If you can get past the game's dated appearance, it's a WWII FPS everybody needs to play; even on GameCube.
+Michael Giacchino's score shines again
+Has varied gameplay for a shooter
+Lengthy single-player game
+Many unlockables to unlock, and ranks to achieve
+Slick A.I., even today
The Bad:
-Graphics look dated
-Gets really frustrating quite often
-Multiplayer isn't very fun
Everybody knew MoH: Frontline on PS2. It was known for its realism (for its time), varied gameplay, terrific presentation (even today), classic feel, and fun split-screen multiplayer matches. It was also called out for having the greatest sound ever on the PS2, at least until games like God of War were released for it. Even today, people still play Frontline, and enjoy it. In fact, it was re-released on the PS3 version of the new Medal of Honor, in High-Definition. Talk about awesome! But, unfortunately, I do not own a PS2, and I don't have the new MoH on PS3, so I had to try out this game on my GameCube, where it is just as good as it is on PS2.
Frontline opens up like most WWII FPS games; in this case, you are with a squad of soldiers who are on a boat to a beach, in which you must assassinate German bunkers. You get typical WWII weaponry; such as the M1 Garand Rifle, Springfield '03 Sniper, Colt .45 Pistol, and many more. Enemies die rather easily; a couple shots to the crotch or shoulder should kill them, or with a headshot or neckshot. The A.I. for its time is really good, which adds to the challenge of the game. Even on Easy, the enemies put up a fight. For those who like a challenge, don't even think about passing this up.
The gameplay is extremely well-constructed, as is the level and mission design; however, the levels are quite linear, so there isn't much room for exploration like other older FPSs like GoldenEye. This is not a bad thing, though, because the game is fun to a point where that doesn't even matter. The graphics for the game are obviously dated, so that may turn off gamers who care about visuals. The sound effects for the guns are decidedly muffled, but still sound pretty good. Voice acting is top-notch, musical score shines very brightly (thanks to Michael Giacchino; composer for The Incredibles and many other amazing movies), and it all comes down to be a great game. Overall, the game is as good as it is on PS2, although it has a few downgrades.
The game is also pretty long; with about 6 missions with 2-6 levels in each. Plus, there are three difficulty levels, adding to the replay value. You can also earn either a Gold, Silver, or Bronze award after each level, so you can try for a better ranking on any difficulty. If you get all Gold awards in every level in a mission, you receive a medal for your achievements, and unlock new content. There is also a four-player split-screen multiplayer mode, which is fun, but not much. If there were bots in this game like in Rising Sun, it would be a 9.1 for me.
BOTTOM LINE: If you can get past the game's dated appearance, it is a game everybody needs to play, even on GameCube. It doesn't look, play, sound, or feel as good as it does on PS2, but considering the fun gameplay and everything it has to offer, the result is a WWII FPS like no other. For anybody who has a GameCube/Wii and is looking for a solid single player FPS game with enough replay value to satisfy you, look no further. It is one of the best single player shooters on Cube ever released; enough said.
Graphics- 6.5: Dated today, but for 2002, it isn't half bad due to good art.
Sound- 7.5: While low quality, the effect is still great. The guns sound realistic but quiet, the music is ambient but powerful, etc.
Gameplay- 9.0: Here's where the game shines. Every gunshot, movement, and mission is polished to the maximum level. Everything feels so fresh that it's hard to stop playing until the credits roll.
Replay Value- 8.0: There are multiple difficulty levels, as always, but there are also unlockables and medals to earn, if you dare! The split screen mode is also a nice bonus.
Overall: 8.4/10 (not an average)