MoH is a fitting rival for COD
First, the Unreal Engine has done it again because the graphics are pretty amazing. Compared to COD 2 or 3, it looks a little more gritty, less "cartoony" imo. Not to say that CODs graphics suck by any means. The detail on the weapons is great and things like water and the metal glisten when hit with light. Just looking at the lighting sheen of the gun in your hand is pretty cool.
Second, the gameplay is really intense in SP and MP (if you got a good sized room with no lag). Enemies flood the screen and fire at you from all angles, and they actually hit you. Honestly this was the most times I've died on campaign set to normal. Also things like sprinting, jumping, and parachuting (of course) makes it really feel like you are a soilder running into battle. The original lean and peek cover system works really well in the game. When aiming down the ironsights you can maneuver with ease, and with a click of the LS you can strafe or walk back and forth while aiming. GS complained about the hit detection but it's honestly like any other shooter nowadays where you have to use burst fire instead of full auto a lot of the times. Its actually way more realistic as far as hit detection goes. It's damn hard to hit someone across the map with the thompson or MP40, but switch to one of the rifles and of course accuracy is spot on. Also when you actually upgrade the weapons, the accuracy gets way better.
GS had it right when they said that there is no story. You basically just take the role of some guy name Travers, who seems to be a god on the battlefield. As Travers you basically just take part in 6 different operaitions for the 82nd Airborne division. You'll blow up tanks, AA guns, radio communications, and all of the other stuff you do in these WW2 shooters. What sets the game out from the rest is the fact that you can do these things in any order you want on the level. It really is go anywhere and do anything, from the rooftops to the streets. Overall if you're not a risk taker, do not buy this game cause there is that chance that you might not like it. I recommend renting first. That'll probably be all you need to conquer this game anyway, not unless you want to play online. IMO the more I play it, the more I appreciate it. And the achievements are butt easy to come by in this one so keep that in mind. GS score doesnt accurately reflect MoH