EA's latest offering, "Medal of Honor: Warfighter," doesn't stray too far from this familiar formula. The follow-up to 2010's franchise reboot, "Warfighter" continues the story of the Tier-1 operators, the most elite fighting force in the world. A terrorist organization is plotting to use a powerful explosive to wreak havoc, and it's up to Preacher, Stump, Voodoo and the boys to snuff out the threat and make the world a safer place.

Again, none of that sounds altogether original. From the locations you visit to the countless cookie-cutter bad guys you mow down, "Warfighter" is similar to any number of other FPS titles out there. But unlike other games, developer Danger Close pulls the curtain back and reveals what happens to these soldiers when they aren't putting their lives on the line. And this is where "Warfighter" sets itself apart from the rest of the FPS field.

Danger Close worked closely with active-duty military members to gain insight on not only the way these soldiers behave on the battlefield, but how they reconcile their job with their home life. Emotional cut scenes show Preacher struggling to maintain a relationship with his wife and daughter while still trying to remain loyal to his brothers in arms, and the powerful conclusion left a lump in my throat and served as a reminder of the sacrifices these men and women make to keep us safe.

It is these moments that make "Warfighter" a far more compelling experience than the actual gunplay that dominates the campaign. That's not to say that the core game play is less than entertaining, but it had a decided "been-there, done-that" vibe. The guns, themselves, had a solid feel to them and I felt appropriately powerful popping-off headshots from a distance during the sniper missions. A couple of driving missions and some time spent in the gunner seat of an attack helicopter help keep things fresh.

In addition to the campaign, "Warfighter" features a solid multiplayer component that includes all the standard features we've come to expect from an FPS. The objective-based multiplayer games were fun and I liked many of the maps, plus the inclusion of soldiers from various nations was a nice touch, but for me "Warfighter" is best remembered for its campaign.

From a presentation standpoint, "Warfighter" earns high marks for its graphics and sound. Built on DICE's Frostbite 2.0 engine, "Warfighter" is one of the prettiest shooters I've played, and the aforementioned cut scenes are brought to life with some excellent voice work. There were some noticeable bugs, most involving poorly placed spawn locations for enemies during the campaign -- something that plagued its predecessor, as well -- but nothing that I would classify as a game-breaking flaw.

"Medal of Honor: Warfighter" isn't going to revolutionize the FPS genre with its gameplay, but it does deliver something few shooters even attempt -- heart. And for that reason alone it's worth a look from any FPS fan.

"Medal of Honor: Warfighter"

Developer: Danger Close

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Available for: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 ($59.99)

Rating: M for mature

Score: 7.8/10

Reach Jeff Rider at 304-348-5122, jri...@wvgazette.com">jri...@wvgazette.com or follow him at twitter.com/gazette_gamer.