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I have only played this game for a few hours.
Likes:
Graphics are well rendered and the backgrounds look very life like.
You get the pink mist when one shoots enemies.Weapons are rendered well as are vehicles.
Sound is good I had no problems hearing commands.Good soundtrack when one is riding in Hummers.
Gameplay is fun the controls differ from Dragon Rising.I liked how the game plays.Riding around during the first mission with evryone chatting and then a IED taking out a vehicle.Then having to secure a perimeter to do a CASEVAC brought back memories for me from my tour.The smack talking by AI teamates is amusing and also brought back memories.
Combat can get intense one bullet in the right spot and you are done.Cover is important as a bullet can bounce back off a wall and kill you.No hiding out and healing like other games.You have to bandage yourself or you will bleed out.
Enemies will try to surpress and flank you.One must adjust for bullet drop, unlike COD no 1000 meter handgun kills.
Squad command is very important to success in this game.I am still learning the commands at this time.I also like that the enemy will fall back if enough firepower is brought upon them.Once enemies are eliminated no more surprises.Unlike other games where the keep coming until you move up.
One can also get unlocks and can customize their loadout which is a improvement over Dragon rising.
Dislikes:So far my only gripe is the poor friendly AI.
They have a bad habit of running in front of you and getting shot.And I found I have to give commands multiple times til they comply.
Multiplayer:Internet in my area is poor so I cannot give a review of online play.
Unlike Dragon Rising Fireteam engagments are online only.I was a little bummed by that.I do believe to get the max from this game one should play co-op with friends.
Thoughts:So far this game is a great FPS/Sim.It gave me plenty of realism with movement to contact and intense combat.Most COD and SOCOM fans won't like this game IMHO.As one has to think and use teamwork to be successful as it is done in the real world.If one can get three dedicated friends to play co-op it should be quite the time.Your Squad's callsign is "Outlaw" which was my Platoons callsign in Iraq that brought a smile to my face and made me miss my friends.
I try not to be the Military guy who trashes games.I play for fun first and foremost and this game is fun.
I will update as I play so others can make informed purchases.
Update 6-9-11
I have not made it to the PLA missions yet.I find this game very challenging on Hardcore.
Enemy AI is good though they tend to run into the open at times.Engagement ranges from distance to CQB in towns.Clearing buildings is fun and you need to be quick or else.
Friendly AI still runs in the line of fire so one gets to use med packs quite a bit LOL.
So far I have found no lag in frame rates.Graphics are better on some things than others.
During a controlled detonation the explosion was rendered very life like with smoke rising like it should.
I now have team commands down which make the game more fun.
The learning curve is not bad at all, be patient and you'll be fine.there is a lot of cussing but that is how Grunts talk.Weapon sounds are a little lacking but should not deter one from buying this game.
I do hope the campaign is of decent length which seems to be lost in gaming today.
Note:No Vehicle missions yet,will update if that changes.Weapons jam which add to the realism.
If you ever wondered what the Brave men and women go through fighting insurgents this is the game for you.
This is a very good military sim for consoles not quite ARMA but a good way to get ones interest in the Genre.
Take the time thank Veterans.
Update 6-11-11
PLA missions are tough going.Stuck on a level where you have to hold off a Mechanized Infantry attack.
Vehicles are rendered very well.Someone at THQ did their homework as the PLA deployed by the book with Infantry advancing with APCs in support.
No vehicle missions yet will post if there are.I recommend playing on hardcore to really get the rush of playing this game.
Vehicle missions happen after the first PLA mission.Good detail of the interior controls are easy to use.
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This review is coming from a person who dislikes Activision's Call of Duty franchise, but loves EA's Battlefield franchise. Also, I thought Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising was not very good, though in some circles it is thought of as superior to this, which is fine. If simply comparing Dragon Rising to Red River, Dragon Rising is the more hardcore of the two, I think.The bad:
Sgt. Knox is more of a Drill Instructor (these are Marines) than a true leader. He threatens and curses nearly all the time. I understand that there are moments that a leader needs to be hard on his men, but this is ridiculous. While it lends itself as not necessarily improving the "realism" when you are in his presence, it is often times humorous and entertaining the first time through.
As well as Sgt. Knox is concerned, I know little or nothing of my squad mates. I'm not sure if they just threw this squad together at the last minute or what, but I found myself not really caring or feeling regret if one of them died. All those long vehicle rides and I don't get to learn anything from the people I am commanding? I thought it would have been a nice touch to find out certain things about them. I think I might have "worked" a little extra hard to keep them alive (using the command a little carefully). I know it's not really real, but knowing Barletto has a newborn baby or Soto had a rough first tour of duty may have been kind of cool. Though, seriously, this is very minor stuff. Instead I command 3 robot type characters void of emotion.
The lack of competitive multiplayer is disappointing, but if it was going to be as bad as Dragon Rising, they made the right call. I can't help but think that a really well executed multiplayer would really boost this game [franchise] to the near top of the ranks. It's not COD or BATTLEFIELD, but I do believe there is a niche for these types of games. Squads of live players using tactics against other live players with a more real feel (no full magazine to drop enemies or quickscoping or any of that nonsense that plagues today's most popular FPS Multiplayers). I wouldn't even mind if it was 4 vs. 4 on a decent map. ANYTHING. Thankfully, they have Co-op mode where you can team up with buddies and play the AI. Heck, if Ubisoft can make a good multiplayer mode from Assassin's Creed series (a game I previously thought would be impossible to implement), Codemasters should be able to do it for this.
The good:
I love the Tajikistan setting. I found Dragon Rising to be a little dull because of the Skira Island setting. The setting in the middle east "feels" newer and fresh and current. Not much more to say about this.
The command menu is MUCH better than Dragon Rising. It's not nearly as cumbersome and after a single mission, you start memorizing some of the commands by reflex and really becomes a natural part of your gameplay. Instead of taking time to put the "point" behind a wall then look up to make sure you issue a hold position command, it becomes nearly reflex [up, right]. The quick ability to select one person of your squad to issue commands to is very nice. Move as a team or select certain people to put in certain positions. It is pretty cool to issue a command to secure a building and your team just goes about its business and starts clearing rooms and hearing that communication, slightly "humanizing" your squad.
Everything else is very well done. The missions appear to be actual missions you would perform in the middle east (clearing towns, protecting convoys and EOD teams, setting up a defensive position against enemies in trucks that are coming that you got from intel from your chain of command). The graphics are very nicely done long range, as there are some breathtaking views on the horizon. I've read that the graphics up close are not that good. I would honestly argue they are on par with COD (to me, COD can appear flat, or without depth at times).
The biggest thing for me is the no nonsense story and presentation. While it's not perfect (see above), for me, it beats the Hollywood theatrics that Call of Duty enlists and Bad Company 2 tries to mimic in their campaigns. In this sense, this is incredibly real, though holding a medpack in front of you magically fixes everything is not.
For consoles, this might be the most realistic shooter you can get, aside from Dragon Rising. Reviewed from PS3 version. This is nothing like ARMA II or those ultra realistic games, so keep that in mind if you love that side of the fence. This game fills that niche between ARMA II/OPF CWC and Bad Company series. This is pretty much where I fall and what I want from a military FPS.
Thanks for reading.
Score: 8/10.
Buy Operation Flashpoint: Red River Now
Having played Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising I was hesitant to even try this game. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the problems that were prevelant in Dragon Rising had been dealt with in Red River. For one, running in this game doesn't make you motion sick because it doesn't feel like you are on a pogo stick. Second, the gun shakes about how it would in real life, unlike DR which made you think your arm was a jackhammer. The gameplay is fun and realistic without being too frustrating, and the maps are wide open, allowing you to get creative with your sight lines and angle of approach. All in all, definately good for someone looking to try for a change of pace from the usual Battlefield and CoD.Read Best Reviews of Operation Flashpoint: Red River Here
If you got a clan or some friends to play with, this can be hella fun. If not, you will be pissed at the lack of no multi-player ... extremely realistic and very fun and a great game if your tired of the COD nonsense.hidefninja.com
Want Operation Flashpoint: Red River Discount?
The graphics are good and so is gameplay. Some parts can be difficult especially when you have to control your fireteam. AI suck unless you are constantly giving them commands. Despite that, this is an overall a great game for first person shooter fans.
