Medal of Honor (Review)

Medal Of Honor
Platform: Xbox 360(Reviewed), PS3, PC
Developer: Danger Close
Publisher: EA
Release: October 2010

Before sitting down with MOH, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’d already seen everything it had to offer. Famous WWII game decides to change over to modern setting; Multiplayer with unlockable weapon upgrades; throw in some ATV sequences and it all feels a bit familiar. But once I started playing, I suddenly started to realise that maybe this wasn’t just an answer to COD4 and MW2 a few years too late. The plot is surprisingly good; and the AI of your team mates makes you actually care about their well being.

There are plenty of little touches to make the experience more believable, and more varied. If you stick with your team, rather than go off maverick, you can ask them for ammo when you run low. When breaching doors, the team will alternate who goes in first, so sometimes it’s you kicking it in, and other times you’re providing support. In most FPS games, you’ll have a slightly different loadout for each mission, but MOH takes it to a new level, with your loadout giving you a particular role within the team. If you’re carrying the heavy machine gun, you’ll be asked to hold back, or suppress enemy heavy weapons; while silenced weaponary might see you going forward as a scout.

The game’s set pieces, such as vehicle sections, or calling in missile strikes, seems far more linked into the gameplay than Modern Warfare, and joined with the limited HUD, makes for a far more story based experience. MOH may not have the glitz and glamour of MW2, but it is far more than a simple copy. There are lessons here that MW could learn from in the future; and so I really think MOH 2 could give MW3 a run for it’s money.

Review by Drew Bryce

HALO Reach (Review)

Platform: Xbox 360(Reviewed)
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Release: September 2010

As soon as the opening cinematic of Halo Reach began, I felt the beginning of the end. Even Non-HALO fans have to admit, that HALO has been a defining force in action games for the last decade. Regenerating health; two weapon loadouts and many more have all come from HALO. All that I wanted from Reach was a suitable ending to the saga, and I can’t think of a single disappointing feature. It is, without a doubt, the definitive edition in the series. Bungie pulled out all the stops, and is clearly listening to the online community.

To be honest, Reach feels almost like a Best of, or a Special edition. It takes all of the best aspects of the first games, and brings them together for one final mission. But there are plenty of new features too for diehard fans. The most noticeable difference is in the enemy AI. HALO has also been praised for fine AI, but Reach takes it to a new level. The Elites are without question, the most violent enemies I have had the privilege to kill. They are bigger, better armoured, and often don’t need to worry about advanced tactics, merely
running straight at you with no fear.

The biggest change to the gameplay is the welcome addition of the armour abilities that keeps things fresh. Many of the abilities take time to get used to, but once you have learned to use them, you
wonder how you managed without them before. Long story short, buy it. Buy it now. Even if you aren’t a fan, this is a game that every true gamer needs to have adorning their shelf.

Review by Drew Bryce