Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Medal of Honor: Rising Sun delivers a classic first-person shooter experience set against the backdrop of the Pacific theater in WWII. From the opening moments amid the chaos of Pearl Harbor to the tense firefights in the jungles of Guadalcanal, each mission is designed with a clear objective and often punctuated by historical set pieces. You’ll climb aboard PT boats, storm enemy airfields, and lead demolitions under heavy fire, all while adapting to varied combat scenarios that test your reflexes and strategic thinking.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The controls feel responsive and familiar to fans of early 2000s shooters. Starting with a basic loadout—usually an M1 Garand or Thompson SMG—you unlock additional weapons as you progress, such as Browning automatic rifles and captured Japanese Arisaka rifles. Weapon handling emphasizes realism: recoil is noticeable, iron sights are slightly off-center, and ammo conservation is crucial when you’re pinned down by waves of enemy soldiers. Stealth sections offer a different pace, challenging players to sneak past sentry lines and use silenced weapons to maintain the element of surprise.

AI behavior in Rising Sun strikes a balance between scripted wave assaults and opportunistic flanking maneuvers. Japanese soldiers may rush your position en masse or attempt to encircle you, while officers and snipers hold strategic vantage points. Though the AI can feel predictable at times—particularly on lower difficulties—higher challenges reveal more dynamic enemy tactics. Combined with well-placed objectives, occasional timed sequences, and the need to switch between offense and defense, the gameplay loop remains engaging throughout the roughly eight-hour campaign.

Graphics

For its era, Rising Sun’s visuals are impressive, capturing both the beauty and brutality of Pacific battlegrounds. Lush jungle foliage sways in the breeze, while sun-bleached beaches and bombed-out airstrips evoke the geography of Guadalcanal, Wake Island, and other iconic locales. Textures can appear blocky by modern standards, but lighting effects—especially muzzle flashes, explosions, and atmospheric fog—help immerse you in each firefight.

Character models and enemy sprites maintain solid detail during close-quarters engagements, with uniforms stained by mud and blood spatter visible on helmets and gear. Water effects stand out: lapping waves during amphibious landings and shimmering reflections in inland streams enhance believability. On consoles of the day (PlayStation 2, Xbox) frame rates stay relatively stable, while the PC version can run at higher resolutions, smoothing out rough edges and allowing for crisper draw distances.

Between missions, Rising Sun incorporates period stock footage—grainy newsreel clips of Pearl Harbor, archival photos of island campaigns, and portraits of service members—to frame the stakes of each operation. These historical inserts blend seamlessly with in-game cutscenes and encourage players to reflect on the real-world events that inspired the action. The result is both a visual showcase and an informal history lesson, reminding us that every bullet fired on screen has human consequences.

Story

Rising Sun casts you as Corporal Joseph Griffin, a young Marine thrust into the rigors of WWII after surviving Pearl Harbor. The narrative unfolds in a straightforward, mission-by-mission format, seldom pausing for lengthy exposition. Instead, the story advances through radio chatter, briefings by commanding officers, and the harrowing destruction you witness in each zone. This keeps the pace brisk, though players seeking deep character arcs may find the plot comparatively thin.

What the game lacks in scripted drama, it makes up for with grounded authenticity. Unlockable interviews with Pacific veterans provide first-hand accounts of small-unit tactics, life in the trenches, and the psychological toll of island warfare. These recollections, paired with historically accurate mission titles and objectives, give context to your digital exploits. By the end of the campaign, you’ll have not only conquered bunkers and airstrips, but also gained appreciation for the soldiers who fought these battles in real life.

Occasional story beats—such as rescuing downed pilots or disabling artillery batteries—are tied to specific historical events, lending a documentary feel to your progress. Though the emotional hooks are subtle, the commitment to historical fidelity and respect for the people behind the footage elevate the narrative beyond a generic shooter plot. It’s a tale of duty, camaraderie, and perseverance, quietly reminding us why this theater of war still resonates decades later.

Overall Experience

Medal of Honor: Rising Sun remains a noteworthy entry in the venerable franchise, particularly for players intrigued by WWII’s Pacific front. Its blend of tight, goal-oriented FPS action and educational elements sets it apart from more arcade-style shooters. While its linear mission design may feel dated compared to modern sandbox titles, the focused pacing ensures there’s never a dull moment—every checkpoint brings a new objective or environmental twist.

The inclusion of veteran interviews, stock footage, and historical detailing enriches the gameplay with real-world context, making the experience more than just a series of firefights. Whether you’re storming beaches under intense AA fire or sneaking into enemy encampments at night, you’re constantly reminded of the broader significance of your actions. This fusion of history and entertainment appeals equally to shooters and history buffs alike.

If you’re seeking a mid-2000s FPS that balances immersive WWII combat with genuine historical education, Rising Sun is still worth exploring. Its age shows in texture resolution and linearity, but its core strengths—solid gunplay, evocative environments, and a respectful nod to the past—ensure an engaging journey through one of history’s most pivotal campaigns. Load up your rifle, ready your grenades, and prepare to answer the call in the Pacific.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10