Men of Valor

About

Men of Valor is a single player and multiplayer action game. It was developed by 2015 and was released on February 9, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

They fought for Freedom... They fought for each other. Vietnam, 1965. You are Dean Shepard, a "cherry" to the 'Nam with zero war experience other than standard boot camp training at Parris Island, SC. Along with your platoon, you will fight the NVA and the Vietcong in true historic locales and battles such as Khe Sahn and the Tet Offensive, transporting you to a time and place American …

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Action

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 367 reviews

story27 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

The game offers a tense and realistic portrayal of the Vietnam War, making it appealing for history buffs.
The gameplay is engaging, with a variety of weapons and a unique health system that requires players to bandage wounds and search for supplies.
The narrative is enhanced by the use of letters and historical footage, providing an immersive experience.

The game suffers from significant technical issues, including bugs, crashes, and a frustrating save system with infrequent checkpoints.
Enemy AI can be inconsistent, with some enemies having unrealistic accuracy while friendly AI often fails to assist effectively.
The difficulty level is punishing, with players frequently dying from unseen enemies or overwhelming odds, leading to frustration.

story
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
70%
7%
The game's story, set during the Vietnam War, is generally well-received for its emotional depth and historical authenticity, featuring letters exchanged with family and archival footage that enhance the narrative experience. However, many players find the gameplay frustrating due to game-breaking bugs, a lack of save points, and unfair difficulty spikes, which detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. While the narrative is engaging and offers a unique perspective on the war, the execution of missions often leads to repetitive and challenging gameplay that can overshadow the storytelling elements.
- “It's fun, worth the price, and definitely has a story that gets you emotionally connected to it and the characters.”
- “Great single player story mode highlighting some of the major battles marines faced in Vietnam.”
- “For those who love a story-driven FPS with Vietnam being the narrative, then you will love this!”
- “Largely forgettable story and characters.”
- “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.”
gameplay
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its tense and realistic mechanics, particularly the innovative healing system, while others criticize its clunky controls, repetitive environments, and mediocre gunplay. Many reviews highlight the game's historical accuracy and immersive setting, but note that the overall experience can be frustrating due to outdated mechanics and poor AI. Ultimately, it appeals to those seeking a Vietnam War-themed shooter, especially if they can overlook its shortcomings.
- “The gameplay moves along at a brisk pace and is a worthy play for anybody looking to scratch the itch of a game with a Vietnam War setting.”
- “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.”
- “Game itself is just a janky Ghost Recon without any of the squad mechanics, and set in linear corridors.”
- “It feels quite clunky; your movements, your weapon selection, and some scenarios can leave the player extremely frustrated with situations that you fail because of the game mechanics.”
- “Between the unbelievably slow gameplay, the catastrophic handling, the bugs, and the activated cheaters level, this game is just unplayable.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
54%
14%
The graphics of the game, while considered dated by today's standards, were impressive for a 2004 release, showcasing a detailed jungle environment and realistic character designs that enhance immersion. Many players appreciate the game's aesthetic and atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding enemy spawn mechanics and technical issues like low framerate. Overall, the visuals are seen as a strong point, particularly for a Vietnam War-themed shooter, though they could benefit from modern updates.
- “The design: awesome concept, awesome graphics, and very well done details on uniforms.”
- “Game graphics are great considering the year it was released.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good or at least better than I expected.”
- “Some of the graphics look very dated (even for 2004).”
- “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.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
33%
11%
The music in the game has received praise for its strong soundtrack, which includes both period-accurate songs and orchestral compositions that enhance the immersive experience of the Vietnam War setting. While some users noted that certain tracks evoke a low-budget kung-fu movie vibe, many appreciated the cinematic quality and nostalgic feel of the music, particularly the licensed tracks from the era. Overall, the sound design, including ambient effects and weapon sounds, complements the music well, contributing to a compelling audio experience.
- “The game also makes pretty good use of some classic songs across its campaign.”
- “The soundtrack is perfect and especially the radio music in the bases and vehicles of the Americans is a best of the 60s and gives me even today some cool vibes.”
- “His music in the game is astonishing, immersive, and majestic.”
- “The soundtrack sounds more like a low-budget kung-fu movie rather than Vietnamese music.”
- “The ambiance is alright for its age and the gunfire is so-so, but what I really want to talk about is the soundtrack!”
- “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.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
35%
47%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, particularly on older consoles like the Xbox Original, where players report constant crashes and lack of controller support. Many users experience significant performance issues, including stuttering and bugs that hinder gameplay, although some have found partial fixes through community guides. Overall, the game is deemed unplayable for most unless they are willing to endure these technical difficulties.
- “You will also have to suffer some heavy performance stutters while playing due to the game's vsync, which can be partially fixed by going into the config file.”
- “Performance issues (just an fyi): running this game at 1920x1080 in fullscreen mode caused the frame rate to stutter at an unplayable rate.”
- “It feels as if there were no optimizations made for current gen hardware.”
- “Horrible optimization for an Xbox original with no controller support and constant crashes.”
- “Performance issues on modern systems and infrequent checkpoints make this a game that should be avoided by all but the most avid of masochists.”
- “It feels as if there were no optimizations made for current-gen hardware.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game's stability is generally criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, including issues like crashes, freezes, and problematic cut-scenes that hinder progression. While some players find enjoyment despite these flaws, others report significant frustration, particularly with unclear instructions and design issues. Overall, the game is seen as a nostalgic experience that may appeal to those willing to overlook its technical shortcomings.
- “Runs great on Windows 10; 1920x1080 resolution is available!”
- “I've only played it a short while, but there are no glitches, crashes, or silly issues.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive depiction of the Vietnam War, featuring detailed environments, authentic weaponry, and effective voice acting that enhances the experience. Many players appreciate the atmospheric elements reminiscent of classic war films, with lush graphics and realistic soundscapes contributing to the overall intensity of gameplay. However, some users note that despite the strong atmosphere, frustrations with other game aspects may detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “First of all, I loved the game's atmosphere.”
- “The environments are very well detailed, with lush forestry, reflective water, devastating fires, and atmospheric mist.”
- “It captures the atmosphere of films like Apocalypse Now!”
- “Instead, expect intense firefights and a heavy dose of 'Nam atmosphere.”
- “Sure, the game's storytelling, atmosphere, and setting are its strong suits.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting a deep connection to the story and characters, particularly through the poignant letters of a young African American boy drafted into the Vietnam War. Reviewers highlight the heartfelt narrative and its ability to evoke strong feelings, making the experience both impactful and immersive. Overall, the game successfully engages players on an emotional level, leaving a lasting impression.
- “It's fun, worth the price, and definitely has a story that gets you emotionally connected to it and the characters.”
- “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 ciggie and I haven't smoked in years, it's that good, a bit real) but no glitches, crashes, or silly stuff.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization strategy of the game has received criticism for being perceived as a cash grab, with players noting the lack of ads during gameplay and the inability to move while ads are displayed. Additionally, some users expressed disappointment over the absence of features like aiming down sights, suggesting that the game feels like a rushed port from console without meaningful enhancements.
- “They just ported it across from console and left it there as a cash grab.”
- “You cannot move while ads are playing, but you can lean.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect frustrating due to the punishing damage system that leads to quick deaths, coupled with a tedious bandaging mechanic that feels forced and exacerbates the challenge. This combination creates a repetitive cycle of healing and dying, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Difficulties don't matter; you get killed almost instantly the moment you take damage. There's a bandaging mechanic that is just tedious and forced on you every time you get shot. If you don't bandage, you lose even more HP over time, meaning you're just going to die sooner.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged. It often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of progress.”
- “I find the grinding mechanics to be overly punishing. Instead of feeling rewarding, it just becomes a chore that detracts from the overall experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its hilarity, particularly in the exaggerated animations of characters during cutscenes, which some players find amusing despite the less appealing character models up close. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the experience.
- “I'm so cross because I still like it, hilariously.”
- “The water and fire effects were the most appealing, the downside being character models up close and the hilariously overly animated character during cutscenes.”