Medal of Honor: Rising Sun

Game Overview

In Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, players take on the role of Marine Corporal Joseph Griffin. The narrative opens amidst the devastation of December 7, 1941, as Griffin fights his way through the burning decks of the USS California during the air raid on Pearl Harbor. Following the attack, Griffin is assigned to covert operations across the Pacific, fighting through dense jungles, tropical islands, and occupied cities—including the battles of Guadalcanal, the raid on Makin Atoll, Singapore, and the Philippines. Gameplay features authentic period weaponry, environmental jungle warfare, covert infiltration, and squad navigation. In addition to a full 2-player cooperative campaign, Rising Sun includes extensive 4-player local split-screen multiplayer modes complete with customizable AI bots.

Quick Specifications

• Platform: Nintendo GameCube

• Developer: EA Los Angeles

• Publisher: Electronic Arts

• Release Date: November 11, 2003 (North America)

• Genre: First-Person Shooter (FPS)

• Players: 1–4 Players (2-Player Co-op Campaign / 4-Player Local Multiplayer)

• ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Key Features

• Pacific Theater Campaign: Fight through 9 historic story chapters spanning Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, the Burma superstructure, Singapore, and Yamashita's Gold.

• Full 2-Player Co-op Story: Complete the entire single-player campaign side-by-side with a friend in local 2-player split-screen cooperative mode.

• 4-Player Split-Screen Multiplayer: Compete in deathmatches with up to four players on a single console, featuring configurable bot opponents, custom rules, and classic maps.

• Authentic WWII Pacific Arsenal: Master era-appropriate weaponry including the M1 Garand, Thompson SMG, Type 99 Arisaka rifle, Welrod silenced pistol, and mounted Browning M2 machine guns.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Can you play the campaign in co-op mode?

Yes! Medal of Honor: Rising Sun fully supports 2-player local split-screen cooperative play for its entire campaign, allowing two players to complete objectives and battle together.

Does the GameCube version support multiplayer bots?

Yes! In 4-player local split-screen multiplayer modes, players can fill empty player slots with customizable AI bots to create large-scale combat engagements.

How does health regeneration work in Rising Sun?

Like its predecessor Frontline, Rising Sun utilizes a classic non-regenerating health system. Players must collect medical canteens and field surgeon packs found throughout levels to restore health.

Is there a sequel to Rising Sun?

Rising Sun was originally intended to be the first of a two-part story, ending on a cliffhanger where Joe Griffin's brother, Donnie, is captured. While a direct sequel (Rising Sun 2) was canceled, Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault (PC) and Medal of Honor: European Assault (consoles) followed as the next entries in the franchise.