Medal of Honor bears a major distinction. Created by Steven Spielberg, this suspense-
filled World War II adventure looks and feels like the director's critically acclaimed film,
Saving Private Ryan.
The only thing missing is heart. You never identify with your character. That said, the
sound experience rivals that of last year's outstanding Metal Gear Solid. The game
relies heavily on silence to create a sense of mystery, stealth, and anticipation.
However, that sense dissipates somewhat as the game progresses. Eventually you get
sick of shooting Nazis. (We played every level.)
Throughout the 24 levels, though, the briefings become increasingly interesting and
informative. These mini history lessons go into quite a bit of detail on military craft and
weaponry of the time. Actual film footage is used in many cases.
Medal of Honor is intelligent in many ways. This is both good and bad for the player.
It's bad when the game's artificial intelligence is smart enough to make Nazis throw your
grenades back at you! It's good when the objectives are always listed on the pause
screen so you don't have to remember anything.
Aiming is a little cumbersome. Sometimes you don't have enough time to shoot
accurately, though you might have an easier time aiming with the R3 control stick.
Aiming and walking at the same time can be tricky, but you'll get used to it. Try it, stick
with it beyond your initial rejection, and you'll be surprised at how well you adapt.
Of course, a multi-player mode is included, following in the footsteps of GoldenEye. In
this mode, you can choose your uniform and select the arsenal of your choice. This
reviewer is not a big multi-player fan, so I won't comment on that aspect of play.
Overall, Medal of Honor is a rewarding experience even at its weakest points.
Publisher: Dream Works