Medal of Honor: Vanguard
Score: 70% ESRB: Teen Publisher: EA Games Developer: EA Games Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: First Person Shooter
Graphics & Sound: Medal of Honor: Vanguard is a pretty game, though mostly because of the addition of widescreen and 480p resolution (provided you have the right cables). The production values are high and there are attempts to really drag you into the story, thanks to well-choreographed story sequences. At the same time, the Wii is capable of better visuals and it is hard to shake the feeling that Vanguard is a quickly-done port. The hardware might not compare to the 360 or PS3, but the power it does pack isn't exploited. Hopefully, as the system matures, developers will stop simply lumping the Wii with the PS2 and really push the hardware. Criticism aside, Vanguard looks better than the system's other WWII shooter, Call of Duty 3. The environments are varied and show off the different landscapes and features of the countries they represent. The game also shows off a number of neat lighting and special effects. The downside to the visual step up is the choppy framerate. Sound is one of Vanguard's stronger aspects. The familiar Medal of Honor theme is found throughout the game and supplemented by an orchestral score that always fits the scenario. The sound effects are good and the voicework, while not the best, is passable.
Gameplay: In Medal of Honor: Vanguard, you play as Frank Keegan, a member of the 82nd Airborne division and among one of the first paratrooper forces to hit Europe in the war. As with other games in the series, each mission is book-ended with black and white footage detailing the history behind the mission, as told by Keegan. There's nothing overly compelling about the story and the mix of narrated footage and in-game story sequences feels a bit detached. Missions take place between four areas of operation, beginning with Operation Husky in Italy and proceeding through the Netherlands, France and finally Operation Varsity in Germany. Gameplay is about as standard as it gets. Most missions involve you parachuting into an area with a primary objective. As you make your way through the level, your objectives are updated. Objectives are standard for other WWII-based shooters and involve storming strongholds, blowing up tanks and rescuing soldiers, all the while shooting legions of Nazis. Getting through objectives isn't too difficult, since everything you need is there for you, leaving very little room for differing tactics. A major issue with pacing is the lack of meaningful checkpoints. Checkpoints pop up at the oddest of times and never where you need them. You could go through a difficult section, die from a random shot and have to repeat that entire section over. Multiplayer is, as with past games in the series, light to non-existent. Split-screen multiplayer is the only option available and, unless you're playing in a really big TV with a lot of room to gesture, it isn't much fun. There's no online support, though Online is something that has never been a feature in the series.
Difficulty: There are several issues that make Medal of Honor: Vanguard inconsistent in the difficulty department. On the easy side, enemy A.I. is outright bad. Most will just run up and start shooting, paying little attention to their surroundings. When they do get behind cover, they still leave at least one body part exposed and constantly pop-out in the same location just waiting for you to line up a shot. There were even times where I could walk up behind guys and they wouldn't realize I was there. Control issues and lack of checkpoints aside, Vanguard can get difficult. Your fellow soldiers are outright useless; most of the time, you're doing all of the work while they hang back in hiding. Although enemies are not Germany's best and brightest, they come in packs, proving once and for all that the power of stupid people in groups should never be underestimated. Not only do they have near-flawless aim, but some seem like they spawn from nowhere. There are also a couple of issues with bullet hit detection. Even though you have a direct bead on someone, it takes a couple of shots before they register. Up close, this isn't much of a problem, but when it comes to sniper scenarios it doesn't help.
Game Mechanics: Medal of Honor: Vanguard's problems aren't due primarily to gameplay. While most of the game feels outplayed and overdone, the integration of the Wii-mote controls is what ruins the experience. Once you pop the game into the system, it is fairly obvious that Vanguard wasn't intended to be a Wii title. Even simple things, like a pointer function for inputting your name, aren't present. There are even a few inconsistencies with button assignments in one or two menus. For instance, when starting a new game the (A) button is "Yes" and (B) is "No"; however, in the very next screen these assignments are flip-flopped. The execution is sloppy. The general set-up is playable and, with some tweaking in the Options Menu, can be satisfying. At the same time, many players may not have this level of patience and, even with adjustments, the mapping of functions is bad. Many of your moves are either mapped in questionable areas or are overly complicated. Switching between prone and standing positions is handled by either the buttons on the Nunchuck or by moving it up and down. It doesn't take much movement to switch positions so you may find yourself going prone when you don't want to. In short, the functions simply feel like they were grafted on at the last minute with little thought towards functionality. Medal of Honor: Vanguard isn't a bad FPS, at least compared to what the system currently offers. At the same time, Vanguard is a missed opportunity, since it was EA's chance to give the Wii its defining FPS. While it may be a bit on the generic side, if you can deal with the control scheme and are in the market for another FPS, this is it.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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