Medal of Honor Vanguard (Wii) - Review by yoshimn

Introduction

What to say about a game that has had umpteen reviews. We revisit this all but launch title to see what gives with EA's most famous first person shooter brand. We have to think back to the early days of the Wii and those curious and sometimes awkward controls, to appreciate the game in its original context. Not many games had tackled the use of the Wii-mote and Nun-chuck, certainly not many had succeeded. Along with Red Steel, Medal of Honor Vanguard is the other early watching of first person shooters on the Wii. Between then they have to put up with a lot of flack, but no-one can knock the fact that they came first and did a none too shabby job if it either.

Gameplay

Most people will be familiar with the Medal of Honor franchise, which has performed excellently for EA across a wide variety of platforms. This outing is titled Vanguard and edges the action towards the upcoming Medal of Honor Airborne that will be trotted out on the more technically advanced platforms. Like Airborne, you start the game by parachuting into the battle field. This gives you a degree of control over where you land and start fighting, although not as much as has been promised in Airborne.

Once you are on the ground, the first level turns into something of a tutorial introducing the various nuances of the Wii's controls. This runs you through the basics whilst avoiding being too heavy handed. In terms of tutorials it is a relief to be able to get on and play the game without being forced through a whole series of instructions outside the game world.

The game then progresses through a series of check points as you achieve the various goals through the level. These are primarily there to enable you to restart from the most recent point when you die, but they also function as indicators that you are progressing in the right direction. If you loose your bearings you can simply wander around until you hit the next checkpoint to be assured that you are on your way once more.

Controls

This progress is controlled via a good combination of the Wii-mote and Nun-chuck that do a reasonable job of supplanting our usual mouse/keyboard or joypad control methods. The Nun-chuck is used to run and strafe, whilst the Wii-mote provides the looking and targeting. The various buttons are then used to crouch, change weapon and snipe. The best aspect of the controls is the implementation of the cover system. Once attached to some cover, you can peek your head out to take a shot at the enemy. The analogue Nun-chuck stick is used to edge out in any direction and gives the mechanic a real feel of quality.

Probably the best feature of the controls is that this compromise (for that is what it is) provides something of a mouse/keyboard experience, but delivers this in a front room environment without the need to sit at a desk. For me this is something worth getting excited about. Although previously a mouse/keyboard guy, the majority of my gaming is now situated in the lounge.

Graphics

Graphically, Vanguard does give away the fact that it was released a while ago. It also shows that we have a rising expectation of visual performance from the Wii, and that developers are already learning to get more out of that little white box. The theatre of war in which you fight is suitably rendered in dark and muddy hues, which sometimes give way to glades and town squares which are lit quite beautifully. This all works together to give a good pace to the game, and break up the action.

Sound

One of the highlights of the game is the orchestral score that accompanies it right from the off. This gives proceedings a much needed sense of gravitas. As you trudge into battle to the sound of strings, trumpet and drums it is hard not to feel a little moved. With such a confident start it is a shame that the voice work and effects don't live up to the quality of the background music. They all serve their purpose but add little to the game itself.

Final comments

Overall, this is a game that delivers on its promises, but doesn't go beyond them. With the bar set so high by other players in the FPS genre, it has some tough competition. It is lucky that most of the major players still haven't made their way onto the Wii. Also, with the game now aging a little you should be able to pick it up for a bit less than the recommended retail.

Pro: Orchestral score and novel control scheme.
Con: Limited development of a launch title.
Final score: 6.5

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