Once the Medal of Honor franchise had ravaged Europe, the next logical chapter in its pilgrimage of destruction was the Far East. And so Medal of Honor: Rising Sun arrives - promising more of the same but with enhanced features and online support for Playstation 2 owners. However, is this one release gone too far?
This time you embrace the role of (yet another) stereotypical all-American hero. The pride and joy of his hometown, this young soldier finds himself thrust into a fierce and extraordinary conflict... and soon begins to shine (hmm, Rising 'Son' perhaps?). Introductions aside, Medal of Honor titles are predominantly known for their knockout first level, and Rising Sun is no different: taking place at Pearl Harbor, the opening salvo is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and locked doors. However, upon reflection, Gamestyle found it to be a magnificent piece of deception.
Despite its widespread acclaim, the previous incumbent - MOH: Frontline - housed some fundamental cracks in the gameplay; a preference towards linear design and superficial Hollywood glitz (with loading screens that featured the THX logo) over any real innovation were the most damning of all. The cynics may argue that it was enjoyable, but in retrospect, how many have since returned to it?
Unfortunately, things have not improved with this instalment - any shred of credibility has been taken out and shot at dawn in favour of a concrete release date. Electronic Arts may pride itself on hitting its targets in terms of calendar days, but surely any forward-thinking project manager should allow for 'creative' licence when improving the package? If you set out to create a bog-standard first-person shooter, then that is all you will produce - and no amount of superficial 'glitz' will disguise the fact.
MOH: Rising Sun is a prime example of how badly this series relies on old habits, and habitually fails the gamer. It is as linear as a one-way street when driving without a reverse gear; once experienced there is no need to return. Time and again the player must do as the developer commands in order to 'trigger' events. Take for instance the sequence in a baseball stadium: this could have been a fine set-piece as you crawled through seating areas taking out guards and sniping at distant targets. Instead, Gamestyle took out the numbers in devil-may-care fashion... after which, nothing. Backtracking through the level failed to reveal a solution; ultimately, one sniper remained at large in the stadium - and only after he was dispatched did the next sequence occur. Miraculously, enemy troops appeared from out of nowhere (amazing how Japanese soldiers can teleport themselves), complete with their poorly-scripted AI routines and mystical 'door-opening' abilities.
EA has tried to butter up this game with various bonuses and hidden extras for good performance. The medal system has been used previously in the genre to reward great play - but here it's an excuse to 'beef up' a shallow and unbelievably shortlived £40 experience. Tragically, the levels themselves are indicative of the problems realised throughout the whole of this release. The game feels rushed; the graphics in many places are substandard - and make the jungle levels in Turok Evolution seem positively 'Bungie-esque' by comparison. At times, MOH: Rising Sun can get messy... really messy (think pop-up, poor textures, slowdown, blocky graphics etc), and it's hard not to conclude that it was rushed out for the ravenous pre-Christmas market.
An emphasis on realism has been retained, but now the game feels decidedly unbalanced. Many of the weapons handle incomprehensibly; coupled with the poor implementation of control and you realise why your opponents resort to banzai charges - sometimes it's the only way they can get a hit. MOH: Rising Sun is also dowsed in sentimentalism, which Gamestyle believes oversteps the mark. This isn't an 'honourable' tribute or some noble underpinning - rather, it's a cheap ploy to exploit a few more dollars. No, this time around Medal of Honor has gone too far.
But surely, a high-profile release such as this must contain some positive elements? Well, it's certainly not the loading times... which are the longest yet on Playstation 2 (and shockingly so). Few releases have allowed Gamestyle to obtain its brew of choice during the loading sequence and return with time to spare. Admittedly, the music and accompanying effects are superbly-replicated on the soundtrack (no doubt thanks to the THX-certification - they've spared no expense, mind) and build upon the solid foundations laid down in MOH: Frontline.
Casting aside any critical jibes, and we're left with the co-operative, multiplayer and online modes. Thankfully, these manage to deliver some entertainment - if you have a multi-tap or online connection. The offline mode is enjoyable enough, despite those ugly textures and too many pick-ups. The online aspect is a little better, as MOH: Rising Sun provides several well-implemented maps and voice support. Granted, the online experience is rather basic - with only a few servers and players available - but Gamestyle experienced some intense combat, consistent victories and little lag. This could easily change if Rogue Soul goes online (insert community in-joke here), so Gamestyle will revel in the small mercies while they last.
In-jokes aside, there is nothing ultimately redeeming about Medal of Honor: Rising Sun - because ultimately it marks the lowest point in the series. Time has finally caught up with the old-fashioned game dynamics, self-limitations, myriad compromises and a release date which has proven to be its undoing. Electronic Arts are proudly driving up their sales and profits, but in the case of MOH: Rising Sun, doing so at the expense of the consumer. Whether this release has brought some long-term damage to the franchise remains to be seen... but don't even consider it to be a worthwhile purchase. Caveat emptor
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