Medal of Honor Retrospective: Medal of Honor European Assault

Medal of Honor European Assault was released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Gamecube in June 2005, developed by EA Los Angeles and published by Electronic Arts.

Medal of Honor European Assault returns the series to the shores of Europe after a few games in the Pacific. Playing as Lt. William Holt, you travel throughout France, Belgium and the Soviet Union and even stop in North Africa, an area of the war previously untouched in prior Medal of Honor games. Your missions are similar to prior iterations as well: destroy tanks, collect intel and so forth. The difference is in how you manage to do the objectives, and in there lies the biggest innovation in the series since it began.

The best part about European Assault is the open gameplay. I’m actually a big fan of linear gameplay, since I like to be directed and shown a good game, rather than making one for myself. However, done correctly, open gameplay can be a lot of fun and European Assault proves it. By giving the player an open map and several objectives to tackle in whatever order you choose, it fundamentally changes the style of Medal of Honor games and for the better. You may choose to rescue the POW or collect the intel or destroy the Nazi sub, but the game never tells you which to do first or in what order. It’s totally up to you. It’s a gameplay concept that’s also explored and refined in the later Medal of Honor game, Airborne. It is by far the best thing about the game, the best thing to happen to the series since it launched and it makes it one of the best games in the entire series. It is a breath of fresh gaming air after the stale linearity of Rising Sun and Pacific Assault.

Another small detail to note is that this is the first game in the series that has iron sights, now a standard element of first person shooters. It lends more realism to the gameplay and, in a weird bit of luck, makes the game hold up even more today. The original games and the earlier console Medal of Honors all feel somewhat dated no matter how good they are but European Assault is the first that feels “modern”. By adding that and changing up the style of gameplay the series has been known for up to this point, European Assault is the best of the sixth-generation console-era Medal of Honor games and one that can be played and enjoyed with little reservation to this day.

The look of the game has been enhanced since Rising Sun. Being a third-generation game on the consoles of the era, it comes with large visual and audio upgrades from the prior games. As per usual with the franchise, the sound design and music are absolutely top notch. Christopher Lennertz’s music captures the moods and events of the era in fine form.

Medal of Honor European Assault is a fantastic game from start to finish. All the problems that had begun to creep into the series with Rising Sun have all vanished, replaced with intriguing new gameplay mechanics and a more modern style of gameplay. Despite returned to the well-worn lands of European World War 2, the game never feels old or dated. It may not have the recognition of Frontline or Allied Assault, but it deserves it. Medal of Honor European Assault is the best PS2-era Medal of Honor game and one of the best games in the entire series. An absolute must-play for any fan of the franchise.

Next time: Medal of Honor hits its nadir with Medal of Honor Vanguard.