Medal of Honor: Underground

Heroes of war are not made only of soldiers in uniform — sometimes it is a young woman who risks her life in the streets of occupied Paris. Medal of Honor: Underground took the successful foundation of the first installment and moved it into a world of resistance, espionage, and guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines.

The player takes on Manon Batiste, a member of the French resistance movement whom players briefly met in the first game. Through her adventure you fight your way from the streets of Paris across North Africa to secret Nazi operations, carrying out sabotage, rescue missions, and infiltrations. The emphasis on disguises, sneaking, and improvisation gives the game a different charge than purely frontline action — you are a lone link in the resistance who must survive by cunning.

The gameplay rests on the series' proven pillars: varied missions with clear objectives, a combination of action and stealth elements, and period details carefully set into the Second World War. Underground expanded the arsenal and the environments and offered more varied situations than the original game. The bonus content reward in the form of unlockable extras also returned, motivating repeated play.

The game was once again backed by the studio DreamWorks Interactive, building on the concept at whose birth Steven Spielberg stood, and the characteristic orchestral music was again composed by Michael Giacchino. The continuity of the creative team ensured that the sequel kept the cinematic atmosphere and respectful tone toward the war theme that made the brand famous.

Underground confirmed that Medal of Honor was not a one-off success but a viable series with its own identity. By choosing a female resistance heroine it moreover offered an unusual and refreshing view of the war for its time, one that set the game apart from the flood of frontline shooters.

Why play it: For a view of war through the eyes of a resistance fighter — sneaking, sabotage, and espionage with cinematic music at your back.