The return of a gaming legend.
Gameplay
The shooting mechanics are of course the most important part of any first person shooter and Medal Of Honor finds a mix between the shooting mechanics of the highly regarded Call Of Duty series and the also well regarded Battlefield series with an accessibly fluid yet weighty feel. Personally I find this mix to be quite effective and satisfying but may not appeal to some. It is worth mentioning that Medal Of Honor uses the same excellent control scheme/ button placement that is used in the Call Of Duty series which eliminates any button placement memorizing for those familiar with the Call Of Duty games.
The game features a well - paced based set on the on-going battle against terrorism in Afghanistan which features some rather nice set pieces including an ATV race across treacherous mountain terrain. However it can seem that the best parts of the game are the scripted and hands off sequences, which can make the actually playing of the game less exciting.
The game suffers from the absence of any established storyline as a result of the want for a more realistic approach to modern war. This may disappoint some FPS fans who have become accustomed to the 'epic' storylines seen all too often in shooters of today although I have to say I found this realism to be strangely refreshing.
The game's enemy AI is unfortunately weak, with enemies seemingly stuck in place and either covering in place or shooting at any one time and as a result it can make the game seem particularly easy and slightly unrealistic as a result.
The game features a multiplayer component as well however it is developed by DICE as opposed to Danger Close who develop the single player experience in Medal Of Honor. The multiplayer section of the game provides a fun online experience however it fails to innovate with a feeling all too similar to the multiplayer of the Battlefield games and poor map design. The multiplayer experience feels rushed and as a result fails to hold the attention of most shooting fans.
Overall the game plays well and is fun to play however it's bare storyline and poor enemy AI may leave some wanting.
7/10
Graphics
Medal Of Honor can at points look simply stunning, with lavish textures, rich and detailed lighting and excellent smoke and particle effects as well as some destructible environments. The game certainly looks its best during day missions where the game's crisp lighting is presented beautifully. It's a shame then that many missions take place at night which look a little bit lacklustre and leave you waiting for that next daytime mission when you can behold those glorious lighting effects once again. Unfortunately the game suffers from some frequent frame rate drops and some quite visible screen tearing however it is quite easy to over - look and doesn't take much away from the game's stunning presentation.
8/10
Audio
The sound design of Medal Of Honor is possibly its strongest point. With a 5.1 surround set up, players can really feel immersed in the intensity of war with satisfying gun sounds and deafening explosions. Everything from the sound of a new magazine sliding into the chamber of a handgun to the cracking sound of jet fighters flying above the players head sounds incredible. The game features quite realistic, yet often boring, dialogue that also helps in player immersion. The game also features an interesting and suitable original soundtrack.
9/10
Longevity
Medal of Honor's single player campaign is likely to last most players around 5-6 hours to complete and with the exception of the Tier 1 operator mode, lacks any real incentive for the player to replay the single-player campaign due to the absence of any real plot. Players may find a few hours of extra enjoyment in the game's multiplayer but is nothing particularly special and will quickly grow old. Medal Of Honor is a short experience by today's standards.
7/10
Summary
In short, Medal Of Honor is sometimes thrilling first-person shooter which features great controls, stunning audio performance, beautiful graphics and a realistic single player experience which is marred only by poor frame rate, lacklustre multiplayer and a slightly boring plot line. Medal of Honor may struggle to make an impact on the first person shooter market due to massive Call Of Duty series however I am still glad to see the return of a legendary gaming series and commend EA for it's reboot despite the fact that there is certainly room for improvement.
8/10