Before military shooters were all about killstreaks and wall-running, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun for the PlayStation 2 dropped you straight into the chaos of World War II with nothing but a rifle and a whole lot of patriotic energy. Released in 2003 by EA Los Angeles and published by EA Games, this entry takes the fight to the Pacific Theater—because storming the beaches is just another day on the job.

You play as U.S. Marine Joseph Griffin, battling through historic missions like the attack on Pearl Harbor, the jungles of Guadalcanal, and even an enemy-infested zoo—yes, seriously. It’s gritty, cinematic, and gloriously dramatic in that early-2000s “everything explodes” kind of way.

Multiplayer? Oh yeah—split-screen chaos with friends and bots that are about as smart as sandbags. But we didn’t come here for genius AI—we came to blast our way through bunkers, toss grenades like candy, and feel like action movie heroes wrapped in military camo.

Looking for retro games? Buy retro games on Retro Games eXchange and relive a time when Medal of Honor was the king of WWII shooters and your only backup was your little brother on Player 2.

1. Developed by EA Los Angeles, published by EA Games
2. Single-player campaign set in the Pacific Theater of WWII
3. Memorable missions including Pearl Harbor and the Philippines
4. Split-screen multiplayer for classic couch-based combat
5. Features a cinematic score by Michael Giacchino and explosive action throughout