Today's seriously 32-player Wii FPS: Medal of Honor Heroes 2

by Zack Stern { Sep 16th 2007 at 12:00AM }

Medal of Honor Heroes 2 for the Wii sounds like a rehash of a long-running franchise. But 32-player online battles will make this shooter unique. Will internet connectivity become a key component for a great Wii FPS? The game ships November 13, marking an overdue trend of Wii games finally getting online.

Judging from the trailer, Medal of Honor Heroes 2 looks good (albeit not HD-good). See for yourself after the break.

Tags: ad, friendcode, hottestvideo, medalofhonor, medalofhonorheroes, medalofhonorheroes2, nintendo, online, trailer, video, wi-fi, wifi, wii, wwii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Bender @ Sep 16th 2007 12:09AM

If they can get the controls as precise as MP3 then I'll be all over this!

EA don't use friend codes, right?

phattie @ Sep 16th 2007 12:39AM

With the mp3 controls they let you lock on your target and spam away with your weapon... i dont think that would work in a multiplayer type game unless it was targeted at 3 year olds. Its a generous form of aim assist for noobs.

hvnlysoldr (NDF ) @ Sep 16th 2007 1:08AM

Only newbs used the old fashioned lock on. The new lock-on focuses on a target but you're still responsible for aiming.

Bender @ Sep 16th 2007 3:23AM

I agree with you on the lock on / spam Phattie. I was more referring to the way I can naturally move around and aim accurately.

The other Medal of Honour on the Wii sucked control-wise.

SoulBlade @ Sep 16th 2007 10:42AM

Did you actually play MP3? The lock on was the camera lock so you could strafe/move around an enemy - you still had to aim with the WiiMote.

SKI @ Sep 16th 2007 11:52AM

EA uses there own Gamertag things, so no FCs, and I heard they bettered MP:3's controls.

GCNH87 @ Sep 16th 2007 2:41PM

IGN Wii

"...did we think that a third party could make a game that would rival Corruption's innovative utilization of the Wii remote? We said sure, yes, absolutely, it was bound to happen eventually, but we honestly figured such a feat would be several months off, if not years. So imagine our surprise when we got our hands on Medal of Honor Heroes 2 for Wii this week and discovered very quickly that EA Canada seems to have nailed the control scheme."

I've been looking forward to this one for a while now. ^_^

Shagittarius @ Sep 17th 2007 1:48PM

Come on guys how hard is it to aim at the middle of the TV screen?

That auto aim would kill MP.

Prolifikshadow @ Oct 30th 2007 11:17AM

No they don't use friend codes, EA nation!

Mike @ Nov 6th 2007 9:44PM

Matt @ IGN says the controls beat the pants off MP3 FTW!

No friedn codes! They use EA nation

Backslash @ Sep 16th 2007 12:11AM

Have to say this (pleasantly) surprised me.

Sorry I doubted you, Ninty/EA. D:

Snukadaman @ Sep 16th 2007 1:09AM

agreed...it didnt look as bad as you expected. might even pick it up....

Guybrush Threepwood @ Sep 16th 2007 12:11AM

One problem: This will be Lag-Fest '07.

Madden 08 (also made by EA) had laggy online, and that was just one-on-one play.

Sonicandtails @ Sep 16th 2007 1:59AM

The reason that Madden is laggy is because it needs to sync all AI players to each system. While it may seem more taxing for 32 actual players, it's not. Someone in an FPS can lag and it's not going to screw up anything. In a game like Madden, if one of the AI's desyncs the entire game gets thrown off. This makes Madden more of a online nightmare. Currently taking CCNA course 3, I play with networking all the time, and in an attempt to prove this point elsewhere I packet sniffed and found that Madden certainly uses very large and more packets to go online. Something like Counter Strike 1.6 or Call of Duty uses very few.

Tim @ Sep 16th 2007 2:34AM

The A.I. can all be handled by the host machine. It's just poor netcode. EA is completely responsible.

Shiggy @ Sep 16th 2007 9:32PM

making the host handle all the AI would result in more lag due to higher bandwidth requirements

CaptCrunch06 @ Sep 16th 2007 12:12AM

too bad the wii doesn't have a headset, itz gonna be absolute chaos with 32 people running around. i wish they had put online multiplayer for metroid prime 3 instead.

LAZoftheTamarinds @ Sep 16th 2007 12:28AM

Well at least we won't hear stupid little kids cussing when they attack or die in the game.

BPM @ Sep 16th 2007 4:26AM

Wait for Metroid Prime Hunters 2 for Wii (we all know they'll make it).

KiraXD @ Sep 16th 2007 12:12AM

lol @ that.. sounds like a blast having 32 players with crappy wireless internet connections... +1 for wifi connect... /sarcasm off

catfish24 @ Sep 16th 2007 12:19AM

Actually, the first MOH:H for the PSP was a blast online and had no lag whatsoever. If the psp can have 32-player online, I see no reason why the wii can't handle 32-player online

BPM @ Sep 16th 2007 4:32AM

Considering how "slow" most home broadband connections are (services range from 512kbps to 12Mbps), and that 802.11g goes up to 54Mbps, the speed of wi-fi isn't an issue.

Your only concern, then, is if you get a good signal from your wireless router or not.

Korova @ Sep 16th 2007 7:15AM

@bpm

I heard that said before. But what if i am also streaming music around the house and the wife is shopping online. Wouldnt the wireless bandwidth get choked up once in a while.

Ska Oreo @ Sep 16th 2007 8:49AM

@Korova

Then don't stream music. It's as simple as that.

Jordan @ Sep 16th 2007 11:15AM

Wireless internet is half-duplex (which means you can ONLY send OR receive, not both at the same time). Unlike wired which is full duplex.

This will create situations where if a wii is hosting there will be uncomprehensible lag. The only solution is if EA hosts the games.

Even then, there will be lag past a certain point since people will be trying to receive and send everyones position in a stack.

Lifted 0ne 4l9 @ Sep 16th 2007 12:00PM

Jordan,

Thats why i use the ethernet adapter on my Wii so i don't have to worry about any of the downfalls of wireless, and yes there are downfalls, wireless should only be used if neceassary, even though 802.11g can handle 54Mbps doesn't mean you'll maintain your full speed thers always a little loss in speed despite what you have for a connection, that along side Wireless being half-duplex is why Ethernet is always a better choice when possible.

Bigfoot @ Sep 16th 2007 12:16AM

Looks like it could be good stuff. I'd rather have the Wii get Quake III though. That'd be some fun run n' gun madness.

phattie @ Sep 16th 2007 12:21AM

After you're done entering all those friend codes, you'll be too tired to play.

Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 16th 2007 12:29AM

Can you read? Me think no.

Ska Oreo @ Sep 16th 2007 1:08AM

aaah don't be so mean. I don't think Phattie has any friends.

bender @ Sep 16th 2007 1:22AM

phattie, no friend codes.

http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=560

jorojoserojas @ Sep 16th 2007 12:22AM

This is very interesting. I've never really been into the whole WWII FPS games, but this may be worth my time.

I'm glad Nintendo is finally starting to make headway on the online side of things. It may not exactly be Xbox Live, but you gotta start somewhere.

Very interesting.

B Tizo @ Sep 16th 2007 12:25AM

Seriously though... No Headset!?

How can you play an FPS with no headset? It would be impossible to yell obscenities and racial slurs at the competition! I'm sorry, but if I can't trash talk I'm not waisting my money.... Just kidding.

But seriously, without a headset it would be nearly impossible to coordinate much of anything in the game. I hope Nintendo sees this and fixes this.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 16th 2007 1:01AM

i've never played a fps with voice on before. it's too annoying. i played CS for years with voice off, and now I'm in the CoD4 beta and never pay attention to what other ppl say and still do pretty well. I'd turn voice off completely but I haven't seen a setting for that in the menus

thethirdmoose @ Sep 16th 2007 12:27AM

THERE IS VOICE CHAT!!
In the first part of the online multiplayer thing, you can hear someone giving orders. Something like "flank around the right - take that"

shadow024 @ Sep 16th 2007 12:37AM

actually, its just short commands you give out, like you select it. They are premade.

Hiroken @ Sep 16th 2007 1:01AM

Automated voice commands worked wonderfully in Tribes 2. I'd actually prefer it over voice chat.

~

Cal @ Sep 16th 2007 1:31AM

...but not in Battlefield 2. Hearing your commander repeat "ENEMY INFANTRY SPOTTED" around 20 times isn't fun, nor funny. But that has VOIP, though barely used in the servers I frequent.

LAZoftheTamarinds @ Sep 16th 2007 12:31AM

This is great! I just wished that the psp version would have gotten stuck with the sequel to the first one. The wii should have gotten an original and new Wii MOH game. I hope the handheld and Wii versions do good however.

BPM @ Sep 16th 2007 4:40AM

The Wii and PSP versions are being developed independently. This isn't a port.

Kattleox @ Sep 16th 2007 12:34AM

I, for one, don't think it will be very good. I hope I'm wrong, but I got all up and exited about being able to play Alien Syndrome on the PSP AND Wii. This is probably just another PSP to Wii port. (which is weird, since the PSP used to be the king of ports. Looks like Wii will steal that crown.)

I hope I'm wrong, though. Either way Halo, Unreal, Haze and will probably overshadow it's FPSiness.

jorojoserojas @ Sep 16th 2007 2:25AM

I think (hope?) it should be okay. Metroid Prime 3 controlled extremely well, and IGN's early preview has stated that this may not only rival, but exceed that level of precision.

That being said, you're absolutely right about the competition. I already have 3 FPSs (Bioshock, Halo 3, CoD 4) on my must-own list for this year, and I don't know if I'd buy this game simply due to the overflow of the genre this year...

...it's a shame, really. I'd like for this game to succeed, if only because of it's ambition.

mo @ Sep 16th 2007 12:37AM

im not to interested in this game, but i hope it sells well so developers pick up on the fact that most wii fans want online play

Obie @ Sep 16th 2007 12:38AM

While I am more enamored with Call of Duty 4 at the moment, I think it's great that the Wii is embracing online play. I am anxious to see how it will fare.

Airswoop @ Sep 16th 2007 12:50AM

The thing that was always bothered me about Wii fps games is that the reticle is not centered, and there always seems to be some awkward acceleration while you are moving it around. I hope this game allows me to edit the settings to my liking.

Koopaknight29 @ Sep 16th 2007 10:08AM

According to the preview linked by bender,

This: http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=560

You can manually change the dead zone box (ie. how far you have to move the reticle to turn) in the options menu. Apparantly there's quite a bit of customization, and on top of no friend's codes, this could turn into a buy for me.

I'll keep an eye on this one.

Adv2k1 @ Sep 16th 2007 1:01AM

IGN reported that the controls for this game is = if not BETTER than Metroid Prime 3. Better in turning, and you can make sensitivity to equal mouse and keyboard.
It's kind of a shame no split screen multi player I actually enjoy having friends over.

Ska Oreo @ Sep 16th 2007 1:43AM

I read the ign preview. I'm excited that the Wii is finally getting some good games. But of course this preview will probably be dismissed because we're at a phase in this console wars where reviewers are accused of being full of shit and biased by people who are even more full of shit and even more biased.