Joining the Airborne
I start the game going through basic training, learning how to parachute out of the plane. I earn about 4 achievements from basic training alone. I then find myself in the briefing room from the demo I played. Nothing has changed since I visited during the demo. Phew. Okay, off to battle.
Infinite Mischief I see at the loading screen. That is what Benjamin Franklin said about troops who could drop from the sky. And that is what I am. Infinite mischief. Me and my mates in the airborne.
I go through Operation Husky. I end up dying a few times. Those darn Italians and Nazis know how to fight and Im getting used to the controls. I end up earning five stars, the highest ranking you can get on casual difficulty. Now its time for Operation Avalanche.
See the Sweat Drip From Their Faces
Back to the graphics. The graphics arent absolutely superb but they are pretty damn amazing. I especially like being able to feel like Im actually in Italy. You can pick out individual tiles in a building, and no two houses look alike. You can see ripped up furniture in the building the Nazis have torn through like a tornado, study paintings askew on the walls, see bullet holes in the same walls. It is all very satisfying to feel like youre right there in Italy.
See the Sights
Now as for the places? Well, I am especially pleased. Instead of starting off in the Western European campaign Ive started in Italy. I dont remember starting in Italy in other games. I am extremely impressed by this change in pace. I have not seen this variation of locale in a long while. Not since Medal of Honor Pacific Assault now that I think of it. Pacific Assault went from the attack on Pearl Harbor to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal up to the Tarawa Island battle.
Beat Back the Enemy
Now as for the gameplay? The control scheme is the same as with the past Medal of Honor games as well as most FPS games. Left stick moves forward or back, right stick side to side. A for reload, B for change of weapon, X to crouch, Y to jump. Right trigger to fire, right bumper to choose a grenade. Left bumper for alternate fire. Left trigger for iron sights or scope in the case of a sniper rifle.
To throw a grenade is a little confusing. You dont throw the grenade by hitting the right bumper, you only choose the grenade. You usually have two types of grenades. The ball grenade (American) and the stick grenade (German). To throw the selected grenade you have to hit the right trigger like you would to shoot a gun. You also have an option to cook a grenade like in other games by pressing the A button I do believe.
Before you set off to start your mission you hit a load up screen. No, not a loading screen. A load up screen. What is this load up screen? Its where you pick which guns you want to start out with. The best thing is to have a machine gun and a rifle as well as a pistol. All of these are default but you have a choice on which type of machine gun you want. The Machinepistole 40 (MP-40 German submachine gun) or the Thompson submachine gun? Choices, choices. The MP-40 will definitely have more ammo scattered about the levels considering who youre fighting, but the Thompson has a pretty good rate of fire. Hmm Well, why not take the Thompson in with you then pick up the MP40 when you run out of ammo. Okay thatll work. What kind of rifle? More choices. But you get the picture.
Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Stupidity?
As with a lot of war games it seems, the friendly AI seems to have bumped its head too many times for it to be helpful. Now it isnt absolutely horrible, but it isnt superb either. Unlike in a game like Brothers in Arms, you do not have command over a squad of soldiers. Youre only a Private after all. Who would give YOU a command? I have heard complaints about the friendly AI in MOH: Airborne, but I have not come across too much trouble with it. Mainly its my OWN stupidity that ends up having me shooting a friendly on accident.
I do not suggest relying on the friendly soldiers to clear out buildings and such. They dont take out a lot of enemies, and they dont much like to use grenades when it could be extremely helpful. Again like in a lot of FPS wargames you have to be Rambo and take care of most of the enemy yourself. I guess if youre one of those people that like to get the job done single-handedly youll be in heaven.
Storyline? Where?
Im going to use Brothers in Arms again as a comparison. In Brothers in Arms you have a pretty in-depth story and it makes you care about your comrades. In Medal of Honor Airborne there isnt much of a personal story but more of a broader military history story. Yeah there are cutscenes, but they dont much make you care about who youre controlling and the people hes friends with. At least I havent experienced that like I did in BIA.
Short Campaign, Meaty Multiplayer
The campaign for Medal of Honor Airborne is relatively short. About 7-8 hours of game time. Luckily the multiplayer is right there for you if you need more Nazi shooting practice. Unlike Call Of Duty 3 the multiplayer for MOH: Airborne is not what carries the game. Which is refreshing; Airbornes singeplayer keeps it afloat. You have your normal Deathmatch style Multiplayer games and then you have Objective which should perhaps be called Capture the Flag. Just like in the singleplayer you can parachute into the Multiplayer battlefield and never respawn in the same place twice. Unless you want to I guess.
You have a choice between using the weapon upgrades you acquired in the singleplayer or go without them. The multiplayer supports up to 12 players in a game which is usually the standard.
Final Thoughts
Though everyone should know by now Im a world war two fanatic, Ill let it be known again. I am a world war two fanatic and proud of it. I deeply believe this game does the Airborne troops justice. Electronic Arts has done a fantastic job with their Medal of Honor series. Many people are calling Medal of Honor Airborne the best Medal of Honor game in years. I still play Medal of Honor Allied Assault online every once in a while and Im not the only one, which should say something for EAs ability to make a good multiplayer for a world war two game.
Ratings
Presentation-
The pause menu can be easily navigated and you dont get lost. The starting menu is very simplistic as is expected. The graphics are inspiring, the best Ive seen in a world war two game in a long while but I think that has to do with this generation of console too.
Score: 8.9/10
Gameplay-
Generic FPS controls other than the ability to choose your grenade. Its all very familiar, which is good for an FPS in my opinion. Too much change to the controls could potentially destroy an otherwise great game. The aiming could be just a tad bit better, but it might have to do with trying to make the weapons authentic.
Score: 9/10
Features and Modes-
You jump out of a freakin airplane. How many times has that happened in a video game? You get to choose where you start the level, and choose in what order you accomplish your objectives. Multiplayer isnt absolutely killer but it does hold up and can keep you nicely busy. Campaign however is relatively short, though there is some replayability (Getting all five skill drops in each level for example).
Score: 8.5/10
Final Score: 8.8/ 10
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I start the game going through basic training, learning how to parachute out of the plane. I earn about 4 achievements from basic training alone. I then find myself in the briefing room from the demo I played. Nothing has changed since I visited during the demo. Phew. Okay, off to battle.
Infinite Mischief I see at the loading screen. That is what Benjamin Franklin said about troops who could drop from the sky. And that is what I am. Infinite mischief. Me and my mates in the airborne.
I go through Operation Husky. I end up dying a few times. Those darn Italians and Nazis know how to fight and Im getting used to the controls. I end up earning five stars, the highest ranking you can get on casual difficulty. Now its time for Operation Avalanche.
See the Sweat Drip From Their Faces
Back to the graphics. The graphics arent absolutely superb but they are pretty damn amazing. I especially like being able to feel like Im actually in Italy. You can pick out individual tiles in a building, and no two houses look alike. You can see ripped up furniture in the building the Nazis have torn through like a tornado, study paintings askew on the walls, see bullet holes in the same walls. It is all very satisfying to feel like youre right there in Italy.
See the Sights
Now as for the places? Well, I am especially pleased. Instead of starting off in the Western European campaign Ive started in Italy. I dont remember starting in Italy in other games. I am extremely impressed by this change in pace. I have not seen this variation of locale in a long while. Not since Medal of Honor Pacific Assault now that I think of it. Pacific Assault went from the attack on Pearl Harbor to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal up to the Tarawa Island battle.
Beat Back the Enemy
Now as for the gameplay? The control scheme is the same as with the past Medal of Honor games as well as most FPS games. Left stick moves forward or back, right stick side to side. A for reload, B for change of weapon, X to crouch, Y to jump. Right trigger to fire, right bumper to choose a grenade. Left bumper for alternate fire. Left trigger for iron sights or scope in the case of a sniper rifle.
To throw a grenade is a little confusing. You dont throw the grenade by hitting the right bumper, you only choose the grenade. You usually have two types of grenades. The ball grenade (American) and the stick grenade (German). To throw the selected grenade you have to hit the right trigger like you would to shoot a gun. You also have an option to cook a grenade like in other games by pressing the A button I do believe.
Before you set off to start your mission you hit a load up screen. No, not a loading screen. A load up screen. What is this load up screen? Its where you pick which guns you want to start out with. The best thing is to have a machine gun and a rifle as well as a pistol. All of these are default but you have a choice on which type of machine gun you want. The Machinepistole 40 (MP-40 German submachine gun) or the Thompson submachine gun? Choices, choices. The MP-40 will definitely have more ammo scattered about the levels considering who youre fighting, but the Thompson has a pretty good rate of fire. Hmm Well, why not take the Thompson in with you then pick up the MP40 when you run out of ammo. Okay thatll work. What kind of rifle? More choices. But you get the picture.
Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Stupidity?
As with a lot of war games it seems, the friendly AI seems to have bumped its head too many times for it to be helpful. Now it isnt absolutely horrible, but it isnt superb either. Unlike in a game like Brothers in Arms, you do not have command over a squad of soldiers. Youre only a Private after all. Who would give YOU a command? I have heard complaints about the friendly AI in MOH: Airborne, but I have not come across too much trouble with it. Mainly its my OWN stupidity that ends up having me shooting a friendly on accident.
I do not suggest relying on the friendly soldiers to clear out buildings and such. They dont take out a lot of enemies, and they dont much like to use grenades when it could be extremely helpful. Again like in a lot of FPS wargames you have to be Rambo and take care of most of the enemy yourself. I guess if youre one of those people that like to get the job done single-handedly youll be in heaven.
Storyline? Where?
Im going to use Brothers in Arms again as a comparison. In Brothers in Arms you have a pretty in-depth story and it makes you care about your comrades. In Medal of Honor Airborne there isnt much of a personal story but more of a broader military history story. Yeah there are cutscenes, but they dont much make you care about who youre controlling and the people hes friends with. At least I havent experienced that like I did in BIA.
Short Campaign, Meaty Multiplayer
The campaign for Medal of Honor Airborne is relatively short. About 7-8 hours of game time. Luckily the multiplayer is right there for you if you need more Nazi shooting practice. Unlike Call Of Duty 3 the multiplayer for MOH: Airborne is not what carries the game. Which is refreshing; Airbornes singeplayer keeps it afloat. You have your normal Deathmatch style Multiplayer games and then you have Objective which should perhaps be called Capture the Flag. Just like in the singleplayer you can parachute into the Multiplayer battlefield and never respawn in the same place twice. Unless you want to I guess.
You have a choice between using the weapon upgrades you acquired in the singleplayer or go without them. The multiplayer supports up to 12 players in a game which is usually the standard.
Final Thoughts
Though everyone should know by now Im a world war two fanatic, Ill let it be known again. I am a world war two fanatic and proud of it. I deeply believe this game does the Airborne troops justice. Electronic Arts has done a fantastic job with their Medal of Honor series. Many people are calling Medal of Honor Airborne the best Medal of Honor game in years. I still play Medal of Honor Allied Assault online every once in a while and Im not the only one, which should say something for EAs ability to make a good multiplayer for a world war two game.
Ratings
Presentation-
The pause menu can be easily navigated and you dont get lost. The starting menu is very simplistic as is expected. The graphics are inspiring, the best Ive seen in a world war two game in a long while but I think that has to do with this generation of console too.
Score: 8.9/10
Gameplay-
Generic FPS controls other than the ability to choose your grenade. Its all very familiar, which is good for an FPS in my opinion. Too much change to the controls could potentially destroy an otherwise great game. The aiming could be just a tad bit better, but it might have to do with trying to make the weapons authentic.
Score: 9/10
Features and Modes-
You jump out of a freakin airplane. How many times has that happened in a video game? You get to choose where you start the level, and choose in what order you accomplish your objectives. Multiplayer isnt absolutely killer but it does hold up and can keep you nicely busy. Campaign however is relatively short, though there is some replayability (Getting all five skill drops in each level for example).
Score: 8.5/10
Final Score: 8.8/ 10
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