There are very few action set pieces. The game is content on keeping things simple, much unlike other games in this sub-genre. Very little here is overdone or unbelievable, and it's interesting how the developers have tried to pull away from the usual gaming clichés (especially with health and weapons) only to be forced into using them anyway. Combat brings forth racial slurs and strong language, adding to the immersion and realism. It moves away from heroic interpretations of action titles, always keeping the player in a group. There are no one man armies, nor are you in control of anyone. It's a refreshing change.
Actual licensed music from the era brings general calm, and as you're thrust into a combat situation, things change quickly. This is a unique way to shatter feelings of safety, though for as good as it is, the epic quality soundtrack just feels out of place. For all the attempts to recreate actual battles, the necessity for a Hollywood soundtrack during fights seems to go against everything the developers were striving to capture.
There's certainly enough merit to Men of Valor to make it worth playing. It seems to be constrained by the usual video game pitfalls, and while that works against it, it manages to pull off more than a typical Hollywood production ever could. There are those moments you truly feel involved, as tension mounts before you're spotted and you only have one chance to make the shot count. This is what the entire game should be, and sadly, it's not.
Article comments
1 - RJ
Sounds pretty good, despite your lukewarm review...