I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m getting tired
of the one-man-killing-machine genre of war games. How can a single unnamed
soldier defeat the entire Nazi Regime? That’s why Men of Valor has
sparked my interest in first-person army shooters again, with gameplay that
focuses on comradery.
Based around key battles in the Vietnam War, Men of
Valor introduces us to Private First Class Dean Shepard, an African-American
Marine. Along with the rest of the 3rd Battalion, Dean must root
through the deep jungles of South East Asia against the communist guerillas of
North Vietnam.
Feeding you more than just intense combat, Men of Valor
is rich with information and historical accuracy. Real footage of the war is
compiled into mini-documentaries during cutscenes that describe the historical
context of each battle and strategic movement. There are also quick facts about
the war during loading screens. This, as well as developing relationships with
your fellow soldiers, puts a human face to the war. Everyone looks out for each
other and you will find that the phrase “leave no man behind” is a brotherly
obligation each soldier holds.
The control/combat system is so easy to learn that the
obstacle course in base camp takes no time at all to complete and you’ll soon be
deployed to Da Nang to begin your tour of duty. You fill your “eventful” days
talking to the press, enjoying BBQs, doing drills, getting a tan, and tossing
around the old pig skin. In this airfield, you thought all you had to worry
about was fire ants. Suddenly, enemy rockets tour up the quaint military post
and ravaged the grounds, reminding all soldiers what they were here to do. You
and others are ordered to patrol the surrounding area for “Charlie” as your part
in the Vietnam War begins.
Developer 2015, creators of the masterpiece Medal of
Honor: Allied Assault, have taken care of designing 1960’s Vietnam into a
place you don’t want to be in. Booby traps are in unexpected places with the
“Vietcong” always hidden and always moving. For example, along the route to
patrol Da Nang, your caravan runs into a road block (A water ox stumbles onto
the path with villagers shouting obscenities trying to move it). Suddenly, a
land mine blows up and you find yourself wounded with heavy enemy firepower.
To put it simply, Men of Valor is not a run-and-gun
shooter. You must always keep tabs on your ammo, your health, your fellow
soldiers, and your surroundings. If you notice that bandaging up isn’t enough
to maintain your health, you must search bodies for health packs (as well as
other essentials like ammo and weapons). This isn’t to say it’s very tactical;
but thinking you’ll go out “Rambo-style” will lead you to a short lifespan. The
game will boast an impressive arsenal of firepower as well as an assortment of
vehicles (although you can’t drive them).
Besides a single-player campaign, Men of Valor also
sports several multiplayer modes including Deathmatch and Search and Destroy.
Up to 24 players can mix it up online and choose from 7 player classes from both
sides (Ally and Communist).
Another cool part of the ambiance of the game is the
inclusion of licensed music from the decade. Hearing James Brown while training
and listening to The Mamas & The Papas while riding a transport just doesn’t
compare to any other war game. The graphics are very impressive and still
allows the game to run smoothly on dated machines. Though there are noticeable
bugs with the AI, I’m sure it will all be worked out upon release.
The way things are shaping up, 2015 may have another hit on
their hands. Already a contender for the best Vietnam game ever, studios
everywhere will have to step it up a notch to compete with Men of Valor.
The game is set to hit retail stores for the XBOX and PC on October 26.
