Medal of Honor (video game series)
| File:Medal.of.Honor.Logo.png | |
| Publisher(s): | Electronic Arts |
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| Release date(s): |  1999-Present
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| Genre(s): | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s): | Single player, multiplayer |
| Platform(s): | PC (Linux, Windows), Mac OS X, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, GameCube, Wii, Game Boy Advance |
| Website: | Medal of Honor Franchise Website |
Medal of Honor (MOH) is the name of a series of first-person shooter games set in World War II. The first game was developed by DreamWorks Interactive (currently known as EA Los Angeles) and published by Electronic Arts in 1999 for the PlayStation game console. Medal of Honor spawned a series of follow-up games including multiple expansions spanning various console platforms and the PC and Apple Macintosh.
Plot
The Medal of Honor series puts the player in the boots of an Allied combatant during World War II, with weaponry appropriate to the time period. There is no set country as to which the player fights for and the main character's name changes as such also. The games are often characterized by linear gameplay through recognizable WWII-era areas of conflict, which is sometimes presented in a cinematic tone (e.g., inspiration from modern films like Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line and Enemy at the Gates and the television miniseries Band of Brothers is obvious, since the game was 'created' by Steven Spielberg).
In the later games in the series, the artificial intelligence (AI) of the enemies and fellow soldiers have been notorious for being under current FPS expectations. The violence is bloodless and simple, usually consisting of elaborate animations.
Controversy
In Germany, the MOH series is a controversial video game because of its delicate subject matter (WWII). The game is uncensored in terms of flags, and the swastika can often be found. This conflicts with German laws which state that the swastika may only be used in historical references. The game was put on the index of youth endangering media by the German BPjM in 2000, making it only available for people over 18; advertising for it had to be discontinued.
Gameplay
The gameplay originally focused on behind-enemy-lines intelligence gathering, or some other type of special missions, placing emphasis on using false papers and silenced pistols, but as the series (and the technology) has progressed, it has shifted emphasis towards front-line combat, and has now almost completely abandoned the original focus. The last time false papers were used was in Frontline. Since the release of European Assault the series has focused on providing a more open-ended element to the games, allowing the player to have more options in each level and getting away from one linear path.
Upcoming titles
Medal of Honor: Airborne is the next title in the series, scheduled for the release on August 28th, 2007. It will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
Games In Series
PC
- Medal of Honor: Allied Assault - (Linux, Windows)
- Medal of Honor: Spearhead (Allied Assault Expansion Pack) - (Windows)
- Medal of Honor: Breakthrough (Allied Assault Expansion Pack) - (Windows)
- Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault - (Windows)
- Medal of Honor: Airborne - (Windows)
Mac
- Medal of Honor: Allied Assault - (Mac OS X, MacOS9)
- Medal of Honor: Spearhead (Allied Assault Expansion Pack) - (Mac OS X, MacOS9)
- Medal of Honor: Breakthrough (Allied Assault Expansion Pack) - (Mac OS X, MacOS9)
Xbox
Xbox 360
PlayStation
PlayStation 2
- Medal of Honor: Frontline
- Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
- Medal of Honor: European Assault
- Medal of Honor: Vanguard
PlayStation 3
PlayStation Portable
GameCube
Wii
Game Boy Advance
Playable Characters
Lt. James Patterson (MOH, MOH: Frontline, MOH: Heroes) Manon Batiste (MOH: Underground) Lt. Mike Powell (MOH: Allied Assault) Sgt. Jack Barnes (MOH: Spearhead) Sgt. John Baker (MOH: Breakthrough, MOH: Heroes) Cpl. Joseph Griffin (MOH: Rising Sun) Pvt. Tommy Conlin (MOH: Pacific Assault) Lt. William Holt (MOH: European Assault, MOH: Heroes) Cpl. Frank Keegan (MOH: Vanguard) Pfc. Boyd Travers (MOH: Airborne)