Medal of Honor: Frontline Review
Many people have criticized the Nintendo Gamecube saying there isn’t enough mature rated games on the system. However they are to be proved wrong. With the arrival of Metal Gear Solid in the near future the complete Resident Evil Series and now Medal Of Honor Frontline we will have plenty of chances to pump lead so to speak into unexpecting bodies. So without further ado lets power up this review and put Medal Of Honor Frontline in the “firing line”.
Graphics: As you may be aware this is a port from the Playstation 2. Most ports are very disappointing and seem rushed however you do not get that feeling while playing Frontline. The game starts in a realistic, engaging and well designed environment where the atmosphere builds for the introduction of the game. This is accomplished through the use of detail, sound effects and lighting. Overall the introduction of the graphics element of the game is above average although the game could have been improved in some ways e.g. water effects, reflections and the appearance of some buildings.
Character Models: Your fellow comrades and enemy soldiers are both well rendered and detailed. You will find no stick men who appear to have no joints, as they run around as if in real life and die pretty well too! However character models do have their downsides as they are able to run through walls!, die - fall to the floor and then somehow reincarnate themselves! and the old favorite which is to run head first into the nearest wall and somehow keep running on the spot?
If the cons have somehow overshadowed the pros so far the overall presentation and attention to detail will ensure Frontline will be kept in your good books. Each mission starts with archive footage, which both engages and sets the scene for your role as Lt. Jimmy Patterson the main character in the game.
The war room as in most Medal Of Honor games is your menu system. This time however it is more alive with people walking about and contributing to the whole atmosphere. Overall, Frontline is a highly enjoyable game when it comes to visuals and the bad points in the game are far made up for by the impressiveness of the good parts. So if you would like to take a trip back to the 1940s here’s you chance.
Sound: The audio in the game is flawless and effectively creates one of the most atmospheric titles you’ll ever play on your Gamecube bar Burnout 2 which is also very impressive in the sound department. Including over one whole hours worth of an original orchestral composition by Michael Guacharo it places you directly in the center of every war movie you’ve ever seen. If played correctly the sound will play a massive part in the game. The tank to your left, the bomber above you, or the rather unfortunate event of having your leg blown off (always a bad thing) will all be brought to you in the most realistic of manners. Adding a massive amount of impressiveness to the game. There are also some nice touches featuring German troops who tend to chat almost constantly warning you of their location before you even see them.
Gameplay: In Frontline you play the role of Lt. Jimmy Patterson; a British soldier called forward to serve his country and take care of each and every situation the US Army simply can’t handle. This involves you embarking on six complex missions, each consisting of a handful of sub levels, which are your only real checkpoints. So get shot a few steps away from the end of the level and you will find yourself restarting at the very place you began your mission 30 minutes beforehand. This is not really an issue in the early stages of the game however as you start to win the war the Germans get a bit more annoyed - things get harder you die more often and you get so annoyed you end up in a heap on the floor wondering why you just wasted the afternoon watching a television screen! You have limited ammunition so heading in ‘guns a blazing’ will almost never lead to success and a more considered approach is always the best bet, played Metal Gear on the PS2? that’s the way to approach Frontline.
Weapons: All the weapons are based on actual WW2 firearms and as in most games the sniper rifle is most fun, I mean come on shooting people in the back from a half a mile away from your position may seem cowardice to you but i’ve played the game and it’s kill or be killed. The game is not all about firing weapons though and that’s what I like about this game, you have to use you intelligence to find your way out of a situation and the reward of finishing each level is far more significant because of this.
Playability: As a result of my last comment the situations you find yourself in are complex and both interesting this engages the player and results in a highly enjoyable game. What will keep everyone going however is the well written storyline based on real events, this conveys the horror and the atrocities real men had to suffer in order to achieve their goal which was ultimately saving everyone from certain death or bleak futures under the control of a increasingly powerful fanatical party.
Controls:
Control Stick – Movement C-Stick – Look around Control Pad – Weapon Select L – Aim R – Fire Z – Reload Y – Jump X – Crouch A – Action B – Character gives everything he’s got!
Lifespan:
Single player approximately 15 hours Getting all extras, bonuses etc adds another 5 hours.
Unlocking extra modes e.g. multiplayer exclusive to Gamebube and Xbox ports will take the lifespan of the game to 20 hours play.
( These are approximate figures)
Conclusion:
Frontline is a very good game. You cannot complain about it to much as you are left wanting more. Better than any other Medal Of Honor game and by some margin. Ncube recommends this game to anyone who likes shoot em’ ups and games that need to approached from the think before you shoot perspective.
Visuals: 9
Sound: 10
Originality: 8.5
Replay: 7.5
Overall: 9
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