Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault

In Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault, avid PC gamers can relive the epic struggle against Japanese militaries during World War II. The legendary shooting series explores new depths of cunning warfare by providing a first-person narrative within the gripping international battle.

The game begins at the heart of America's involvement in the conflict. Players take the helm as Marine Private Tommy Conlin while he personally survives the attacks on Pearl Harbor. After witnessing the devastation firsthand, this soldier transfers to the Pacific coast to alter the course of history by stopping the Japanese invasion.

The carnage at home makes his participation in WWII deeply personal, and the encroachment is realistic and grisly. Historical events are captured with bloody accuracy. The only way to survive utter annihilation is with the aptitude enshrined by a true warrior mentality. Hordes of angry Asians are no match for this sharpshooting soldier.

This title is a state of the art embodiment of the shooting game genre. The armament is insanely advanced, and the guns are beautifully detailed with perfect accuracy to match the era. Modern explosives make a few anachronistic appearances to delight long-time fans of the series.

Multiplayer has always been a significant element for Medal of Honor, and Pacific Assault retains the classic modes of its predecessors; however, it exceeds their capacity in terms of processing graphics at a higher frame rate. This reduces the lag that has periodically plagued previous titles in the franchise. The host of an online match is also no longer favored by a slight speed boost. Still, the aiming features can toggle excessively during extreme firefights, which makes accuracy impossible at the times it is needed most. These instances result in exact replicas of war's chaos, but it does not stop the lack of control from being mildly frustrating.

The mission maps are a cartographer's dream, but the same cannot be said about multiplayer charts. Single player advances are marked methodically, but co-operative play diminishes the view's scope and productivity. Tracking is even harder to manage against human opponents, but this merely serves to heighten the palpable tension.

Installation is easy for all Windows computers, but a strong graphics card is necessary to avoid choppy animations. The menus are relatively easy to navigate, and experts will appreciate the ability to refine controls for a personalized touch. This game proves that the Japanese forces never had a chance to conquer much against the Allied forces, and their ultimate loss is all thanks to the lone wolf antics of Tommy Conlin.

Pros

Detailed campaign with realistic war scenarios

Tons of artillery

Massive multiplayer opportunities

High-resolution graphics with gritty violence and in-depth maps

Cons

Aim malfunctions during chaotic battles

Poor multiplayer mapping

Limited character choices

Animation chugs with old graphics equipment