System: PS3, X360, PC
Dev: Electronic Arts
Pub: Electronic Arts
Release: Sep. 4, 2007
Players: 1-12 (Multiplayer)
ESRB Rating: Teen
Review by Jonathan Marx

---

Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

The environments and settings are amazing. Whether dropping along the Amalfi Coast, on to the beaches of Normandy, or into the heart of Germany, you can count on incredible visuals and architecture that perfectly portray each scenario. The amount of detail is almost overwhelming; everything looks incredibly lifelike, from the veins of your own hands to the weeds popping out of the cobblestone streets and bombed-out stone walls of old-world Europe. The armament you have to choose from is varied and authentic. This also holds true for the fatigues of both the Axis and Allies. The textures look great; the gun bursts look real and add to the overall feeling of chaos. Bullets will whiz over your head and splinters from wooden crates will obscure your view. My only complaint is allied and enemy faces are all the same. Not much effort was put into distinguishing one character from another.

The sounds are particularly neat. Each weapon has a unique report. This holds true at a distance as well. You'll easily be able to tell when an enemy machinegun nest is around the corner. If you're unfortunate enough to incorrectly cook off your grenade, you'll end up with an acute ringing in your ear for a few seconds. You'll also overhear enemy conversations as well as allied jeering, all spoken in the corresponding language and accent, depending on the locale.

The game offers a solid online multiplayer mode for up to 12 players. As always, you can enter a quick match, a custom match, or host your own match with your favorite settings. Multiplayer modes to choose from include Team Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch Airborne, and Objective Airborne. Team Deathmatch has you choose between Axis and Allies and simply enter the battleground. The team with the highest score at the end of the time limit wins. Team Deathmatch Airborne adds an interesting twist to the classic format. If you select the Axis you will start in fortified positions on the ground. If you choose to be part of the Allies you'll start the game from an airdrop. In Objective Airborne you'll fight to capture and hold three different flags. Those of you that are Call of Duty fans will recognize this mode as "War Mode."

If you are a WWII game aficionado or if you're looking for an interesting new take on the FPS genre, Medal of Honor: Airborne is a great choice. The series has been truly moved into the next generation with a step up in visuals, sound quality, and wide-open level design. Thankfully, the gameplay will seem familiar and will be quickly mastered by anyone who's played the series before. Load up and move out to your nearest game store, pick yourself up a copy of MOH: Airborne, and get your thumbs ready while you wait for Halo 3.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Freelance Writer

Features: