Operation Flashpoint: Red River

[Sandbox]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

So did anybody go ahead and grab this game?

I'd be very interested to hear some impressions from you guys.

I was given the game on PC the same week it dropped in Europe. I've since finished the game.

If you like shooting gallery's you'll love this game. By the end of the game I had killed over 500 people. Which is a bit high for a Marine rifleman.
If you liked Dragon Rising but thought nah this game has far too much freedom, Id rather trade that freedom away for a tethered experience. This is the game for you.
If you like terrible, just terrible AI, get this game! When firing you'll have squadmates walk directly in front of you, if that wasn't enough they'll also turn their backs to enemies while in the middle of a firefight and generally prove ineffective.
And that's just friendly AI, when patrolling through streets you'll see enemies walk right out into the middle of the road and just stop, and sometimes they'll get stuck halfway in the walls of buildings too.
If you enjoyed Dragon Rising but thought to yourself: I wish this game was Call of Duty, the devs have heard you and have delivered with "Bmods"/Perks and linear level design.

Joking aside(not really), the developers really departed from DR. They probably should retire the Operation Flashpoint moniker since they're not interested in making sequels to that game.
Though I'll try to describe the game better. And in list form!

Pros:

• bullet physics: some of the best I've seen in a game. The drop, richochets, overall good stuff.
• uhhh, some sounds, specifically echoes off surrounding mountains was realistic
• Damage Model(best ever): very detailed, explosions from grenades blowing people open, you can literally see parts of a ribcage or skull, even bones protruding from arms, etc. Also, no more heads being blown off by 5.56 rounds ala DR.
• Co-op is fun, best part of the game.
• Inaccuracy: at least in the beginning of the game. War is stressful and it's not easy to hit enemies.
  

Meh:

• Graphics
• Gameplay: it can be fun to shoot fish in a barrel but not that fun. Hence a lack of challenge or difficulty in the campaign.
  

Cons:

• AI: pretty bad, especially in close quarters. Typically by the end of a mission the 2 other AI fireteams will be dead. At range A.I. is a bit better but like I said it's a shooting gallery.
• Sounds: Sgt. Knox and his obnoxious marine speak grows very tiring. Also FX have been muted; bullets sound quieter than Sgt. Knox.
• Long wait during beginning of missions: 1-2 minutes or so riding in a chopper or the back of a HMMV doing nothing but listening to sarge.
• Perks are stupid and terribly unrealistic.
• Severe lack of weapons: fewer than their last game
• Departure from realism.
• linear
• smells bad
• No mods: devs took mods away from this game.

I played on PC maxed out settings, Experienced mode with all 3 aiming assists turned off.

My recommendation: If you have a solid PC go ahead and purchase dragon rising unless you want a milsim in which case purchase ARMA.
Dragon Rising has some good user-made modifications which enhance the graphics, the A.I., and adds new missions.

[Guffers]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Cheers for that. Those were some great impressions and you just saved me money.

I might go ahead and buy it super cheap at a later stage. But for now I think I'll save my cash for LA Noire.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Just picked this up for the 360.......for $40 from Kmart. Had a $20 off coupon laying around and figured might as well use it on this.

[josef]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Just picked this up for the 360.......for $40 from Kmart. Had a $20 off coupon laying around and figured might as well use it on this.

I just picked it up too.. Just b/c I had $60 credit at gamestop and I wanted the "free" DLC. So far it's eh. I actually think SOCOM is a lot more fun but I'm still gonna put some time in and give this one a chance. OF:RR is a refreshing change from the standard shooter. Can't believe there's only TWO maps for the fireteam engagements.. gees.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Pretty good game. Sure at times you have some dumb AI at times, kind of like at times people become near sighted and can't see what is in front of them.

That SGT guy gets annoying pretty fast. Game tries to sell being a Marine way too much though. But I am having fun with it. Graphics are better then the last game.

IMO game tries to be like Bad Company with it's joking atmosphere and vast terrains.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

As usual the manual in the game does a bad job of explaining the controls and doesn't even get into the advanced controls.

ftp://downloads.codemasters.com/help...ing_manual.pdf

This PDF does a much better job of explaining the advanced controls of the game.

[josef]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

As usual the manual in the game does a bad job of explaining the controls and doesn't even get into the advanced controls.

ftp://downloads.codemasters.com/help...ing_manual.pdf

This PDF does a much better job of explaining the advanced controls of the game.

holy crap! thank you for that PDF! freakin sweet.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Patch came out today:

Improved stability after very long period of gameplay.
Numerous gameplay fixes, tweaks and improvements.

Improvements to the physics system.
• Physics related crashes when large explosions occur have been fixed.
• Improved the vehicle physics and handling.

Improvements to the AI pathfinding.
• We have addressed various issues with AI path finding and script logic
• AI priorities system has been changed to reduce the occurrence of AI fireteam members walking in front of the player’s line of fire. Also when the AI has no option but to cross the users line of fire audio feedback is now given.

Improvement to the audio playback system.
• We have included new audio mixes for the Humvee and helicopter. This will prevent in game speech being drowned out by the vehicle engine noise.
• Changes made to the audio system to stop the audio dropping out mid way through missions.

Graphical improvements
• Improvements have been made to the character rendering system to prevent un-textured or low LOD characters being seen.
• Numerous minor graphical issues have also been addressed.

Update to Game_Config for DLC achievements
• This has been done to all us to add 5 new achievements for the DLC “Valley of Death”

We have reduced the number of campaign checkpoints that the player can trigger in the experienced difficulty.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Half way through the game and I must say I am impressed. Graphically this game is way better looking then the last game. Your squad AI isn't as bad as reviewers say, not for the console version anyway.

Unlike the last game, this game you get to choose your weapon and the class you want to play as before the start of each mission. Over time you get to unlock new weapons and equipment. You also get to level up your marine skills such as awareness, sprint, endurance, weapon IQ, etc.

That being said I love playing as the scout aka sniper. Grant it at the beginning don't matter the class it will be kind of hard to pick people off from range with the default stuff. But once you level up your guns and scopes, it becomes a thing of beauty.

Another thing is there are 3 fire teams in the battle at all times. You however only get to control one fireteam, the other 2 is AI controlled. Where this differs from the PC version is that in the console version, the other 2 AI fireteams kick arse.

They don't die off and they don't stand around doing nothing either. They automatically hold their sector, move forward on the battlefield on their own, sweep buildings on their own. So therefore all you have to worry about is your own fireteam and stick to the mission.

What I mean by that is that all 3 fireteams work as a team. Usually the way it goes is one team works the left flank, one the middle and the other the right flank. Therefore what ever flank you get assigned to, stay on that side unless you are told other wise via radio chatter.

I have noticed browsing various website message boards, too many people play this game like it is Call of Duty and just go guns blazing leaving their assigned area and leaving the other teams flank exposed.

The cpu enemy does a very good job of exploiting open spots in the battlefield and isolating fire teams. So therefore even though it is 3 teams, you must always think as 1. Sometimes you have to cover fire for the other team as they move up or fall back.

6 missions in and I have yet to have any of the other 2 fireteams die on me. In the beginning the battles are kind of small, not much tactics involved. However as the missions go along, the battles become bigger and bigger. Fire fights become longer and longer. Tactics are definitely needed and adjusted repeatedly throughout the battle.

Which leads me to this. The enemy AI won't constantly blindly come in the same direction throughout the battle. When enough of them get killed coming through a particular route, they will change their route and work their way around to your flanks.

Explosions in this game are very good. Nothing like being in the heat of battle, then you hear a jet flying over your head and 10 seconds later see a bomb land 50 feet in front of you kicking up dirt everywhere. Or seeing an RPG flying at you and exploding all around you.

Another thing that irked me about reviewers is when they said long pauses between missions. I think people just have short attention spans or something. The helicopter and humvee rides are not that long.

The battle fields are big and vast, kind of like Battlefield Bad Company series. Where as each mission is broken up into 3 or 4 sectors of that huge map.

Sure Sgt Knox is annoying, HOWEVER if you actually listen to what he is saying, he is telling you how to improve your game. It is not just mindless blabber.

So far this game has lasted me longer then Home Front and Call of Duty Black Ops. I was able to beat both of those games in 1 day.

Is this game worth getting ? For consoles yes. If you are a PC gamer, just stick to the ARMA series.

If you are strictly an online player ? NO. Being that this game isn't Call of Duty, it doesn't sale very well so the online lobbies aren't no where near the size of Black Ops.

[briand23]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

^^ Great post. I couldnt agree more. Do you play this on PS3? If so, add me PSN: BrianD23

[josef]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

gotmadskillzson- reallly good stuff. i am feeling the same way.. the more time I put in, the better it gets. i'm having a blast with the fireteam engagement stuff too.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Just beat the game.......bought it on Tuesday, beat it on Saturday, good length of a game, considering I beat Black Ops, Home Front on the same day I bought it.

3 Acts
10 Missions

Each mission has 3 to 4 parts to it. Over all I must say I like this game more then the last game due to the fact you get to pick your own load out and can upgrade your weapons, equipment and class skill level.

Love the missions where you have air and ground support. Nothing like calling in howitzer, mortar, cobra and A-10 strikes on the enemy.

Smoke screens actually work and are effective. The enemy uses smoke screens as well.

[canes21]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Just beat the game.......bought it on Tuesday, beat it on Saturday, good length of a game, considering I beat Black Ops, Home Front on the same day I bought it.

3 Acts
10 Missions

Each mission has 3 to 4 parts to it. Over all I must say I like this game more then the last game due to the fact you get to pick your own load out and can upgrade your weapons, equipment and class skill level.

Love the missions where you have air and ground support. Nothing like calling in howitzer, mortar, cobra and A-10 strikes on the enemy.

Smoke screens actually work and are effective. The enemy uses smoke screens as well.

Have you played any online? I think all you can do is co-op right online? I might rent this, but won't buy it. I bought Dragon Rising when it was cheap because I loved playing competitive online matches with friends, not so much co-op.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Yeah it is just co-op, either co-op campaign or co-op fireteam stand alone online missions.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Wow, I am going to have to play this game again. I just realized not only are you able to change and upgrade your own weapons and equipment, but you can do your team mates weapons and equipment as well.

HOLY CRAP....

Made the game harder for myself with out realizing it, oh man it is going to be on now. Might do an all sniper team.