Honor Above All

Written by Andres Caicedo

When you already have a saturated market full of shooters, releasing another one is going to be a hit or miss. The story is one that is very simple – you’re a military soldier in the US army to take out the Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Short and sweet, but to the point. Out of the ordinary, the latest addition to the Medal of Honor series, self-titled as a reboot, adds a sense of realism that not many other shooters have provided yet.

The gameplay is simple, yet refreshing as you travel from mountain-side to little rural village to take down Taliban forces and/or complete specific objectives your team is assigned to do. It sounds simple and repetitive, but actually quite fun, thanks to the array of US weapons and stunning graphics the single player has to offer. As always, this is a first-person shooter, so aiming for the head is imperative to take down your foe as quickly as possible. There’s a symbol that shows you correctly placed a headshot which is a nifty little feature to the game; makes you want to go for the head every time. Though the single player is fun, it’s not perfect. Don’t expect this game to revolutionize first person shooters overall, but think of it as a refreshing change of pace from the shooters we are used to playing. In the single player campaign, there are physical flaws like invisible walls, invincible allies, and unlimited enemy respawns from time to time. But it doesn’t deter from being an enjoyable six-hour game from start to finish.

While the campaign was developed by Danger Close, a studio from EA Los Angeles, the multiplayer was designed by Swedish Developers DICE (creators of the Battlefield series) whom already had experience in the multiplayer aspect of the FPS genre. Starting from the get-go, you can definitely see a graphical change from the single player mode. Though this isn’t a downfall, it is a bit of surprise to people who don’t realize that Medal of Honor was created by two different developers. As of now, the multiplayer portion has 8 maps to offer, ranging from snowy mountainsides to desert villages. While I definitely enjoyed the campaign, I’ve been more charmed by the multiplayer aspect.

During multiplayer’s Team Deathmatch, you have the option to choose loadouts before you respawn. Sort between Rifleman, Special Ops, and Sniper, as each are balanced out accordingly to weigh power in the battlefield. The Rifleman loadout is granted with a grenade launcher, or “noob tubes” as they call them. Special Ops carry C4 to plant and kill people by surprise, and a rocket launcher to decimate newbies. And finally, the Sniper, who carries 2 grenades and a sniper rifle that nails 2-hit kills (though I think the developers are going to nerf this class for being a little too powerful compared to the others).

All in all, the multiplayer consists of fast-paced, frantic shooting that will enthuse just about anyone who has played an online FPS. Just like the campaign, it’s not perfect as wonky respawns and some balancing issues litter the gameplay. The online mode consists of playing as the Taliban, ironically called “opposing force” so try not to be greatly offended. Hysterical, I know. Avoid letting minor issues hinder you from playing this game, but don’t expect it to revolutionize online gaming.

For more info go to:
MedalOfHonor.com