Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising releases today on the 360, PS3 and PC to a number of eager fans. For those in the know, this game promises to be one of the best, but unfortunately games like this often get overlooked in the wake of super hyped games like Modern Warfare 2. In light of that fact I thought I would shine a little light on this gem and let you know exactly what to expect and why you should look at buying this game.
OF:DR is a tactical military first person shooter but unlike MW2, Dragon Rising shoots for hyper realism and unscripted events. Dragon Rising put you in command of a 4-man USMC (United States Marine Corps) fireteam. You insert with your team set forth on missions in a very open and unscripted enviorment. And by open, I mean OPEN! Dragon Rising takes place on the fiction island of Skira (based off of the island Kiska located off the coast of Japan).
The environment boasts over 100 sq miles of traversable terrain. Codemasters (the games developer) took painstaking effort to copy every inch of the island giving the player a real environment to play in, not just some generated levels. Skira is a volcanic island with a variety of terrain. At one end is a large volcano, 5.3 mi × 4.0 mi in diameter at its base and 4,010 ft high, and at the base of the volcano is a section of low lake lands. A ridge of 1,000+ foot mountains runs down one side of the western portion of the island while the other side is generally flatter with numerous lakes and small waterways.
You can go anywhere you want and approach each mission from any angle. Go in full force? or send two of your guys to flank the enemy location? The choice is yours and Codemasters claim that each mission will play out differently depending on how you approach it. Furthermore, the damage and destruction is persistent. If you destroy a building in one mission, it will remain destroyed throughout the game.
Speaking of destruction, how about bullet damage? Remember the hyper realistic part? Well, a single well placed bullet can drop you dead and one in the arm can kill you if left untreated. That's right, you can bleed out from a single wound if you don't get it field dressed. The result of all this realism is a game that is much slower paced but also more fulfilling when a well executed plan goes off with out a hitch.
And possibly even more exciting is when things go horribly wrong. Send those two guys to flank and they get spotted early. Now you in the middle of a fire fight with an entrenched enemy and your not in position. What do you do? Provide cover fire and allow your troops to retreat? Stay down and try to get a better position while you team takes fire? Call in an air strike on the village and use up a precious commodity? The choice is yours and you better make it fast. And really, that is the brilliance of this game. The ability to make your own decisions and carry out the mission how you see fit.
Add to all that the ability to play 4-player co-op via Live or PSN and you have a real treat. The entire campaign is 4-player co-op enabled. Each additional player takes the place of one of the AI controlled characters. If you can get three of your buddies to join in and put on some headsets your in for a real treat. There are also multiplayer options and every vehicle is drivable. From Jeeps, to Tanks, to Choppers. If you come across it, you can drive it.
I should have my copy in a few days and I can't wait! If you haven't checked this game out by now, you really need to. It has what looks to be one of the best gaming experiences this year. Especially co-op.
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