Operation Flashpoint: Rising Dragon (360)
Codemasters
Review
Well this was the first on the October wish list so I think I should get a wee review out on this.
What can I say, so many fond memories of the original Operation Flashpoint on the PC. The original wasn’t pretty looking(the worst shadows in game I’ve ever seen), very rigid, clunky but deadly. Still for some reason the realism and intense action this brought kept this game alive. The strongest point in Operation Flashpoints have always been the multiplayer elements. Imagine a more damage realistic Bad Company (360/ps3) or Battlefield (360/Ps3) then you have a better idea of how intense Operation Flashpoint can be (Ok I’m starting to get bored typing Operation Flashpoint so for convenience (my own) I’m going to abbreviate this to OF:DR).
So OF:DR…how did it stand up to the test of time. Well I expect this to be found in many a pre-owned or bargain bins very soon. So if you want a good deal wait until then. Being released so close to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will not be doing this game any favours but in truth…it may be a silent bonus for us players.
You see if you want to be Rambo and storm into the base guns blazing, shrugging off hits and returning fire as hails of gunfire turn rooms into Swiss cheese…DO NOT PLAY THIS. Simply put. You. Will. Die. This game is all about the realism and ok the AI sometimes can be thick as pig shit but at other times I’ve been successfully flanked and ambushed with deadly efficiency. If you like to take it slow and easy, crawling through the dirt and scoping up for the perfect snipe, adjusting for bullet drop, Calculating your moves and timings then this is for you (Think back to old school Rainbow 6 but on a open world war map).
Like I mentioned above the AI can sometime be a bit dumb and get themselves trapped or stuck but don’t get fooled by this as it will become your grave as several will soon appear behind you as other suppress fire. Vehicles are numerous and each with its own ups and downs. Personally I can drive a jeep pretty damn well but can’t fly for shit (this is noted with my team kills that jumped in my chopper the other day…sorry guys….twice).
The graphics have improved from the original as the years have passed and a lot of the basics such as movements have been polished up and made more fluid than its ridged predecessor. With these new graphical advancement creates a even richer atmosphere you’ll find yourself easily taking and hour plus to do each mission as you slowly creep to place to place and secure the best vantage point.
Co-op mode. This is the game you should be buying it for and they have done some nice things with it. if you don’t all work as a team you are doomed. Simple as that.
Each player has a number of respawns with one character taking the role of the squad leader while the others should obey his commands. If you play it like a military operation you’ll be fine and if you fuck up then the fault will lay on the bad planning of the squad leader. Although if you have friends who like to go in all guns blazing then you are screwed because Codemasters obviously thought about this and more so a way to combat doing just that. There is NO checkpoints or save points in co-op mode. So if you all die then it’s all the way back to the beginning of the mission for you.
Personally I like this but again it’s hard to find friends willing to take the proper time and care to go through missions properly instead of just seeking the action. These people should just wait for early November for COD and leave the war sims to us.
There is some things REALLY dislike about this game. For a start I normally play sniper, I’m patient and like to perch high and far away and wait for the moment to strike and calculate which person I should pick off first and then next three after him. But on single player you can’t do this at all. You always start as the squad leader with the default equipment and have to be the one giving the orders…boring.
So for people like me out there this is what you have to do. Start the mission and then find some bastard with the gun you want and beat him to death and steal his kit. Then and only then can you really think about play the game the way you want to. As much as I’m ok with this at the moment I do believe this is going to be the killer for me. I can’t think of why Codemasters fucked up on this one point that EVERY other games seems to have acknowledged and done.
Yes Yes realism…but really…come on would you rather make a few extra sales or stay real. ACTUALLY if you want realism…I obstruct! I don’t want to be a fucking squad leader…just gimme my .50 cal and leave me the fuck alone on the top of the mountain. How about that for realism. The option to NOT be squad leader.
So this is a basic rant about OF:DR, so far I’ve enjoyed it but as much as it has improved its also come with some flaws and has a long way to go before it’ll compete with the big boys. But for some multiplayer action and realism…I highly recommend it.
Shorthand
Nice realistic style war simulation, great for co-op and multiplayer but best to leave it at that. Won’t be for people looking for an action FPS, Play with your friends or online…
Pros
- +Nice detail and realism
- +Full co-op campaign
- +Some incredible AI moments
Cons
- -No equipment/role selection at mission start
- -Some terrible AI moments
- -Equipment swapping is clunky and slow
- -Only really worth playing the Multiplayer or Co-op
Buy if you like
Bad company, Battlefield 19xx, Operation Flashpoint, Rainbow 6
Rating
