Having played through this game I felt that I should inform gamers who have not yet played the game of what I think of it. I will not hide the fact that I believe 'Frontline' to be the best World War Two first person shooter to have been created so far.
Many people who have seen the film 'Saving Private Ryan' may perhaps tell you that is is one of the greatest and most engrossing beginnings to a film you will ever see. While a console game could never hope to achieve the same effect, 'Frontline' attempts to created the game version of the best beginning by firing your character (Lt. Patterson) in at the deep end. Like 'Saving Private Ryan' your character is landed on the deadly Omaha Beach on the morning of D-Day. The level is well constructed and attempts as best it can to give the player a tiny insight into what happened on that beach on D-Day. However, the rest of the game does not carry on in the same vane as the first level. The first level very much involves your character in the bigger picture on D-Day - fighting with your fellow soldiers and helping each other out. The majority of the levels after that involve your character in espionage work behind the scenes generally trying to be as big a nuisance to the Germans as possible and foiling every plan that you can.
As you fight your way through seemingly impossible tasks with only the weapons the OSS have given you, you get a real sense that the creators and developers really tried to provide an authentic experience. Unlike many other war games, Medal of Honor does not simply ask you to mutilate as many opposition soldiers as possible but asks you to perform different tasks (such as sabotage, rescuing informants and stealing plans to a new deadly German aircraft). Occasionally your character may be require to acquire a German uniform and sneak around completing tasks. Don't get me wrong, you are still required to kill off the Nazi soldiers that you see but throughout the game I didn't get the feeling that that is all that I was required to do. I feel that the enemy AI is as good as you can get on the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube and the weapons that are at your disposal are also accurate to the weapons that would have been used in the Second World War.
I will also mention the musical score to the game created by Michael Giacchino. I feel that this is as good as you can make a score to a game. Each level has its own track and this adds great depth to the overall feeling of the game. For example, the Menu screen has an emotional orchestral theme playing in the background that sets the tone for the game and seems a fitting introduction to the game that the player embarks on. Giacchino matches perfectly the score of each level to the setting and feel for each level. This is no better illustrated than in 'Operation Repunzel', a fast paced level which sees Lt. Patterson maraud his way through a mansion to rescue an informer named Gerritt. The score is lively and dynamic. It creates tension but is also defiant and seems like it sets the pace to the level. Another good example is 'Arnhem Knights' which places your character in the failed Operation Market Garden attempt by the Allies to end the War by Christmas. The music creates and intense feeling of impending doom and sadness and, despite the fact that it is just a game and nothing more, I felt a pang of pain every time one of my fellow soldiers fell under German gunfire.
I really feel that Medal of Honor Frontline captures the essence of World War Two better than any other World war Two game on the market and respects the legacy of World War Two while at the same time appealing to a broad audience. If you have not yet played Frontline, I would urge you to give it a go and see for yourself...
Many people who have seen the film 'Saving Private Ryan' may perhaps tell you that is is one of the greatest and most engrossing beginnings to a film you will ever see. While a console game could never hope to achieve the same effect, 'Frontline' attempts to created the game version of the best beginning by firing your character (Lt. Patterson) in at the deep end. Like 'Saving Private Ryan' your character is landed on the deadly Omaha Beach on the morning of D-Day. The level is well constructed and attempts as best it can to give the player a tiny insight into what happened on that beach on D-Day. However, the rest of the game does not carry on in the same vane as the first level. The first level very much involves your character in the bigger picture on D-Day - fighting with your fellow soldiers and helping each other out. The majority of the levels after that involve your character in espionage work behind the scenes generally trying to be as big a nuisance to the Germans as possible and foiling every plan that you can.
As you fight your way through seemingly impossible tasks with only the weapons the OSS have given you, you get a real sense that the creators and developers really tried to provide an authentic experience. Unlike many other war games, Medal of Honor does not simply ask you to mutilate as many opposition soldiers as possible but asks you to perform different tasks (such as sabotage, rescuing informants and stealing plans to a new deadly German aircraft). Occasionally your character may be require to acquire a German uniform and sneak around completing tasks. Don't get me wrong, you are still required to kill off the Nazi soldiers that you see but throughout the game I didn't get the feeling that that is all that I was required to do. I feel that the enemy AI is as good as you can get on the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube and the weapons that are at your disposal are also accurate to the weapons that would have been used in the Second World War.
I will also mention the musical score to the game created by Michael Giacchino. I feel that this is as good as you can make a score to a game. Each level has its own track and this adds great depth to the overall feeling of the game. For example, the Menu screen has an emotional orchestral theme playing in the background that sets the tone for the game and seems a fitting introduction to the game that the player embarks on. Giacchino matches perfectly the score of each level to the setting and feel for each level. This is no better illustrated than in 'Operation Repunzel', a fast paced level which sees Lt. Patterson maraud his way through a mansion to rescue an informer named Gerritt. The score is lively and dynamic. It creates tension but is also defiant and seems like it sets the pace to the level. Another good example is 'Arnhem Knights' which places your character in the failed Operation Market Garden attempt by the Allies to end the War by Christmas. The music creates and intense feeling of impending doom and sadness and, despite the fact that it is just a game and nothing more, I felt a pang of pain every time one of my fellow soldiers fell under German gunfire.
I really feel that Medal of Honor Frontline captures the essence of World War Two better than any other World war Two game on the market and respects the legacy of World War Two while at the same time appealing to a broad audience. If you have not yet played Frontline, I would urge you to give it a go and see for yourself...