Medal Of Honor: Warfighter
Review
Another modern combat shooter
by William Thompson
reviewed on PC
Hitting the targets... or not (cntd)
There were many occasions when I clearly had a target in my sights and pulled the trigger only for the shot to not be detected. Aiming to the left or right would seem to do the trick, but unfortunately this wasn’t consistent enough to adjust to.
Apart from the typical first person shooting, there are sections of the game that require other skills. There is a driving sequence where you must chase a target reminiscent of sections from Driver. There is also a helicopter gunship section where you need to circle around a desert fortress taking out any enemies that dare show their faces. These little segments give a break from the main game, but as is the case with the story, make the game feel somewhat disjointed.
Bringing the team together
Despite the annoying issues in the single player game, the multiplayer side of things is not effected. In fact, the multiplayer is quite enjoyable. Any hit detection issues of the singleplayer campaign are felt by all players and so cancel out. The same goes for the somewhat confusing cover system. And with multiplayer, the storyline isn’t important. Upon starting up a multiplayer game, you are first asked to select a nation to fight for, each with their own classes. Having the ability to play as an Aussie SAS or a Russian Special Forces unit is neat touch. There are also enough classes and weapons to choose from to have something for everyone. The game modes are also varied enough to make things interesting, with certain modes allowing teams to take turns defending and attacking.
The coolest feature of the multiplayer games is the Fireteam Buddy mechanic. Of course, you can go at it alone in the online matches, but having and helping your Fireteam Buddy is far more advantageous. A Fireteam Buddy is used to re-supply and heal you, and you do the same for your partner. Apart from helping out your Fireteam Buddy, you will also be able to spawn near him upon any unfortunate death. It is features like this in multiplayer games that breeds co-operation. Yes, most multiplayer games have team goals, and generally well organised teams will beat a team of individuals, but they are not always played that way.
Another multiplayer aspect that I enjoyed – despite my ineptitude – was the Home Run mode. In the six-on-six capture the flag style game, each player only has one life... with no respawns. It certainly make the game slightly more intense than in the other all-guns-blazing modes, knowing that one wrong move could reduce your team by one member.
Competitive
Overall, despite the frustrating hit detection concerns and the disorderly storyline, the single player game is reasonable – not great by any means, but reasonable. But the bulk of the game will be played as a multiplayer shooter and it is this part of the game where Medal of Honor: Warfighter does rather well. It doesn’t do a whole lot different from its major competitors, but the addition of the Fireteam buddy system is a good one... assuming you have a buddy that works with you. The Home Run mode is also quite cool as is the Real Ops mode where the mini-map and other HUD elements are taken away, giving that added touch of realism, which is what a game based on actual events is all about.
7.3
fun score
Pros
The game is a visual treat. Home Run multiplayer mode is a nice feature.
Cons
Hit detection issues cause some frustration. Story is a little disjointed.
