Medal of Honor: European Assault

Advertising Blurbs

EA's best-selling, WWII-set first-person shooter series leads another charge onto PlayStation 2.

The gritty and popular Medal of Honor series launches a new offensive with the writing
talent of John Milius (Apocalypse Now) in command. A military history fan, Milius brings
together a vast knowledge of the WWII era with an action packed and original storyline.

Taking on the role of US Army Lieutenant William Holt, selected to head up the newly
formed OSS (Office of Strategic Services), players are parachuted into the horror of
war-torn Europe. Classified missions, crucial to the liberation of Europe, add dramatic
tension to this practiced first-person shooter, immersing you in the bloody conflict that
shaped the world.

Based on actual European WWII locations, the realism of MoH: European Assault is
unsurpassed, featuring weapons and vehicles accurate to the time. Attention to detail on
this scale, when combined with eyewitness expertise and Hollywood writing talent, makes
for a gritty depiction of war that cannot fail to impress.

Adrenaline pumping action creates a continued sense of urgency, while the ability to forge
your own path based on the decisions you make on the battlefield keep the game's appeal
fresh. Gathering field intelligence from enemy commanders is vital to the progression of the
story and provides an advantage in future missions as you undertake real time objectives.

Multiplayer games take the intensity to new heights with eight modes, including capture the
flag, spread across 15 conflict zones.


• Rich and immersive WWII FPS



• Original storyline from Hollywood writer John Milius



• Incredible detail based on real locations, weapons and eyewitness accounts



• Create your own path through battlefield decisions



• Responsive squad commands



Contributed by DreinIX (9294) on Mar 07, 2008.

A Time for Heroes

Europe 1942. These are desperate hours for Allied forces as the Nazi war machine rages across a devastated European landscape. You are US Army Lieutenant William Holt, hand-picked by William "Wild Bill" Donovan to be the first field agent of the newly formed Office of Strategic Services--the OSS. Medal of Honor: European Assault makes you the driving force in the struggle to liberate Europe.


Contributed by Joshua J. Slone (4625) on Mar 10, 2007.

EA's latest entry in its best-selling WWII franchise ranges across Europe in 1942 -- just after the United States entered the war and when things looked bleakest.

With the British bravely holding on against a furious Luftwaffe onslaught, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends Lt. William Holt of the OSS on a top-secret mission. On his own, or with his squad, Holt is pivotal in helping to turn the tide in four of the most crucial battles of the war.

As with the original Medal of Honor, producers sought counsel from numerous expert sources to make certain the game is historically accurate and as realistic as possible. The EALA development team continues to work closely with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to ensure that Medal of Honor: Dogs of War reflects the ideals and integrity of the prestigious Medal of Honor. Capt. Dale Dye, who served as military technical advisor on the previous titles in the Medal of Honor franchise, continues his efforts with the Medal of Honor: European Assault.


Contributed by Evil Ryu (32172) on Oct 02, 2005.

Gritty WWII action returns.

Europe 1942. These are desperate hours for Allied forces as the Nazi war machine rages across a devastated Europe. You are US Army Lieutenant William Holt, hand-picked by William 'Wild Bill" Donovan to be the first field agent of the newly formed Office of Strategic Services–the OSS. Medal of Honor European Assault makes you the driving force in the struggle to liberate Europe.

Features


• Battle across St. Nazaire, North Africa, Stalingrad, and the Battle of the Bulge
• Authentic weapons and vehicles
• Eight head-to-head modes, including capture the flag, in 15 maps

MOH: EA sticks to the series's highly successful formula: a fictional soldier battles his way across multiple theaters, engaging in virtually every form of ground operations, including stealth missions. While such a military career was highly unlikely, individual levels feel tense and authentic, doubtless thanks to the input of consultant Captain Dale Dye and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Welcome changes move European Assault in a more realistic direction. Taking a page from Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell games, European Assault has you leading three other soldiers. The squad controls are very simple. You can deploy your men forward or recall them. You don't give them specific tasks, though. Your main goal is keeping them alive, for which you will be rewarded with extra lives and med kits.

When the Adrenaline Meter -- also a new addition -- is full, activate it to make enemies slow down and yourself become invincible. While the invincibility bit isn't realistic, the idea that you experience extreme clarity in the heat of combat rings true.

Levels feel more open and nonlinear than in previous MOH games. You're given a major objective (usually, blow something up) and a miniboss (usually, an especially tough German officer). Other objectives crop up as you proceed. For example, you may have to take out a machine gun nest, or blow up a radar dish used to direct air strikes. You earn a bronze, silver or gold ranking, depending on how many of the side quests you've finished.

Sometimes the levels can be confusing, but hey, war is confusing. A map will show your objectives, but you'll have to poke in uniformly dark doorways to figure out which way to go. Fellow soldiers will yell info and directions.

All the enhancements, combined with smarter enemy AI, make European Assault the toughest MOH game yet. Running and gunning is definitely a no-no, unless you're truly bent on making the ultimate sacrifice for your country.

The pause screen doesn't show the controls, forcing you to memorize them or keep the manual close at hand. Sometimes the game will briefly display directions, as in an early mission in which you place explosives on electric generators. If you're not paying attention, you won't learn that you have to exit the building, and then find the plunger.

Graphically, European Assault is a step up from the grainy images and jaggy edges of earlier Medal of Honor games. Still, the game lacks the polish of most other EA games or Activision's Call of Duty franchise. The excellent sound-effects and voice-acting add urgency to your missions. True to the MOH aesthetic, the music aspires to grand solemnity.

Bottom Line

Medal of Honor: European Assault is the most challenging game in the series. While the squad-based controls are simplistic and the fictional protagonist's story feels contrived, the individual missions feel as authentic as the odor of gunpowder wafting across a battlefield.


Contributed by Evil Ryu (32172) on Aug 11, 2005.