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Sushi is Served
Publisher: EA Games
Wed, 17 November 2004
by: Ando
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When one thinks about the first person shooter genre (ie. Quake, Unreal & others), they conjure up imagery of chaos, carnage and destruction (all out frag-festing). Although Rising Sun comes to the party in this department (and then some) it has beneath a historical legacy derived from actual events from World War 2. WW2 was the previous (and hopefully the last) instalment in our world’s spiral towards complete oblivion. Attempts to recreate War for the gaming community can be tricky to pull off to say the least. Enter EA games with their widely popular Medal of Honour franchise, which set the stage for recreations of actual battles and wartime events according to the history books. EA has given Rising Sun a very cinematic feel, with authentic WW2 facts and footage. The result is a very tense and sombre experience. But that isn’t to say it is lacking in fun. Plenty of chaos + carnage= Fragg…Coooll!!
Operation Playability
From the moment Rising Sun boots up, you are immersed in a time of intense conflict - based on the events of the 1942 invasion of Pearl Harbour. Plunged into the heart of the action via a breathtaking FMV sequence, you take on the role of “ “(nice name that) to defend against the incoming onslaught. Over 20 authentic WW2 era weapons - including some Japanese firearms (no Samurai sword though…bugger) have been recreated in detail for the game and are a lot of fun to play with.
Level design has been well planned and is full of varying objectives and mission types. At one point I found myself on a small dingy heading down a canal at night in the jungles of south East Asia (scary enough right). Well, after a croc decided he’d have one of my fellow soldiers for a late night snack, Jap forces set about ambushing us from the sides of the river. Really eerie stuff and also very cool.
Only once did I find myself lost and frustrated, cursing the lack of linear progression to Rising Sun. But, for the most part, this non-linear style is a positive and forces you to explore the game’s levels so that you get more out of them. Some levels can be a little overwhelming at times; with several ways of going about things. Once again though, this is a positive, as it helps you find bonus items and forces you to think a little instead of just shooting anything that moves.
The game ventures from Pearl Harbour onto the jungles of South East Asia and the streets of Singapore making for an exciting roller coaster ride feel as you journey around the pacific.
There are a few James Bond style getaways and mission types included. There are also some highly satisfying combat sequences- including a bunker machine gun turret and a lot of enemy fodder. You’ll find yourself deep in the heart of enemy territory at times, and very outnumbered and alone, even with the dumb as dogsh*t computer buddies you are lumped with in some missions. There are a nice variety of scenarios at land and at sea. Unfortunately, there are no aircraft missions. While hardly an issue considering the array of challenges already on offer, it is still a slight let down, as it would have made for a very well rounded adventure.
A little AI for a GI
The enemy characters are a lot of fun and although occasionally lacking in intelligence, they can be very surprising at times. The bonsai charges are the coolest; you’ll be in shock for a few seconds after you cop the first charge. Just wait till you get to a senior officer - then you will understand the meaning of KAMIKAZIE! The patchy enemy AI is an issue though and should have been more advanced. Even the hard mode has enemy combatants pausing for a few seconds before having another go at you.
The controls take advantage of both the analogue sticks and shoulder buttons enabling strafe, move (multiple speeds) and look. They’re a little sensitive though - I found myself over correcting a lot. When your about to cop a bayonet to the small intestine you wanna be on the mark, so that was a little disconcerting. But you can eventually adapt and change technique to compensate. Control settings can be customised, so you will find a set-up to suit your needs, no matter which school of death match you come from.
Multi-Player War
The game mode options are all you could ask for except for one possible exception; I would love to have seen two-player online capabilities. I couldn't imagine more fun than having a mate over for some online co-op battles- not just free for all, but actual mission type game play. I guess we’ll have to wait for the next version for that. In the end it is really up to you and your opponent’s imagination as to how cool the gameplay is online. The offline multiplayer options leave a little to be desired, but the playability is still quite good thanks to the nicely detailed maps and great choice of characters and weapons. Co-op mode does exist for the missions and further enhances the appeal of an already well-rounded game.
History will be our judge
To its credit MOH Rising Sun pays homage to the heroes of the war and to the legacy of freedom we inherited from it. Along the way you will unlock actual interview footage featuring veterans of the war. You’ll also witness the struggles and triumphs of allied forces via video footage of the battles and events that shaped the world thereafter.
There are some behind the scenes storyboard sequences included, showcasing all the work behind designing such a game. All in all, lots of unlockable goodies for the hard core MOH nuts out there.
What’s the verdict?
Rising Sun is a bit too American and a bit too short, to name a couple of bad points, but the online and multiplayer options help to make it a very enjoyable and lasting experience. Overall, the gameplay in Rising Sun can be very satisfying. After all... this was a cause worth fighting for.
by: Ando
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