Call of Duty: Finest Hour

- Reviewed on GameCube -

Call of Duty: Finest Hour released on November 16th, 2004. 

Developed by Spark Unlimited, Finest Hour takes the legendary first-person shooter series and drops it onto sixth-gen hardware—and while time has definitely aged parts of this experience, there’s something about this one that still sticks with me. 

Especially the music. We’ll get there.

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

What makes Finest Hour different right away is how it splits its story across three major Allied campaigns: Russian, British, and American.

That means you’re not just following one soldier—you’re thrown into the chaos of World War II from multiple perspectives, each with its own tone, objectives, and locations. 

One moment you’re fighting in snowy Soviet ruins, and the next you’re sneaking through North African towns or storming German bunkers with the Americans.

Each campaign is broken up into distinct missions, and the total mission count sits at 19 in all. 

The game may only take around 5 hours to finish, but it feels dense, dramatic, and—at times—brutally difficult.

One of the most powerful elements of Finest Hour is its atmosphere. Before many missions begin, you’re treated to real-life historical footage from WWII, narrated by none other than Dennis Haysbert. 

These video intros add a sense of gravity and authenticity that genuinely enhances the experience, especially if you’re someone who appreciates historical context in your shooters.

Even though this is a 2004 game, the atmosphere still holds up—with muddy, war-torn visuals, constant gunfire in the distance, and a moody haze that hangs over every level. 

The graphics are definitely dated by modern standards, but they’ve got that early 2000s charm, and honestly? They don’t take you out of the immersion too much.

And that music? Still phenomenal. More on that soon.

Let’s be real—this game is tough.

Finest Hour doesn’t baby you. Enemies are relentless, cover is limited, and your health disappears fast. You’ll need to manage your healing items carefully, which come in two forms...

    - Small circular medkits that heal a small portion of your health.

    - Large brown kits that can be stored (up to four) and used manually for a bigger heal.

Combat feels classic and grounded. No sprinting. No perks. Just boots on the ground and iron sights. 

The controls can feel clunky at first (especially on GameCube), and aiming takes patience and some trial-and-error.

But when it clicks? It’s intense and rewarding. Especially in some of the vehicle missions, where you take control of tanks with full freedom—inside view, third-person, and even top-mounted first-person control. 

These missions give you a break from the foot soldier grind and let you just unload chaos with unlimited ammo. And yeah, those missions? Still fun.

You’ll also get brief jeep segments, though you’re only on the mounted gun—no driving involved.

Now let’s talk about the star of the show, Michael Giacchino’s soundtrack.

It’s honestly one of the best wartime game soundtracks I’ve ever heard. 

Giacchino (who also composed for Medal of Honor and The Incredibles) brings an emotional, cinematic, and deeply human score that elevates every mission. 

Whether you're sneaking through bunkers or holding the line under fire, the music makes the moment.

Even just hearing the main menu theme brings back memories and chills. It’s a massive reason this game has stayed with me all these years.

Completing missions unlocks cheat codes and extras, like infinite ammo, super health, and more perfect for revisiting the game after your first run. 

These little bonuses add replay value and help soften the difficulty spike on later playthroughs.

Call of Duty: Finest Hour may be rough around the edges by today’s standards—with clunky controls, a tough learning curve, and visuals that show their age—but it’s a gritty, focused, and atmospheric war game that’s well worth revisiting.

Between the fantastic score, multiple perspectives, and surprisingly immersive mission structure, this game captured something special during its era—and I’m glad it still holds up in many ways.

Pros: 

    - Absolutely incredible soundtrack by Michael Giacchino

    - Memorable campaign characters

    - Fun, fully controllable tank missions

    - Educational historical footage & intros before missions

    - Cheat codes and unlockables for replay value

Cons:

    - Tough difficulty and steep learning curve

    - Clunky, dated controls (especially on GameCube)

My Rating for Call of Duty: Finest Hour (on GameCube):

5 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.