Virtual reality is a weird medium for historical shooters. You aren't just clicking a mouse to fire a Garand; you're physically reaching to your hip, grabbing a clip, slamming it into the receiver, and hearing that iconic ping inches from your ear. Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond tried to be the definitive word on this experience. It was developed by Respawn Entertainment—the same folks behind Apex Legends and Titanfall—and it carries a massive weight of expectation. Honestly, when it launched in late 2020, people didn't know what to make of it. It was too big. It was too choppy. It felt like a 1990s game trapped in a 2020s headset.
But here’s the thing.
If you look past the awkward pacing of the early missions, there is something deeply earnest about this game that most modern shooters lack. It isn't just a "game." It’s a massive, multi-million dollar digital museum. Respawn didn't just record gun sounds; they interviewed veterans. They went to the actual locations in Europe. They created a "Gallery" mode that actually won an Oscar for the short documentary Colette. That’s a wild fact for a VR title.
The Problem with the First Hour of Medal of Honor VR
Most people quit early. I get it. The first hour of Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is a mess of short, stuttering segments. You finish a conversation, the screen goes black. You walk ten feet, the screen goes black. You shoot three guys, the screen goes black. It feels disjointed. In the VR world, "flow" is everything, and the developers at Respawn initially struggled to balance the cinematic storytelling they’re known for with the technical limitations of PCVR and Quest hardware.
The game demands a lot from your hardware, too. Initially, the storage requirement was a staggering 170GB. That’s insane for a VR game. Even today, on the Meta Quest 2 or 3, it’s a beefy install that forces you to delete almost everything else on your headset.
Why the bloat? It’s the sheer amount of high-fidelity assets and live-action video. Respawn didn't cut corners on the production value. They built a full-scale OSS campaign where you play as an agent helping the French Resistance. It’s ambitious. Maybe too ambitious for the tech we had when it dropped. But if you stick with it past the first two "tours," the levels open up. You aren't just in small rooms anymore; you're on sinking battleships and skiing down snowy mountains while firing an SMG. It gets intense.
Authenticity vs. Playability: A Fine Line
Peter Hirschmann, the director, was one of the original creators of the 1999 Medal of Honor. He wanted this VR entry to return to the series' roots: historical reverence. This isn't Call of Duty. You don't have a glowing red dot sight on your STG-44. You have to line up the actual iron sights. You have to manually cock the bolt.
What the Gallery gets right
The "Gallery" is arguably the best part of the whole package. It features hours of 360-degree footage and interviews with World War II veterans. When you watch a survivor talk about the horrors of the war while you're standing in a VR reconstruction of that same environment, it hits different. It’s heavy. It’s not "fun" in the traditional sense, but it is profound. This is where the game earns its title. It honors the people who were actually there.
The Combat Mechanics
Combat is a mixed bag. The weapon handling is solid, but the enemy AI can be... well, let's just say they aren't tactical geniuses. They tend to stand in the open and wait for you to pop their heads. However, the VR interactions are satisfying. Throwing a grenade by actually swinging your arm or catching a German stick grenade out of mid-air and tossing it back is a rush that a standard screen just can't replicate.
There are also some "arcade" elements that feel a bit out of place. You can eat a piece of bread to regain health. It’s a bit silly to be in a life-or-death trench battle and suddenly start snacking on a baguette to heal a bullet wound, but hey, it’s a video game.
Multiplayer and the Quest Port
When the game eventually moved from PCVR (Oculus Rift/SteamVR) to the Meta Quest, a lot of people expected a disaster. How do you fit a 170GB game onto a mobile processor? The answer was a massive graphical downgrade. The lighting is flatter. The textures are muddier. But—and this is a big "but"—the gameplay remained intact.
The multiplayer mode, which includes classics like Team Deathmatch and Domination, actually found a second life on the Quest. There’s a specific mode called "Mad Bomber" where players can hide bombs anywhere in the environment, and others have to find and defuse them. It’s uniquely suited for VR because you have to physically look under tables and behind crates. It’s stressful in the best way possible.
✨ Don't miss: How to Use Parachute in GTA 5 Without Smashing Into the Pavement
Technical Hurdles You Should Know About
If you’re planning to dive into Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond today, you need to be aware of the "Victory" requirements. This isn't a casual game.
- Storage: On PC, you still need a massive amount of space. SSD is mandatory. If you try to run this off an old HDD, the loading screens will make you want to throw your headset out the window.
- VR Legs: This game features smooth locomotion. If you get motion sick easily, be careful. There are comfort settings, but the game is at its best when you’re moving fast, skiing, or jumping out of planes.
- Hardware: For the best experience, a dedicated PCVR setup (like a Valve Index or a Quest 3 via Link Cable) is superior to the standalone Quest version. The lighting in the PC version adds a layer of atmosphere—dust motes dancing in the light of a bombed-out church—that the mobile version just can't touch.
Is it worth the price tag in 2026?
Honestly, the VR market has changed. We've seen Half-Life: Alyx set the gold standard for physics and "feel." We've seen BONEWORKS and Blade & Sorcery push the boundaries of body simulation. Compared to those, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond feels a bit "old school." It’s a linear, scripted shooter.
But it’s also the only VR game that gives you this specific historical scale. You get to stand on the deck of a ship during the D-Day invasion. You get to crawl through the guts of a U-boat. It’s a series of "wow" moments strung together by some clunky UI.
The price often drops during sales. If you can snag it for half off, it’s a no-brainer. At full price? Only if you’re a die-hard history buff or a fan of Respawn’s specific brand of gunplay.
Making the Most of the Experience
To actually enjoy your time in the European theater, you have to play it the right way. Don't rush.
- Check the Gallery first. Spend twenty minutes watching the documentaries before you start the campaign. It sets the stakes and makes the missions feel less like a shooting gallery and more like a tribute.
- Turn off the HUD. If you want immersion, get rid of the floating icons. Rely on your eyes and ears.
- Use a physical stock if you have one. It’s a game-changer for long-range bolt-action rifle shots.
- Clear your room. You’ll be reaching, ducking, and throwing. Don't punch your monitor.
The game is a flawed masterpiece. It’s a bridge between the old-school "cinematic" shooters of the early 2000s and the immersive future of VR. It doesn't always stick the landing, but it’s trying so hard to be something special that you can't help but respect it.
Practical Steps for New Players
If you're ready to jump in, start by optimizing your play space. This game rewards physical movement.
- Check your space: Ensure you have at least a 6x6 foot area. You will be lunging for cover.
- Update your drivers: If you're on PC, the game is notorious for crashing on outdated GPU drivers.
- Manage expectations: Don't expect the physics of Alyx. Expect the soul of Medal of Honor.
- Download early: Given the file size, start the download the night before you actually want to play.
The campaign is roughly 10-12 hours long, which is hefty for VR. Take breaks. The "black screen" transitions are annoying, but if you can push through the first two hours, the game rewards you with some of the most memorable set pieces in the medium. It's a journey through history that, despite its quirks, reminds us why VR is such a powerful tool for storytelling.