as well as the how much damage you make on your enemy or damage you can take. None of this will really make a difference seeing as the enemy AI isn’t smart either nor will you find it fair when that enemy you just killed is suddenly replaced by another enemy almost instantaneously. After awhile, the game even becomes way too repetitive to be fun. With no multiplayer mode whatsoever, there’s really no reason I see gamers playing this one again.

On the graphics front, Secret Missions looks like it would have been something quite impressive if this were the original Xbox. While not a hideous game, it’s also just as plain and generic as the gameplay. I do love the backgrounds and the environments sometimes really stand out at times with gorgeous water effects. Still, the character models look awful and the rag doll is really exaggerated in this game. 

I want to see you fight 

I also miss the soundtrack from the first game, which was composed of the soundtrack from the movie “Glory.” In this game, you’ll be welcomed by a silent menu screen and the only music you’ll hear is during the narrator’s introduction. The other bad news is that the voices you’ll hear in the game repeat themselves often to the point that you will be annoyed as well as confused. While I shot at a few blue coats, a fellow Confederate would often scold me for shooting at our own men. Sometimes I wouldn’t be shooting anything at all when I get a pat in the back for shooting that Johnny Reb dead.

Sadly, History Civil War: Secret Missions for the Xbox 360 is another missed opportunity to bring first-person shooter fans a shooter with a uniquely fresh take on the historical shooter genre. For the most part, the game does have the setting right but there are too many problems that make this a greatly disappointing and by-the-numbers first-person shooter. I hope that one day Activision is able to bring us a Civil War action game that history buffs and action fans will certainly appreciate but until then Secret Missions is weekend rental for those that want to give World War II shooters a much deserved break.

Gameplay: 5.0
The authentic weaponry of the era proves to be considerably better this time around but the levels are still very generic and boring that not even the bonus objectives help alleviate the boredom. Then again, there are some decent moments that do stand out but it’s held back by a few problematic issues. 

Graphics: 5.5
Visually, the game isn’t completely horrible to look at and there are some lovely backgrounds that drive home the feeling that you’re marching through gorgeous Virginia farmlands. The visual effects still look like they would have impressed gamers on the original Xbox and the character models could have been better.

Sound: 4.5
The music takes a backseat this time around and this is highly unfortunate. This leaves us with minimal sound effects and repetitive phrases from your comrades. Thankfully, the weapons sound authentically real.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
You will die a lot and it’s mainly because there are many times in the game when the enemy will continue to come out of nowhere and shoot you even behind an overturned wagon. This is a shooter where you will definitely see a lot of the 'You Are Dead' menu screen.

Concept: 5.0
A straightforward game with very few reasons to want to play it again after you’re done, there are some collectibles to unlock and achievements to earn. Once again, there’s no multiplayer - offline or online - and that’s quite a disappointment.

Overall: 5.0
Alas, Secret Missions fails to be that glorious Civil War first-person shooter that not only gives gamers a good glimpse of what the tragic war was about but also experience the secretive side to famous confrontations during that period. With too many problems holding it back, those gamers with an eye towards history should simply consider renting this one instead.