Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Medal of Honor: Frontline

Written by Nick Doukas on June 13, 2002

Second View: And when he gets to Heaven, to St.Peter he will tell, one more soldier reporting sir, I've served my time in HellЕ

World War II was one of mankind's greatest conflicts. For a time there was a madman loose among us, and he wanted to take over the world. The US and its allies were locked in a fight that would cost countless American lives, and though in the end we were triumphant, the price we paid was great. People have been fascinated with WW II for decades, and endless films have been produced chronicling the experiences of the war. One of the best examples of WW II themed videogames is the Medal Of Honor series, which began on Sony's PSX and continued with the recently released MOH: Allied Assault for PC. Now from publisher Electronic Arts and developer DreamWorks Interactive comes Medal Of Honor: Frontline, the first of the series to appear on the Playstation 2. The German war machine is everywhere, and it's up to you to fight your way through 19 levels of war torn mayhem in order to help bring Hitler's reign of terror to an end.

The opening level situates players in the assault of Omaha beach. D-Day, June 6th, 1944. As players assume the role of Lt. James Patterson, fresh from his previous Medal Of Honor adventure, they'll find themselves fully equipped for combat and standing shoulder to shoulder with members of the 116th infantry in the cramped confines of a Higgins boat, approaching the shores of France. At this point the game thrusts you into full-fledged combat, as a well-aimed shell blows you out of the transport and into the water. As you make your way ashore amidst shouting troops and endless mortar fire, your Captain tasks you with providing cover fire for your comrades. The feeling of war is everywhere, as the game assaults you with deafening explosions, machine gun fire and the tortured screams of the dying. The level is intense and immediately establishes the brutality of the games themes. Medal OF Honor: Frontline, takes gamers through 19 missions, ranging from the aforementioned D-Day assault, to escort duty, stealth missions and sabotage.

The game offers different controller options, but the default controls (MOH: Sharpshooter) are well balanced, with movement controlled by the left analog stick and view/direction mapped to the right. Crouch with L2, jump with the Triangle button and use Square and Circle to cycle through weapons. For combat, aim with the right analog stick and fire the currently equipped weapon with R1 (aiming can be troublesome at first, since it's a bit stiff and no option to adjust sensitivity exists, but once you get used to it, you'll be capping Nazis like a pro). Use R2 to reload and melee attack with R3. Holding L1 will lock your aim onto the current target. This can be useful for popping out from cover to score a few hits, while minimizing your own damage. The select button is used to contact HQ for instructions, and this is a blessing since each mission is made up of multiple tasks. Press the start button for a checklist of current mission objectives. You'll find yourself in some serious combat with the Nazi menace as you make your way through a war torn French village in Seaside Stowaway (in keeping with the games cinematic feel, each level is a chapter of sorts in the overall story, and this one feels a lot like the end of Saving Private Ryan) Climbing up to the top of a church, you'll take control of a stationary machine gun emplacement and blow away Nazi troops on the streets below. Sneak into a German U-boat factory and docking facility in A Chance Meeting, and engage in grueling 15-minute grudge matches with Nazi snipers, as you pit your skills with the Springfield С03 Sniper rifle against their deadly accuracy, with only an overturned car or building debris for cover (think Ed Harris and Jude Law in Enemy At The Gates). The developers have designed certain levels as an homage to different WW II movies, such as A Bridge Too Far (the film which re-creates Operation Market Garden, the most risky and brutal Allied defeat, and on which many of the events of Frontline are based) However, since the goal of the Nijmegen Bridge level is to disarm the detonators that the Germans have planted, the developers suggest that the bridge never blew (as it did in the film) because Lt. James Patterson (that's you) got to it first and saved it. Cool stuff. All of the missions immerse you in the experience incredibly well, as the music, sound and scripted events envelop you in the story. The Germans will flank you, take cover and direct sniper fire to pin you down. The enemy AI is solid, though they are, on occasion, anything but intelligent. They'll run in circles or shoot at the wall, but for the most part, you'll find yourself in some very intense stand offs that will have your heart racing. Your squad mates are mostly on the ball as well, covering you and even blasting a few Nazis while you reload. I found myself feeling quite protective of my buddy Barnes in A Rough Landing, as I covered him while he blew up German tanks. The missions are very well designed and a lots of fun, which is good, because the only way to save is at the completion of each one. This is where the developers could have been more generous and programmed checkpoints into each level. Believe me, after fighting and sniping my way through a German U-boat yard for forty minutes, only to blow myself up planting explosives on the last boat (literally seconds from the end of the level) I was ready to break my controller. However, the game is so compelling, I was right back at it a bit later, having a ball.

The game equips you well and numerous authentic WW II weapons are available to you, from the Colt 45, to the Thompson Sub-Machine gun. Trust me, the Springfield '03 Sniper Rifle will be your best friend. As a rule, the best strategy is to canvas a new area carefully, stake out a spot, and snipe as many Nazi's as you can before moving forward. Granted, some levels have you engaged in running ground battles, where the quick response of the MP40 is in your best interest, however, never underestimate the stopping power of a good sniper. Stake it out, clear it out and move forward! Other weapons are available, and each suits the different scenarios to varying degrees. As you make your way through the adventure, you'll notice great detail, in both the character models, and the environment. The French landscape is both beautiful and horrifying, as the devastating effects of war are evident in every farm, as well as every city you trudge through. I'm pleased to report that the framerate is solid, and rarely stutters. Weapons are well modeled and tanks, U-boats and other assorted vehicles are nicely realized. The power of the PS2 is evident in the gorgeous particle effects on display in every explosion, and can be seen as well in the intricately modeled landscape. Rain falls, fighters buzz by overhead, and French citizens go about their business as you approach. Throughout the game, you'll work with your fellow Infantry, as well as by yourself. Your level of health is represented by a colored ring (your HUD), and injuries can be treated in typical FPS fashion by picking up Field health packs or medicinal canteens. Ammo for the various weapons can be found scattered throughout the levels, and the developers have provided an abundance of powerups to help you achieve your mission goals. The game gives you the choice of 3 difficulties (easy, medium and hard) and at the completion of each mission, you are ranked for accuracy, preferred weapon, enemies killed and shot placement (arm, leg, groin, torso or head). The game contains tons of neat extras, such as FMV history lessons, behind the scenes footage of the games development, and a medal system. If you perform well enough, you may be eligible for mission and campaign medals. The music is as epic as anything I've ever heard in a war movie, and is composed by Michael Giacchino and performed by the Northwest Sinfonia. Of note is the recurring theme by soloist Anders Marshall, which manages to be as haunting as it is powerful and heroic. It's truly moving and a testament to the AAA production values of this title. In-game sound is crisp and clear with every explosion and ricocheting bullet reproduced perfectly. Nazi soldiers can be heard conversing as you sneak up on them, and barking guard dogs, as well as the shuffle of goose-stepping grunts, can be heard as you stalk the war zone in search of your next objective. Every mission truly evokes a feeling of pure tension and adrenaline, as you prepare for your next brutal firefight. MOH: Frontline is a phenomenal title that no FPS fan should be without. With 19 missions, gamers should find about 15 hours of play, and considering how wild most of the levels are, the replay value is moderately high. So if you're ready, come to your nearest recruitment office, erЕI mean game store and pick up a copy. It's time to shut down Hitler's war machine for good.