Medal of Honor: Rising Sun is a first-person shooter from EA, shifting the long-running World War II series to the Pacific theatre. The complete nine-mission campaign runs roughly four hours, from the Pearl Harbor attack to the closing confrontation.
The Pearl Harbor opening is unforgettable, with the destruction and devastation making a lasting impression from the very first moments. The tutorial pacing is praised, with the new systems introduced clearly and gradually through the opening.
The letters from home anchor the emotional stakes, with the sister’s correspondence tracking the home-front war effort through the campaign. The period detail impresses, with the era’s authenticity carried through the visuals, the setting and the framing.
The M1 Garand is the preferred rifle, with the one-shot handling proving handy in the close-range firefights. The crate-breaking supply system is a nice discovery, with ammo and supplies hidden inside the crates.
The enemies sneaking up is the most persistent annoyance, with foes appearing right next to the soldier even alongside the AI companions that are supposed to be watching. The friendly AI is useless, with the squad standing around getting in the way and running at the enemy.
The final stage is brutal, with the enemy guns able to destroy the soldier in almost no time at all. The no-crosshair design throws off the aiming, and the slow grenades cannot be cooked before throwing.
Overall, the Pearl Harbor opening, the letters from home and the period detail make this a memorable Pacific campaign for the series’ fans. The sneaking enemies and the useless companions are the caveats.