PS1 REVIEWS: Medal of Honor: Underground
Although the first Medal of Honor game was an important milestone
in the development of FPS games, it did have some irksome issues that
make playing it again a bit of a slog. As its sequel, MoH: Underground resolved a lot of those issues, making it possibly the best FPS game on the PS1.
That's
not to say the game is perfect, since the genre hasn't yet matured in
many aspects, and the PS1's technology remained a limiting factor for
the development team's vision.
#20: Medal of Honor: Underground:-
Year: 2000.
Genre: First-Person Shooter.
Publisher: EA.
Developer: DreamWorks Interactive.
Genre: First-Person Shooter.
Publisher: EA.
Developer: DreamWorks Interactive.
"Many lives are depending on you, Manon. Bonne chance!"
While the first Medal of Honor game featured an almost nameless and faceless superhero soldier, the second game stars that hero's mentor, the French resistance heroine Manon Batiste, who is inspired by real-life fighter Helen Deschamps Adams. The change in character and nationality pays dividends for the story, as Manon is more intrinsically linked to the conflict due to the occupation of Paris and the death of her brother in the first mission.
Yet, despite the rich story line seams in which to mine, MoH: Underground goes back into the superhero soldier trope when the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) recruits Manon and sends her all over the theaters of war to resolve impossible situations.
While the first Medal of Honor game featured an almost nameless and faceless superhero soldier, the second game stars that hero's mentor, the French resistance heroine Manon Batiste, who is inspired by real-life fighter Helen Deschamps Adams. The change in character and nationality pays dividends for the story, as Manon is more intrinsically linked to the conflict due to the occupation of Paris and the death of her brother in the first mission.
Yet, despite the rich story line seams in which to mine, MoH: Underground goes back into the superhero soldier trope when the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) recruits Manon and sends her all over the theaters of war to resolve impossible situations.
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| If you didn't know where you are fighting |
Thankfully, there is more
variety of locations in the game compared to the first, and the African
levels are especially noteworthy. In general, the mission briefings are a
bit better, but there is still a lack of strong narrative structure in
the game that wastes the opportunities presented by the setting and
character.
"You have committed yourself to a life on the run. Away from everyone and everything you loved"
Picking up from the excellent gameplay of its predecessor, MoH: Underground improves on what was already good, and adds a few tweaks of its own. In general, I found movement and aiming to be a bit better, even if that's hard to quantify. Grenades are much better this time around, and there are more explosive weapons to use as well.
Two notable additions are fights against tanks and some vehicle set-pieces that arguably set the stage for similar segments in future FPS games.
"You have committed yourself to a life on the run. Away from everyone and everything you loved"
Picking up from the excellent gameplay of its predecessor, MoH: Underground improves on what was already good, and adds a few tweaks of its own. In general, I found movement and aiming to be a bit better, even if that's hard to quantify. Grenades are much better this time around, and there are more explosive weapons to use as well.
Two notable additions are fights against tanks and some vehicle set-pieces that arguably set the stage for similar segments in future FPS games.
 |
| Implausibly, this won't be the last time you single-handedly destroy a tank |
Finally, the
"stealth" mechanics in the game are significantly improved from the
first, since, and this is a huge improvement, the draw distance is
slightly but noticeably better in this game.
"Those are SS troopers you'll be facing, so you'll want to catch them unaware if at all possible"
If you didn't like the in disguise sections of the first Medal of Honor, then you will be both dismayed to hear that they are back, and happy because they are much better this time around. While they felt like a novelty designed to add different goals to the game, they are more organically woven into the gameplay this time around.
The same can be said of the multiple different goals you have in each mission, which range from assassinating several unique soldiers, destroying equipment, or recovering important documents, among other tasks. While none dramatically change the flow of gameplay, they do add more flavor to the action.
"Those are SS troopers you'll be facing, so you'll want to catch them unaware if at all possible"
If you didn't like the in disguise sections of the first Medal of Honor, then you will be both dismayed to hear that they are back, and happy because they are much better this time around. While they felt like a novelty designed to add different goals to the game, they are more organically woven into the gameplay this time around.
The same can be said of the multiple different goals you have in each mission, which range from assassinating several unique soldiers, destroying equipment, or recovering important documents, among other tasks. While none dramatically change the flow of gameplay, they do add more flavor to the action.
 |
| Smile, please! |
Unfortunately, one annoying aspect I run into
several times in the game is missing a small part of an objective, which
requires me to back track through a level frantically trying to search
for it. I feel that intermittent checkpoints through the level could
have resolved that issue, especially in larger levels.
"Even without antitank weapons, a determined soldier can destroy a Panzer with superior tactics"
The opening level of MoH: Underground had me worried that the game would follow the dark style of its predecessor, as I struggled to see the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. With only a slightly improved draw distance, the dark background would again make for a poor visual spectacle. Thankfully, then, daylight levels were introduced to this game, which drastically improved the experience, and that seemed to feed back into the nighttime levels, which had better lighting overall.
"Even without antitank weapons, a determined soldier can destroy a Panzer with superior tactics"
The opening level of MoH: Underground had me worried that the game would follow the dark style of its predecessor, as I struggled to see the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. With only a slightly improved draw distance, the dark background would again make for a poor visual spectacle. Thankfully, then, daylight levels were introduced to this game, which drastically improved the experience, and that seemed to feed back into the nighttime levels, which had better lighting overall.
 |
| Even internal areas felt brighter |
Sure, the game is still
constrained by ugly PS1 textures and a lot of the background was built
with 2D sprites, but the game still looked fine in motion.
One thing that wasn't constrained by the PS1 is the game's amazing soundtrack, which is now more present and better-utilized in the game. The music will sound familiar to anyone who watched any World War II films, like in the first game, but that doesn't detract from the experience, as it adds layers of both urgency and heroism to the actions on screen.
In Conclusion:
Despite the limited technical capabilities of the PS1, MoH: Underground managed to push the envelope as much as possible, easily making it the king of the genre on the console. Still, the opportunities for narrative and environmental storytelling were not yet explored, and the strong drama at the heart of the World War II setting was underutilized. Making it an important milestone in the development of the genre, but not something that is uniquely distinguishable from what immediately came before and after it.
Final: 8/10 (Recommended)
One thing that wasn't constrained by the PS1 is the game's amazing soundtrack, which is now more present and better-utilized in the game. The music will sound familiar to anyone who watched any World War II films, like in the first game, but that doesn't detract from the experience, as it adds layers of both urgency and heroism to the actions on screen.
In Conclusion:
Despite the limited technical capabilities of the PS1, MoH: Underground managed to push the envelope as much as possible, easily making it the king of the genre on the console. Still, the opportunities for narrative and environmental storytelling were not yet explored, and the strong drama at the heart of the World War II setting was underutilized. Making it an important milestone in the development of the genre, but not something that is uniquely distinguishable from what immediately came before and after it.
Final: 8/10 (Recommended)
 |
| Panzers were not designed to withstand FPS heros |
Pros:
- Good use of various World War II locations.
- Good variety of objectives.
- Innovative FPS gameplay that didn't age badly.
- Improved graphics and brighter visuals.
- Excellent score that is used brilliantly.
Cons:
- Lacks story and characterization.
- Needs backtracking when missing tiny objectives.
- Many ugly textures.
Tips:
- Crouching helps you avoid being shot at the expense of mobility.
- The free aim function is useful, so use it.
- Listen to enemy footsteps to estimate their closeness to you.
- Sound is your friend, especially when you can hear a nearby grenade clanging next to you.
- There are plenty of health packs, so don't worry too much about getting shot.
- Shooting enemy limbs causes them to stagger, so make sure to shoot first, and no need to ask any questions.
When did this turn into a horror game?
Series:
For those reading one of my PS1 review blogs for the first time, here is the basic concept: I already reviewed both major Generation 4 consoles and am now reviewing Generation 5 consoles. I already finished reviewing the Sega Saturn, so I am now reviewing the PS1. In these reviews, I take a top 100 games list and review the games that interest me in that list. This time, my review series is based on this list from Retro Sanctuary and other sources, since the PS1 can handle a list bigger than a top 100.
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| Sadly, it will only continue to 2012 with the last release of a mainline MoH game |
Next Game:
Despite their age, I ultimately enjoyed the two Medal of Honor games, with Underground
being the clear favorite. Ultimately, the genre did only get better
with age, and there isn't anything in either game other than historical
curiosity to play them.
The next game in the list experienced a significant genre shift, or rather, a technological shift in future generations. As evidenced by its #19 placement, Grand Theft Auto 2 was an extremely well-regarded game, but it was yet to become the cultural landmark that it is today.
The next game in the list experienced a significant genre shift, or rather, a technological shift in future generations. As evidenced by its #19 placement, Grand Theft Auto 2 was an extremely well-regarded game, but it was yet to become the cultural landmark that it is today.
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