Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

I will say this is an amazing fps combat sim. The level of realism is set above and beyond most anything else released. If you are looking for the next thing to top COD-style fast action, this is not what you're looking for. Yes, I like most other people am looking very forward to the Modern Warfare 2 release, but not every fps needs to be compared to it again and again.

This game is very simular to the original Rainbow Six (non-Vegas) or SOCOM from the PS2 era. The combat is slower and tactical based. You command your fireteam with a decent range, but simple to use commands. They include surpressing fire, assault on targets, wepons free, etc. You can also call in various Air and Artillery strikes as part of your attack. So far, missions are straight to the point: covert search and destroy, eliminate all hostiles, clear and secure command posts, etc. But I'm only a couple hours into the game, and have a lot more to explore. The free-roam ability is a very nice touch to the overall gameplay. The outdoor terrain is vast and gives you a lot of options for plans of attack or escape.

Again, the biggest strength of this game is realism. If the following examples do not sound challenging, then this game will not be for you:

-Engaging the enemy at average of 100-400 meters, Sometimes only with iron sights.
-When you take a bullet the screen doesn't just turn red while you wait to respawn health. The impact will stun you if it doesn't kill you.
-You cannot unload your sidearm as fast as you can tap your finger. It does portray the recoil of a .45 and you need precious moments to resight your target.

This game is a great shooter that offers a different style gameplay. The controls are very intuitive and took almost no time to get used to. I have not tried the multiplayer/online game modes, so I have no reviews on that aspect. No, there is no real backstory to your character, you just jump into each mission. No, you will not run and gun your way straight to each objective until you complete the level. Please do your research before dropping $50+ bucks on a game before assuming it was going to be like another game you really, really like.

Pros:
-One of the few tactical-based FPS on the market
-Expansive enviroments seem like a battlefield, you're not locked into a set path
-Realistic damage makes you plan carefully, and more intense when you need to move

Cons:
-Gameplay is not for everyone
-Taking a stray bullet to the chest or head and restarting checkpoints can get frustrating
-Some objectives are governed by unspecified time restraints, resulting in a no-warning mission failure.

Overall:
Rent this game if you're unsure you'd like it. It's not the next Halo or COD, nor was it ever advertised to be. The intesity and accomplishment is multiplied knowing you can't just simply rush point B from point A. One bullet can kill you, three bullets definately will. You will always need to think before your next move. This game is very entertaining if you can plan a mission and adapt/react when it all goes wrong.

This game is good the graphics are adequate. The map is amazing and expansive but that is where the good stuff ends. The game is incredibly difficult which is ok to a level but combined with the glitches and poorly written mission scripts. It is frustrating at best. This game needs to be modded into something so much better. Codemasters did the work with the map and the game but the writing is poor. Good concept but poor game.

My first five minutes of gameplay went something like this:

Jog 2KM to target.

Get shot once in the head by an enemy around 500 yards away.

Restart the mission.

Now that isn't bad, but the game does a poor job of starting you out and allowing you to become familiar with the controls. While the realism is wonderful, it isn't for everyone. There are also a number of occasion where you will have to go to the internet to find out why you keep failing a mission. Since there is no way you can discover an unmentioned time limit, objective or the like. My biggest problem with the game is the terrible save points. You will spend sometimes an hour moving into position, setting up an assault, only to have a random enemy notice you and kill you with a lucky shot. And then you start all over at the last check point, which is terrible. This game could have been greatly improved by the ability to save on demand, it is not as if the PS3 lacks the hardware ability to do this.

The weapons are interesting and a good mix and add to the realism. And amazingly the AI, enemy and allies, is surprisingly good. The missions are also fairly interesting and varied, though there is nothing about the story or characters that makes me care. This game's major selling point is its realism, but that is no reason to just skip on story and plot. The controls for managing your squad are also fairly good, though the order wheel is very slow. This will inevitable get you killed and you will have to try again from the last checkpoint.

I'd recommend this game as a rental for most people. The gameplay isn't for everyone and is nothing like most FPS like Call of Duty.