Operation Flashpoint: Red River

1. StigHunter

   Jun 15, 2011

   10

   I specifically signed up on metacritic just to submit this review. Red River is a significant improvement over Dragon Rising. I evenI specifically signed up on metacritic just to submit this review. Red River is a significant improvement over Dragon Rising. I even reinstalled DR just to be sure. I DO miss the editor, but even that was not great in DR compared to ARMA 2. The movement and control of your people is much more accurate and just feels better then in DR where I feel like I'm walking around in mud. The re-playability is terrific and makes you want to try the different soldier classes just to be able to unlock more weapon options. The tracer ricochet effects are well done as are the echo effects of the guns firing. There are some annoyances however such as: you can't skip the long ingress or egress of the missions where you have to listen to Knox rambling about his 10 rules to live by while riding in the back of your transport, be it a chopper or truck. You CAN skip the campaign intro movies however. Another issue and perhaps the biggest in the game (yes even after the latest patch) is the trouble of your AI constantly walking in front of you while you are engaging the enemy. I wish the dev's would/could make it so that if you are aiming, the squad AI wouldn't move in front of you. They HAVE fixed the issue with your squad AI not taking cover when being attacked. At least it's significantly better then before the patch! I find the best option when playing with AI controlled squad-mates is to just tell them to hold position at a nearby wall or structure. That seems to keep them safe'ish and out of your way! The scenic vistas are well done as is the heat effect coming from the ground. Really makes it feel more believable. I even like the banter between the different company's: Alpha, Bravo (you), and Charlie. The real focus of the game is the multiplayer, in which case you don't have to worry about the issues I mentioned regarding the AI. If you want to take a break from the fairly lengthy campaign missions there are a number of Fire Team Engagements for you to test your skills in both single and multiplayer. Sometimes it's a nice change, and the missions for the most part are much shorter, but you can still level up you character! Almost every time I play the game I see something new that impresses me. You'll see enemies come to the aid of others who are down but not dead, and you're own squad mates will actually USE a grenade launcher if so equipped to take out a vehicle or whatnot. It's really quite impressive when you see them switch to their secondary weapon to clear a building if it's more appropriate. There are still some issues that need to be addressed, but for someone who likes an FPS with a modern combat focus this is a great option.… Expand

   • 6 of 15 users found this helpful
2. Achtung

   Apr 29, 2011

   8

   If you are looking for a tactical shooter it is a good game. it is not as hardcore as Arma 2. The story is a realistic could be scenario. ItIf you are looking for a tactical shooter it is a good game. it is not as hardcore as Arma 2. The story is a realistic could be scenario. It is not a roller coaster ride like COD. The game has a skillpoint system which i think doesn't fit in a realistic shooter. For example, in the beginning your fieteams sniper doesn't hit anything, wich is a bit strange for a trained US marine sniper.
   Funny comments from your in game staff sergeant.… Expand

   • 3 of 9 users found this helpful
4. captainloveprod

   Jul 8, 2011

   7

   Bought this title a month ago, on a whim. Not a fan of Codemasters titles. I think their a poor mans version of BI studio's.
   
   I struggled withBought this title a month ago, on a whim. Not a fan of Codemasters titles. I think their a poor mans version of BI studio's.
   
   I struggled with this game for 2 weeks. Thinking it was a poor substitute for ARMA. But as I struggled. I found myself liking it's little things.
   
   It's not a great game. But it does have it's moments. Like ARMA it's hard to pick up. But once you get beyond it's flaws and play it. It's suddenly becomes hard to put down. I would suggest this to people who, have tired of the mainstream shooter market. And want to move down a more intelligent path. Keep up the good work Codemasters. You haven't beaten BI studios yet. But you may become a worthy opponent yet.… Expand

   • 3 of 6 users found this helpful
5. lastfox

   Sep 26, 2018

   4

   As someone who enjoyed even the 'maligned' predecessor, this was more of a letdown.
   I liked the change of environment, it's too bad that it'sAs someone who enjoyed even the 'maligned' predecessor, this was more of a letdown.
   I liked the change of environment, it's too bad that it's never used to create a different experience like Dragon Rising.
   Unfortunately the campaign is very short (they get shorter with every game). The levels feel too repetitive because three of them play in the same area. They didn't make much use of the geography. The game just ends on a whimper, with no feeling towards a big endgame or something important. Seriously the last level in this would have been a side mission or a mod in the old OPF.
   Most missions also consist of defending a base. There's very little in terms of dynamic gameplay or improvising on the spot.
   The whole thing felt too scripted, starting with the annoying banter between the sergeant and the soldiers. It's eye-rolling in the beginning and gets almost unbearable after the third chapter. That there is no option to either cut it short or to speed up time like in the predecessors. That is a huge factor why I don't like replaying this game.
   
   I know that OPF's priorities never were about story or story-telling, which in my opinion is a good thing, especially nowadays where the market is flooded with games who have only story and zero gameplay. But the story shouldn't become bro-talk like Call of Duty and have some sense of urgency.
   The command menu is altered to a detriment, it never felt intuitive and till the end I had to struggle with it, in retrospect I barely used it and always told my soldiers to follow me.
   Another flaw is the aiming and shooting which was pretty damn good on the previous game. Here they kind of changed it for no apparent reason. It's also annoying when enemies keep running at you even when you keep unloading, I thought we left this stuff behind in the 90's.
   
   It's a shame. This game had potential with the right level design and better controls.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. jazzif

   Jun 21, 2011

   2

   As soon as i was thrown into the game i was met by boring dialog and characters that couldn't spit out a sentence without swearing or sayingAs soon as i was thrown into the game i was met by boring dialog and characters that couldn't spit out a sentence without swearing or saying something that just dulled the environment. I love Arma 2 and everything about it including the editor and REAL sandbox feel. Red River is vaporware so even if you do manage to play it without falling asleep there is no replay value other than the lame skill system.
   
   It is all razzle dazzle as the graphics are pretty good but that's about all they seemed to care about with Red River. Bullet impacts aren't realistic though and ballistics are just a mess. This game is arcade through and through and corridor to the core. It is so corridor that most of the time you are riding in the back of a vehicle listening to useless banter by a character that just was boring. The AI walks out into the open and crosses firing lanes randomly, there is no cover system and objects that are shot simply explode into nothing instead of breaking apart. I shot a wagon object once and it just popped out of existence.
   
   So all in all this game was obviously rushed with no sense of imagination or invention. NOTHING is original other than its ability to quite possibly be the worst game I have every played in its genre. It is the first game i have ever bothered to take back for a refund and I will be very very cautious to ever purchase any other future titles.
   
   Once you make one amazing title and it sticks for years, why make Red River? Why not stick to what worked for you and continue building onto it? Save your money and time and buy pong or something because this title took a nose dive before the first package was opened.
   
   Jazzif
   Just some random gamer!… Expand

   • 3 of 5 users found this helpful
7. WhiteRabbit

   Nov 29, 2011

   0

   I don't think points should be awarded for trying. This is probably the worst game I've ever played. In fact, that's probably it's one appeal.I don't think points should be awarded for trying. This is probably the worst game I've ever played. In fact, that's probably it's one appeal. It's so terrible it's interesting to see just how bad it it. Though I was offered the game for free, the price does not justify the lost time it takes to see this games details spread over an obnoxiously long time. Clearly, there will be no sequel.… Expand

   • 2 of 3 users found this helpful
8. Incorruptible

   Apr 29, 2011

   0

   Not only have Codemasters failed to address the evils of Dragon Rising, they have added in new problems - friendly AI on castor wheels whoNot only have Codemasters failed to address the evils of Dragon Rising, they have added in new problems - friendly AI on castor wheels who don't stay where you want them (and have a habit of shimmying through your firelane); terribly long, expletive ridden and highly boring diatribes by your Staff Sgt (who seems to mysteriously wield the same kind of authority as a platoon commander without the commission); and graphics that were last seem in UT '04.
   
   Not only this, but the lack of PvP and cookie-cutter scenarios will wear out quickly, and with little to no ability to mod the game, Codemasters has aimed lower and still failed to hit the mark. Avoid like the bubonic plague.… Expand

   • 10 of 13 users found this helpful

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