The war-torn world of of Operation Flashpoint Red River has finally arrived on Playstation 3. The newest release in the Flashpoint series by Codemasters. Red River is different from previous games in the series. You command a squad team of Marines while traversing some of the toughest areas of Tajikistan.
There are very few releases that can claim the title of tactical military shooter and actually deliver. Codemasters’ franchise has been the forerunner for tactical shooters for a very long time. Which each new release in the series, the experience becomes more realistic.
Flashpoint: Red River takes a different approach this time. Being stationed in Tajikistan (middle-east), things are quiet different from fighting in Alaska. In Red RIver, you will stay in Tajikistan for your complete tour. With beautiful scenery and an action-packed single-player campaign, you will feel overwhelmed by the realism.
The single player-campaign is narrated from beginning to end and it never leaves you second-guessing your objective. Even your soldiers and the other companies that either join or support you in combat will interact and/or talk to you while in combat. The feeling this creates during combat must be experienced to be appreciated.
The combat is gritty, raw, and almost surreal in nature. The one shot, one kill factor applies here and should not be taken lightly. This isn’t your daddy’s Call of Duty either; it’s an in-you-face combat experience that is as realistic as they come.*Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with the CoD series. Operation Flashpoint is just a different animal and simply cannot be compared.
OF:RR allows you to build the ideal team for combat; this includes your character. There are four different classes to choose from when developing your character. You can pick from Rifleman, Grenadier, Scout and Automatic Rifleman. Each comes with its own traits and selection of weapons.
That’s not the best part; each class will earn experience both online and offline during combat missions. Plus, there are skill points to help further develop your character and the classes. Once you reach a certain level for a specific class, additional gear, weapons and talents will unlock. 0What makes this feature so important is the replayability it adds to each class. There is never a dull moment with all these different features at your disposal. Depending on the class you choose, the experience is never the same.
OF:RR has a seamless GUI (Graphic User Interface) and it never pulls you from the combat experience, not even to radio in a target or to change a weapon. Everything is done in real-time with no breaks; in this war game, it’s work together or die.
There are no fancy bunny hopping techniques here; if you’re taking fire, you must either take cover or dig in deep to survive. Veterans of Operation Flashpoint will feel right at home and beginners will find little to worry about. OF:RR isn’t just for the hardcore; it has multiple difficulty settings and easy starter tutorials that will make you a fire team leader in no time.
Each weapon has it own unique look and feel; this includes both issued weapons and non-issued weapons you encounter in the field. The core mechanics are the same; you have complete control over your fire team and the orders they follow. By using the L2 Button, you can open a radial menu that will dispense orders at will.
The micromanaging aspect of OF: RR makes winning the war/battle all up to you. The AI does a good job of taking the place of the thinking, but it’s not the most efficient way. The A.I isn’t perfect and just like you, it can make critical mistakes when judging the safest cover positions and so on.
The graphics in OF:RR are by far the best in the series. The terrain looks photo realistic, making you feel like the war is happening in your living room.
The campaign is setup in days; each day is a new mission and there are 10 missions / days in total. You will spend your entire tour in Tajikistan. OF:RR offers about ten hours of actual gameplay. Depending on how long you spend during each mission – and which difficulty setting you choose – the experience can be much longer.
There’s endless hours of narrated speech; the communication that occurs between you, your team, and your commanding officer is seamless. It really feels like you’re part of the experience.
Whether you’re a rookie or a veteran of the Flashpoint series, this is one combat sim that can be enjoyed by all. OF:RR never gives the impression that you’re being led by the hand or being pushed through an objective with a cheesy story tacked on as an afterthought.
If you have been looking for a true combat experience then look no further; your wish has been granted.
James ‘ Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: Playstation 3
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Codemasters
ESRB: M (Mature)
Price: $59.99
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| As realistic as they come; nothing but the best when it comes to the OFP series. | |
| Sound |  |
| Great voice acting and plenty of narrative. | |
| Gameplay | |
| Outstanding combat with plenty of in-your-face action. One shot, instant kill. Oorah! | |
| Overall |  |
|---|---|
| If you haven’t played any of the games in the OFP series, I suggest starting with Operation Flashpoint: Red River. | |
