Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault
Encyclopedia
Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault (abbreviated MoHPA) is a first-person shooter
computer game the story of which takes place during the Pacific War
. It is the 7th installment of the Medal of Honor
series.
in the Pacific Theater of Operations
in World War II.
The game opens up on Conlin, about to land on Tarawa
in a landing craft. His voice-over reminisces about how much of a journey it was to arrive there, commenting on the friends he's lost, the untrained quality of the new-recruits ("three week wonders", he calls them) and the futility of taking this small stretch of land from the Japanese.
As Conlin's Amtrac approaches the shore, it's hit by an artillery shell, throwing Conlin and the other passengers into the shallow ocean, forcing them to wade ashore. Conlin fights his way onto to the shore, only to get cut down by a bullet during a Japanese counter-attack. As he 'bleeds out', the game flashes back to the start of Conlin's first day of basic training, where the player is introduced to the characters that will become his squad; the squad leader Frank Minoso; a big, smooth talking, New Jersey native; sniper
William "Willie' Gaines, a country boy from North Carolina; and corpsman James Sullivan, a quiet sailor from a rich family in Oak Park, Illinois. After training, Conlin is assigned, without the rest of his training battalion, to serve aboard the U.S.S. Arizona
. He arrives at Pearl Harbor
early on the morning of December 7th, 1941
. During the subsequent Japanese attack, he dodges strafing runs, rescues wounded servicemen and mans different anti-aircraft guns.
In the next level Conlin joins with Minoso, Gaines and Sullivan, as well as two unnamed marines, as they participating in the notorious Makin Island raid
. During the raid, they are tasked with destroying a radio tower, destroying a supply dump, and rescuing a downed airman, before returning to their insertion point to fend off a Japanese counter-attack and defend their submarines from an aerial attack.
Following, the Makin raid, the squad is deployed to Guadalcanal, where they first are deployed to defend Henderson Field
, and the outlying area, against a Japanese attack
, culminating in a push to re-take the airfield. They also participate in the patrols of the Lunga River and Battle of Edson's Ridge
(referred to in-game colloquially as "The Battle of Bloody Ridge") where Conlin earns the Silver Star and is promoted to Corporal. As part of the Guadalcanal Mission, Conlin becomes an impromptu pilot, as he is required to take control of the SBD Dauntless
that is transporting him to 'the fleet' that is preparing an assault on Tarawa. During this mission, he pilots the aircraft against enemy zeros, an enemy island base, and finally a Japanese carrier task group. During this mission, Sgt. Minoso (in another plane) is shot and either critically wounded or killed, depending on the players actions.
For the assault on Tarawa, Conlin has been promoted to sergeant and squad leader, inheriting Sgt. Minoso's BAR
(In actuality, the player never commands the squad any more than he has previously, as they are accompanied by an unnamed Officer
who gives the squad direct orders). The Battle of Tarawa mission includes parts and tactics from all previous levels (a reoccurring theme in the franchise) where Conlin must start by clearing bunkers and anti-aircraft guns near the shore, participating in a car chase, then moving inward to take out tanks and a heavily fortified command center, finally moving through a massive bunker and trench system culminating in an assault on the Japanese Headquarters and surviving a final Japanese Banzai charge
. The game ends with a voice over from Conlin, akin to the opening voice over, stating that they still had a "long ways to go".
If the player saves Sgt. Minoso, it is revealed during the credits that he survives and while the rest of the squad was at Tarawa, he was flirting with nurses in a naval hospital.
and published by Electronic Arts
for the PC. It is primarily a first-person shooter
, with the exception of one level in which the player flies an SBD Dauntless
in the middle of a dog fight. The engine of the game is a modified Lithtech
Jupiter, and Havok physics
engine. The music was composed by Christopher Lennertz. There exist two versions of the game, a standard CD-ROM
edition released on November 9, 2004 and a Director's Edition DVD, which includes some bonus features and historical movies, released on November 2, 2004.
.com the average score is 80% based on 43 reviews. On GameStats the average score is 80% based on 34 reviews.
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
computer game the story of which takes place during the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
. It is the 7th installment of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor (series)
Medal of Honor is the name of a series of first-person shooter games set in World War II, with an October 2010 reboot based on the conflicts of present day Afghanistan. The first game was developed by DreamWorks Interactive and published by Electronic Arts in 1999 for the PlayStation game console...
series.
Plot
The game puts the player in the role of Pvt. Thomas Conlin, a U.S. MarineUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in the Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
in World War II.
The game opens up on Conlin, about to land on Tarawa
Battle of Tarawa
The Battle of Tarawa, code named Operation Galvanic, was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, largely fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region....
in a landing craft. His voice-over reminisces about how much of a journey it was to arrive there, commenting on the friends he's lost, the untrained quality of the new-recruits ("three week wonders", he calls them) and the futility of taking this small stretch of land from the Japanese.
As Conlin's Amtrac approaches the shore, it's hit by an artillery shell, throwing Conlin and the other passengers into the shallow ocean, forcing them to wade ashore. Conlin fights his way onto to the shore, only to get cut down by a bullet during a Japanese counter-attack. As he 'bleeds out', the game flashes back to the start of Conlin's first day of basic training, where the player is introduced to the characters that will become his squad; the squad leader Frank Minoso; a big, smooth talking, New Jersey native; sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
William "Willie' Gaines, a country boy from North Carolina; and corpsman James Sullivan, a quiet sailor from a rich family in Oak Park, Illinois. After training, Conlin is assigned, without the rest of his training battalion, to serve aboard the U.S.S. Arizona
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
. He arrives at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
early on the morning of December 7th, 1941
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. During the subsequent Japanese attack, he dodges strafing runs, rescues wounded servicemen and mans different anti-aircraft guns.
In the next level Conlin joins with Minoso, Gaines and Sullivan, as well as two unnamed marines, as they participating in the notorious Makin Island raid
Makin Island raid
The Makin Island Raid was an attack by the United States Marine Corps on Japanese military forces on Makin Island in the Pacific Ocean...
. During the raid, they are tasked with destroying a radio tower, destroying a supply dump, and rescuing a downed airman, before returning to their insertion point to fend off a Japanese counter-attack and defend their submarines from an aerial attack.
Following, the Makin raid, the squad is deployed to Guadalcanal, where they first are deployed to defend Henderson Field
Henderson Field
Henderson Field is the name of several airports:* Henderson Field on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands, renamed to Honiara International Airport in 2003....
, and the outlying area, against a Japanese attack
Battle for Henderson Field
The Battle for Henderson Field, also known as the Battle of Henderson Field or Battle of Lunga Point by the Japanese, took place from 23-26 October 1942 on and around Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands...
, culminating in a push to re-take the airfield. They also participate in the patrols of the Lunga River and Battle of Edson's Ridge
Battle of Edson's Ridge
The Battle of Edson's Ridge, also known as the Battle of the Bloody Ridge, Battle of Raiders Ridge, and Battle of the Ridge, was a land battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Imperial Japanese Army and Allied ground forces...
(referred to in-game colloquially as "The Battle of Bloody Ridge") where Conlin earns the Silver Star and is promoted to Corporal. As part of the Guadalcanal Mission, Conlin becomes an impromptu pilot, as he is required to take control of the SBD Dauntless
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver...
that is transporting him to 'the fleet' that is preparing an assault on Tarawa. During this mission, he pilots the aircraft against enemy zeros, an enemy island base, and finally a Japanese carrier task group. During this mission, Sgt. Minoso (in another plane) is shot and either critically wounded or killed, depending on the players actions.
For the assault on Tarawa, Conlin has been promoted to sergeant and squad leader, inheriting Sgt. Minoso's BAR
Browning Automatic Rifle
The Browning Automatic Rifle was a family of United States automatic rifles and light machine guns used by the United States and numerous other countries during the 20th century. The primary variant of the BAR series was the M1918, chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge and designed...
(In actuality, the player never commands the squad any more than he has previously, as they are accompanied by an unnamed Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
who gives the squad direct orders). The Battle of Tarawa mission includes parts and tactics from all previous levels (a reoccurring theme in the franchise) where Conlin must start by clearing bunkers and anti-aircraft guns near the shore, participating in a car chase, then moving inward to take out tanks and a heavily fortified command center, finally moving through a massive bunker and trench system culminating in an assault on the Japanese Headquarters and surviving a final Japanese Banzai charge
Banzai charge
Banzai charge was a term applied during World War II by the Allied forces to human wave attacks mounted by infantry forces of the Imperial Japanese Army...
. The game ends with a voice over from Conlin, akin to the opening voice over, stating that they still had a "long ways to go".
If the player saves Sgt. Minoso, it is revealed during the credits that he survives and while the rest of the squad was at Tarawa, he was flirting with nurses in a naval hospital.
History
The game was developed by EA Los AngelesEA Los Angeles
EA Los Angeles is a video game developer founded originally in 1995 as DreamWorks Interactive LLC, a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG....
and published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
for the PC. It is primarily a first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
, with the exception of one level in which the player flies an SBD Dauntless
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver...
in the middle of a dog fight. The engine of the game is a modified Lithtech
Lithtech
Lithtech is a game engine which was initially developed by Monolith Productions in collaboration with Microsoft. Monolith later formed a separate company, LithTech Inc., to deal with further advancements of the engine technology and currently, after a change of its corporate identity, LithTech Inc...
Jupiter, and Havok physics
Havok (software)
Havok Physics is a physics engine developed by Irish company Havok. It is designed primarily for video games, and allows for real-time collision and dynamics of rigid bodies in three dimensions. It provides multiple types of dynamic constraints between rigid bodies , and has a highly optimized...
engine. The music was composed by Christopher Lennertz. There exist two versions of the game, a standard CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
edition released on November 9, 2004 and a Director's Edition DVD, which includes some bonus features and historical movies, released on November 2, 2004.
Reception
The average score on GameRankings is 80% based on 45 reviews. On MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.com the average score is 80% based on 43 reviews. On GameStats the average score is 80% based on 34 reviews.
- 78%-IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- 70%-GameSpyGameSpyGameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
- 83%-GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...