Additions to games are like unexpected sequels to your favorite movies: sometimes they expand and deepen the universe, and sometimes they seem like extra chapters added just for the sake of quantity. "Medal of Honor: Allied Assault - Breakthrough" refers to the second type. It's still the same "Allied Assault", but with new missions and a matching entourage. Not bad? In general, yes. Is it necessary? The issue is moot.
This time, the player takes command of Sergeant John Baker, a soldier of the American army. Unlike Mike Powell from the original, who had to participate in many interesting operations, Baker is mainly engaged in advancing Allied forces along the Italian front.
We start with a mission in Tunisia, then participate in the landing in Sicily, move deep into Italy and eventually take part in the bloody battles on the Gustav line and in the Battle of Monte Cassino. The developers have studied the historical material well, but the presentation of the story has not changed much compared to the original - everything is served through short dialogues that prepare for the next mission.
The main problem with the plot is that it exists. It just exists. He doesn't offer any emotional moments, unexpected twists, or deep character studies. Baker remains a faceless soldier who is simply thrown from one point of conflict to another. Although there doesn't seem to be anything to find fault with, remembering the games about the Second World War of those years. Back then, plots were secondary in such games. The gameplay remains unchanged: it's still the same shooter formula of the early 2000s, where the player runs through corridor levels and methodically shoots enemies.
But if the original missions were diverse and filled with drama (at least in some way), then everything is a little different here. At the beginning, there was a classic desert campaign in North Africa, then street battles in Sicily, and at the end- intense battles in the mountains. Everything seems to sound interesting, but in the process it feels like a series of repetitive tasks.
Yes, it's an add-on, and it's pointless to demand a technological breakthrough from it. However, "Breakthrough" is visually no different from the 2002 original (or I just didn't notice), which makes it slightly outdated and secondary. The level design is quite good: the Tunisian desert, the ruined cities of Italy and the Monte Cassino mountain fortifications look quite atmospheric. But the textures, character models, and animations themselves are all the same "Allied Assault". A little more detail, slightly improved lighting, but there are no drastic changes.
"Medal of Honor: Allied Assault - Breakthrough" is not a bad addition, but it's not an outstanding addition either. It doesn't bring anything fundamentally new to the series, except a change of scenery. All this would be fine if the game offered an exciting storyline or memorable missions, but this, alas, is not the case.
As a result, the project turned out to be a walk-through. You can play, but only for the sake of just getting to know the new theater of military operations. It's just another set of missions that takes place without much enthusiasm.
6 out of 10.
