Cons: ...seems like TOO much fun to be healthy. What happened to Tom Hanks?
The Bottom Line: The biggest brand name in WWII games is back, and its definitely a trip worth taking. THE BEST GAME EVER... and you get to kill Nazis.
theliberator's Full Review: Medal of Honor: Frontline for PlayStation 2
'This looks slightly familiar.' I thought to myself after the first mission had loaded. 'Now, where have I saw THIS before?' I pondered, as the cutscene rolled on. In fact, had it not been for the absence of Tom Hanks, I would have recognised straight away that the first mission on MoHFL was an exact replica of the opening scene from Saving Private Ryan, minus Tom Hanks. However, I digress.
I remember thinking to myself, the first time I played Final Fantasy X, 'this is the best game ever...' Now, I take it all back. Yes, I have Medal of Honor Frontline now, and it certainly is something you have to see to believe. Not only are the graphics ridiculously amazing, but the overall feel of the game is very warlike. Once you start playing, you'll have to pinch yourself, just to remind you that you aren't an Armed Forces commando and the war IS over.
You take on the roll of Lt. James Patterson, a 24 year old war hero. The first mission sees our boy Jimmy on the beaches of Normandy on June 6th, 1944... D-Day. After the initial impression of splendour you get from the game, the action unfolds like so many great war movies, as it should, because this game was created by Mr. Spielberg himself. After the first mission, things change. Instead of all out action, it moves onto objective-based missions, similar to those seen in the slightly (but not by much) inferior Goldeneye. Its still fun, but the all out action in D-Day is better than having to complete somewhat illogical objectives.
Having said this, there is still plenty of Nazi-wasting action throughout, to keep one occupied. The graphics, too, keep you playing, as they are some of the best ever seen in a console First-person shooter. Animation is incredible... shoot one of your German foes in the leg and he'll fall down and scream in pain, before getting back on his feet and limping to your location. Plug him in the arm, and he'll spin appropriately, before dying of blood-loss. Its incredible.
Our Nazi friends are very clever, too. Throw a grenade at one of them, and watch, astonished, as he picks it up and throws it back. Aim your sniper rifle at his head, to see him duck and dodge his way out of your sights. Its also fun to hear him curse (in German) when he has to reload his weapon. Amazing.
On the subject of weapons, there are 18 authentic WWII weapons to choose from, ranging from your standard issue pistol to combat shotguns and German sniper rifles. There's certainly plenty here to keep you occupied as you take on Hitler's crew.
Not only are these things mentioned very cool, but they also add to the realism of the whole game. Yes... it is very realistic indeed. This realism is backed up by sound. Guns and other weapons sound appropriate and the music is truly stunning, but where the real beauty lies, is in ambient sounds. You may not even notice that full scale battle raging on miles from your location, but its definitely there, and it does make this game as realistic as ever. It may not sound exciting to read about, but if you play it, you'll understand.
Voice acting is also good... even though most of it is in German. It's fun to here them scream for back-up as they run for cover, as much as it is fun to kill them. There is a wide range of different phrases (all in German) to make this a classic and amusing experience... the one which stuck in my mind, was on a particular level, when you have to raid a Nazi Mansion, a booming German voice comes over a loud speaker and delivers the line, 'It vould be betta for us all if you vere to give yourself up, so as ve do not have to stain ze lovely interior of zis home vis your blood.' Its nothing special, but it keeps you amused, as you take on hoards of German war buddies.
On that note, killing the Nazis IS fun, even more so than killing zombies. I don't know why, but there is something about it that is SOOOOOOOO much fun... which brings me to a bad point... its SO fun that it's scary. You'll find yourself laughing pleasurably as you kill Nazi after Nazi with that antique shotgun of yours, and once you realise what you're doing, you may want to see a psychiatrist. However, don't let this put you off buying the game, as it is WELL worth the money and sadism, because it is so entertaining.
Now, console FPS' (especially PS2 ones) have never been famed for their excellent control, and MoHFL is no exception. Granted, it handles its controls better than any other PS2 FPS on the market, but it still takes some getting used to. After a few missions of Nazi-demolishing action, you'll be a seasoned pro.
But you won't be able to show off to your friends, as there is no multi-player, which is a bit disappointing. This, however, will not affect my overall rating for the game, because never on this Earth has there been such a harrowing single player experience. This proves that games need no split-screen MP to make them great, but it would have been nice to have the option.
The flaws, however, are minor, and this is definitely a game that any PS2 owner should buy... so if you're sitting reading this, and you're looking for a new and improved single player FPS, go and buy Medal of Honor... and thats an order, soldier.
Graphics:
Simply stunning. Gives the impression that you're actually fighting for your country, without the dangers of getting shot and blown up.
Gameplay:
The missions are good, especially the earlier missions, and the variety of objectives will keep you playing until the end.
Sound:
Amazing orchestral soundtrack, great weapon noises, cool German voice acting and the greatest ambient sounds ever heard in a video game.
Replay:
Once you complete it, you probably won't go back and do the whole thing again, but some of the levels have endless replay value, that'll keep you playing forever.
Overall:
So you don't get to kill Hitler, but it's still a game that should be bought... just remember, it's not real, but it certainly feels it, so don't come crying to me if you're having trouble sleeping at night.
Jimmy has been sent back behind enemy lines to steal the HO-IX flying wing, an experimental Nazi weapon To get it, you'll have to survive six major mi...More at Amazon Marketplace
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