Medal of Honor (series)

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This article is about the 'Medal of Honor' video game and series. For information on the American Medal of Honor, see Medal of Honor.

**Medal of Honor**

Developer(s):	DreamWorks Interactive, Electronic Arts, 2015 Inc., Rebellion Developments, Netherock Ltd., TKO Software, Budcat Creations
Publisher(s):	Electronic Arts
Release date(s):	1999–present
Genre(s):	First-person shooter
Mode(s):	Single player, Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
Platform(s):	PC (Linux, Windows), Mac OS X, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, GameCube, Wii, Game Boy Advance
Website:	Medal of Honor Franchise Website

Medal of Honor (MOH) is the name of a series of first-person shooter games set in World War II. The first game was developed by DreamWorks Interactive (currently known as EA Los Angeles) and published by Electronic Arts in 1999 for the PlayStation game console. Medal of Honor spawned a series of follow-up games including multiple expansions spanning various console platforms and the PC and Apple Mac.

1 Plot
2 Controversy
3 Gameplay
4 Games in the series
5 Playable Characters
6 External links

Plot

The Medal of Honor series puts the player in the boots of an Allied combatant during World War II, with weaponry appropriate to the time period. The player fights for the United States (although groups such as The French Resistance have been represented), and the main character's name varies between versions. The games are often characterized by linear gameplay through recognizable WWII-era areas of conflict, which is sometimes presented in a cinematic tone (e.g., inspiration from modern films like Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line and Enemy at the Gates and the television miniseries Band of Brothers is obvious, since the game was 'created' by Steven Spielberg). In the later games in the series, the artificial intelligence (AI) of the enemies and fellow soldiers has been notorious for being under current FPS expectations. The violence is (usually) bloodless and simple, usually consisting of elaborate animations.

Controversy

Screenshot of Omaha Beach in Frontline, the level that many consider to define the series

In Germany, the MOH series is a controversial video game because of its delicate subject matter (WWII). The game is uncensored in terms of flags, and the swastika can often be found. This conflicts with German laws which state that the swastika may only be used in historical references. The game was put on the index of youth endangering media by the German BPjM in 2000, making it only available for people over 18; advertising for it had to be discontinued. Ever since the controversy that "Medal of Honor" had raised back in 1999/2000, EA has taken precautions to eliminate all the "Nazism" content before releasing it to the German market. This often results in the removal/change of all "Nazi" flags, swastikas, and on some occasions the "blood puff" (the effect that takes place when the player shoots another player) from the game's build.

Gameplay

The gameplay originally focused on behind-enemy-lines intelligence gathering, or some other type of special missions, placing emphasis on using false papers and silenced pistols, but as the series (and the technology) has progressed, it has shifted emphasis towards front-line combat, and has now almost completely abandoned the original focus. The last time false papers were used was in Frontline. Since the release of European Assault the series has focused on providing a more open-ended element to the games, allowing the player to have more options in each level and getting away from one linear path.

Games in the series

PC

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault – (Linux, Windows)
- Medal of Honor: Spearhead (Allied Assault Expansion Pack) – (Windows)
- Medal of Honor: Breakthrough (Allied Assault Expansion Pack) – (Windows)
Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault – (Windows)
Medal of Honor: Airborne – (Windows)

Mac

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
- Medal of Honor: Allied Assault: Spearhead

Xbox

Xbox 360

Medal of Honor: Airborne

PlayStation

PlayStation 2

PlayStation 3

Medal of Honor: Airborne

PlayStation Portable

GameCube

Wii

Game Boy Advance

Mobile Phone

Playable Characters

1Lt. James "Jimmy" Patterson, US Army

(MOH, MOH: Frontline, MOH: Heroes; also appeared in MOH: Underground as a bonus character)

Manon Batiste/Manon DuChamps

(MOH: Underground; also appeared in MOH, MOH: Allied Assault, MOH: Frontline and MOH: European Assault)

1Lt. Mike Powell, US Army

(MOH: Allied Assault)

Sgt. Jack Barnes, US Army

(MOH: Spearhead)

Sgt. John Baker, US Army

(MOH: Breakthrough, MOH: Heroes)

Cpl. Joseph "Joe" Griffin, US Marine Corps

(MOH: Rising Sun)

Cpl. Jake Murphy, US Army

(MOH: Infiltrator)

Pfc./Cpl. Thomas "Tommy" Conlin, US Marine Corps

(MOH: Pacific Assault)

1Lt. William Holt, US Army

(MOH: European Assault, MOH: Heroes)

Cpl./Sgt. Frank Keegan, US Army

(MOH: Vanguard)

Pfc./Cpl. Boyd Travers, US Army

(MOH: Airborne)

Operative John Berg, OSS

(MOH: Heroes 2)

External links

• • e Medal of Honor series
Video games	Medal of Honor · Underground · Allied Assault · Frontline · Rising Sun · Infiltrator · Pacific Assault · European Assault · Heroes · Vanguard · Airborne · Heroes 2
Characters	Manon Batiste · Lt. William Holt · Jimmy Patterson