Medal of Honor: Underground (2000). Play online

Summary

Medal of Honor: Underground drops you into the early days of WWII with Manon Batiste, a French resistance operative modeled after real OSS heroine Hélène Deschamps Adams. Her story gives the series a personal, gritty feel that contrasts the more militaristic approach of the original game.

The title expands the usual foot‑soldier combat: you’ll dismantle safes, hijack motorcycles, and even take on tanks and half‑tracks across seven varied missions. A quirky, non‑canon bonus level—"Panzerknacker Unleashed"—lets you battle zombie‑like soldiers, weaponized dogs and giant nutcracker robots, showcasing the developers’ willingness to experiment.

Developed by DreamWorks Interactive before its re‑branding to EA Los Angeles, the game’s score was crafted by Michael Giacchino, whose dual themes echo both national resolve and Manon’s personal struggle. The soundtrack earned multiple accolades, winning Best Sound at the 2000 IGN awards and Sound Design honors from the AIAS.

Critics praised the PlayStation version for its fresh perspective, rewarding gameplay and polished audio, dubbing it a satisfying evolution of the Medal of Honor formula.

Storyline

Medal of Honor: Underground drops players into occupied France in 1940, where the Nazi‑German army and the collaborationist Vichy regime control the streets. The story follows French Resistance commander Manon Batiste, who first tries to help her brother Jacques during a daring heist. Jacques is killed in the attempt, pushing Manon deeper into the underground fight.
Recruited by the American OSS, she is sent across North Africa and Europe to sabotage Milice operations and thwart Nazi invasion plans. Her missions range from covert sabotage to direct assaults, striking at the heart of the occupiers. In 1944 Manon returns to Paris, joining the final liberation and avenging Jacques’s death.