The setting for World War II has been used in many games over the years. In fact, the Medal of Honor franchise has been using this setting longer than the war actually lasted (eight years and counting). There are many reasons this setting has become such a success -: many successful (and great) military operations, fascinating background information, and being able to live out the stories of many war heroes to name just a few. The latest game to use this setting is entitled Medal of Honor Heroes 2, but does this game also capture the “magic” of this time frame, or is it starting to get stale?

When players load the game for the first time they will notice three options to choose from, the first being the Campaign mode. The story for this mode is interesting and will hold players' undivided attention until the ending credits. Players will take on the role of OSS John Berg, who leads an invasion force in Normandy, going behind enemy lines to cripple the Nazi regime. If players are not successful in this mission it will spell doom for the allied troops when the Nazi’s show off their new and powerful weapon.

A new mode that developers have created for this game is Arcade option. This setting is made specifically for the “casual gaming audience.” This situation follows the campaign's story with one major difference: all players have to do is shoot the enemy because the game takes care of moving/walking around for them. Basically this mode is an “on-rails” version of the campaign mode, and is really fun to sit back and fire away. Another good way to illustrate how this game is laid out is to think of Arcade Light Gun Games such as Time Crisis and House of the Dead, except set in World War II.

The last mode for Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is online multiplayer, which the developers did a great job on. This approach allows gamers to play with up to 32 players online with rarely any lag. There are three different modes players can partake in: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag. There are also other options that players can change during the course of the game such as kicking/banning bad players, changing the map, or swapping out four different default weapons. For the Nintendo Wii’s first online first-person shooter game, the developers did a great job of covering all the bases. The only thing that really impairs this portion of the game is the lack of online voice chat.  Xbox Live has taught players that being able to taunt or congratulate fellow gamers is a crucial part of the online experience.

A big issue is that the enemy AI is not as intelligent as it should be. No matter what skill level players choose form, the enemies are a push over. They do not seem to react to various tactics the player may confront them with as rationally as they should.  For example, when a grenade is tossed their way it appears they have an aversion to taking cover and trying to make it out alive. Even though this is the case, the game is still fantastic.

The graphics for this game are enjoyable. The various levels have a unique look and feel to them. Also, all of the character models are varied enough in the game to where it doesn’t seem as if the players are killing the same person multiple times. Special effects are also brilliant. The various explosions and gunfire look exceptionally realistic. The fact that this game runs a silky smooth 60 frames per second makes this game even better.

The only thing that is a huge disappointment is the dying animations. When an enemy dies, around the time (or at the same time) they hit the floor the body disappears. The first few times the player will think of it as a glitch, but they will soon figure out this is a staple of the entire game. In the beginning it becomes an actual distraction for players, but later it becomes quite comical. While players know there are graphical limitations, something like this has not been seen in a first-person shooter for a long time, and should not have been an issue with this game.

The music for this game is decent. The developers did a great job of incorporating the Wii-mote speaker in the game, which makes it feel all the more realistic. This is really emphasized when players are messing with the radio in a certain level and they hear the sounds from the radio come out of the controller. Another Wii-mote segment happens when players are looking for mines and they hear ”clicks” coming through the speakers as they close in upon danger. It is this kind of immersion of audio in the game which makes it more fun to play. The voiceovers don’t stand out and fit the game completely.

Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is rated Teen.

Gameplay: 8.6
The aiming for Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is really great. I liked that the developers gave players two control options - the standard one, and one that uses the newly released Wii Zapper.

At the time of this review, I was unable to obtain a Wii Zapper; the fact that the developers took the time to make this game even more authentic by supporting it is terrific.

Graphics: 8.1
The graphics for Medal of Honor Heroes 2 are really great, and this is made even better since the game runs at a smooth and silky 60 frames per second. The disappearing dead soldiers is a real annoyance though.

Sound: 8.3
The audio portion of this game was well done. The soundtrack will stick in player’s minds as they raise havoc with the enemies. The voiceovers are decent, but nothing out of the ordinary for a game of this caliber.

Difficulty: Easy
The campaign can be beat within six-to-seven hours depending on player's skill level. The main problem with the difficulty is the AI is not too bright and is basically a push-over for players.

Concept: 8.1
Including support for the Wii Zapper is really a nice addition to this game. The arcade mode is also a nice treat that really adds replay value.

Multiplayer 8.6
Having the ability to play with up to 32 players is great! The online mode is very smooth and I never encountered any lag. The only problem is the lack of options while playing online.

Overall: 8.3
Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is a great first-person shooter game for the Nintendo Wii. The aiming is very precise, which makes this game even more fun to play. If you have a craving for this type of game, then this should be a no-brainer.