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Medal of Honor (video game series)

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This article is about the 'Medal of Honor' video game and series. For information on the American Medal of Honor, see Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor
File:Medal.of.Honor.Logo.png
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts
Release date(s): 1999–present
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
File:MOH Logo.jpg
The classic Medal of Honor logo used up to the release of Pacific Assault.

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. The player fights for the United States, and the main character's name is James 'Jimmy' Steven Patterson. 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 This conflicts with German laws which state that the swastika may only be used in historical references.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

File:MoH-Frontline.png
Screenshot of Normandy Beach in Frontline, the level that many consider to define the series

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.

Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 is also in the works for the Wii and PSP. each version is being built from the ground up for its respective system and will feature 32 player online play on both versions. No release dates set yet.

Games In Series

PC

Mac

Xbox

Xbox 360

PlayStation

PlayStation 2

PlayStation 3

PlayStation Portable

GameCube

Wii

Game Boy Advance

Mobile

Playable Characters

  • Lt. Jimmy Patterson (MOH, MOH:Underground as a bonus character, MOH: Frontline, MOH: Heroes)
  • Manon Batiste/Manon DuChamps (MOH: Underground); also appeared in MOH, MOH: Allied Assault,MOH: Frontline and MOH: European Assault
  • Lt. Mike Powell (MOH: Allied Assault)
  • Sgt. Jack Barnes (MOH: Spearhead)
  • Sgt. John Baker (MOH: Breakthrough, MOH: Heroes)
  • Cpl. Joseph Griffin (MOH: Rising Sun)
  • Cpl. Jake Murphy (MOH: Infiltrator)
  • Pvt./Pfc./Cpl. Tommy Conlin (MOH: Pacific Assault)
  • Lt. William Holt (MOH: European Assault, MOH: Heroes)
  • Cpl. Frank Keegan (MOH: Vanguard)
  • Pfc. Boyd Travers (MOH: Airborne)
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