Men of Valor
- October 19, 2004
- 2015
"Men of Valor" is a warfare shooter game set in Vietnam, 196
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic shooters, reminiscent of early 2000s titles like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty.
- The atmosphere and historical context of the Vietnam War are well-represented, with engaging storytelling through letters and news footage.
- Despite its age, the game provides a challenging experience with a unique health system that requires players to manage resources carefully.
- The game suffers from significant technical issues, including problems with launching, stuttering, and a frustrating checkpoint system that lacks manual saves.
- Enemy AI is often unbalanced, with enemies capable of killing players quickly while friendly AI can be ineffective or oblivious to threats.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and punishing, with many players experiencing cheap deaths due to enemy spawning and lack of cover.
- story59 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its authentic portrayal of the Vietnam War and the emotional depth provided through character letters and historical context. While the narrative is engaging and atmospheric, some players find the gameplay mechanics frustrating, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the story remains a strong point, making it appealing for those interested in a story-driven first-person shooter.
“For those who love a story-driven FPS with Vietnam being the narrative, then you will love this!”
“Great single-player story mode highlighting some of the major battles marines faced in Vietnam.”
“The story revolves around a young African American boy drafted into the Vietnam War, and his heart-wrenching letters to his family throughout the game.”
“If you are into games where you need to play super carefully, going ahead step by step while the game offers you such a shallow story, go ahead and give it a try!”
“I didn't care about the characters or the story because of how frustrating the game was.”
“The story is not the best, but it draws from actual events from the war, which adds value in my opinion.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, while considered dated by modern standards, are generally viewed as acceptable for its 2004 release, with some reviewers noting that they hold up surprisingly well. Many appreciate the immersive environments and decent animations, although there are criticisms regarding low framerate and occasional graphical inconsistencies. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some acknowledging the advancements in graphics technology since its launch.
“Game graphics are great considering the year it was released.”
“Now getting to visuals; this game really holds up for a 2004 release.”
“The graphics are surprisingly good, or at least better than I expected.”
“Graphics are old, and haven't aged well at all.”
“I don't have any problems with outdated graphics, but low framerate and laggy gameplay is something totally unbearable.”
“Graphic quality is a little better than Doom 2.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic military shooters like Call of Duty and Medal of Honor, while others criticize its repetitive mechanics, poor AI, and hit detection issues. Despite these drawbacks, many find the gameplay engaging and immersive, particularly in the context of its Vietnam War setting, though it may feel outdated compared to modern standards. Overall, it offers a blend of fun and frustration, appealing to those who enjoy historical shooters but requiring some patience with its flaws.
“Awesome game and way underrated, its gameplay is a lot like the classic Call of Duty and Medal of Honor games but also very challenging. You can die easily if you don't use cover to your advantage; the campaign is very good too.”
“This is a FPS gem that deserves recognition for its unique gameplay, perfected tone, and brilliant historical accuracy.”
“The graphics are a bit dated today, but the gameplay is absolutely breathtaking and highly immersive.”
“With the few upsides comes the many downsides: repetitive gameplay mechanics, endlessly cycling jungles and villages (though it does get more varied shortly before the end of the game), lackluster enemy AI, and shoddy hit registration. What may be very noticeable to some players is the 'wallpaper' friendly AI that will gladly watch as Charlie guts you with an SKS bayonet while you cling to the singular solid object you could use as cover, swapping magazines.”
“Decent story, but the gameplay is something you kind of have to be prepared for - the AI and hit detection are terrible.”
“At the end of the day, it's an old shooter with crappy gameplay mechanics and decent storytelling.”
- music16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its strong presentation, featuring a mix of licensed Vietnam-era songs and an impressive orchestral score composed by Inon Zur, which enhances the immersive experience. Players appreciate the memorable main menu theme and the cinematic quality of the soundtrack, which keeps the adrenaline high throughout gameplay. Overall, the sound effects and ambiance are considered solid, contributing to the game's nostalgic and engaging atmosphere.
“The beautiful main menu song is still in my head after all those years as I think back to fending off hordes of screaming VC with my M60.”
“His music in the game is astonishing, immersive, and majestic.”
“The soundtrack is also decent, as it's heavily cinematic and ensures that your heart stays racing from the very first battle to the very last.”
“While you rarely hear them, you can hear classic 'Nam songs such as 'Wooly Bully' at certain US-controlled areas and vehicles.”
“Often when booting the game up, at least with the Steam version, you can hear the background music first before the main menu appears, and sometimes I've had to open Task Manager and close the game down on the first attempt.”
- stability14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, including issues like being stuck in cut-scenes and unclear objectives that hinder progress. While some players report crashes and freezes, others find it playable on modern systems, suggesting that the experience can vary significantly. Overall, it is seen as a nostalgic title that may frustrate players with its technical shortcomings, but still offers enjoyable gameplay for those willing to overlook these flaws.
“Runs great on Windows 10; 1920x1080 resolution is available!”
“I've only played it a short while (getting a bit tense, needed a break, even made me feel like I needed a ciggie and I haven't smoked in years, it's that good, a bit real) but no glitches, crashes, or silly stuff.”
“If you like being shot through the wall and not seeing the enemy who shot you, then buy this old buggy piece of sh*t.”
“I didn't play it until later that evening and had nothing but crashes and freezes on my system.”
“The game does suffer from bugs and glitches, like for example being stuck in a cut-scene and objectives not showing as completed when they are, stopping you from progressing in the game.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including frequent stuttering and trouble launching, particularly on modern systems. While some players have found temporary fixes, such as adjusting the v-sync settings, the overall experience remains frustrating, making it difficult to recommend for those not willing to troubleshoot extensively.
“Performance issues (just an FYI): running this game at 1920x1080 in fullscreen mode caused the frame rate to stutter at an unplayable rate.”
“I play the game in windowed mode at 1280x1024 and it runs smoothly.”
“Performance issues on modern systems and infrequent checkpoints make this a game that should be avoided by all but the most avid of masochists.”
“The game stutters and has performance issues.”
“It feels as if there were no optimizations made for current-gen hardware.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with detailed environments featuring lush forests, reflective water, and mist that enhance the immersive experience. The inclusion of authentic weaponry and Vietnamese dialogue further enriches the setting, contributing to a compelling and intense 'Nam atmosphere. Overall, the storytelling and atmospheric elements are considered strong points of the game.
“Sure, the game's storytelling, atmosphere, and setting are its strong suits.”
“The environments are very well detailed, with lush forestry, reflective water, devastating fires, and atmospheric mist.”
“Pros: good atmosphere - jungle sounds and graphics hold up fairly well.”
“Instead, expect intense firefights and a heavy dose of 'Nam atmosphere.”
“The game's storytelling, atmosphere, and setting are its strong suits.”
“Weapon selection is accurate for the era, and the voice acting is acceptable; Vietnamese is frequently spoken in-game and adds to the atmosphere.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the monetization strategy, noting that while ads are present, they hinder gameplay by restricting movement. Additionally, some users wish for more integration of ads, particularly in aiming mechanics.
“You cannot move while ads are playing, but you can lean.”
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive and intrusive.”
“It's frustrating that progress is often locked behind paywalls.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotions through its poignant narrative, centered on a young African American boy drafted into the Vietnam War, highlighted by his heartfelt letters to his family. Players report feeling deeply affected by the story, with some experiencing intense emotional responses that linger long after gameplay.
“For the story, I won't say much as to not spoil anything that you may want to experience for yourself, but I'll say it revolves around a young African American boy drafted into the Vietnam War, and his heart-wrenching letters to his family throughout the game.”
“I've only played it a short while (getting a bit tense, needed a break, even made me feel like I needed a cigarette and I haven't smoked in years, it's that good, a bit real) but no glitches, crashes, or silly stuff.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the overly animated characters during cutscenes, which adds a comedic touch, though some players found the character models less appealing up close. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the game's charm.
“The water and fire effects were the most appealing, but the hilarious overly animated characters during cutscenes really stole the show.”
