Preview of Operation Flashpoint 2 Dragon Rising
An Inside Look at the Storyline, Gameplay and Realism of OFP 2
May 7, 2009
To those dedicated fans of Codemasters’ Operation Flashpoint - who have sucked away years of their lives brutally maiming communists in one of the best wartime strategy games ever made – get ready to pitch tents and set up camp outside the local Game store, as Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising has almost arrived.
Harry Potter step aside. OFP 2 is one of the most anticipated game sequels ever to be released. Its arrival has been made all the more dramatic due to the fact Codemasters have kept their cards pretty close to their chest; giving away very little about the game’s new features during its initial conception.
But avid fans who have kept a keen ear to the ground will be aware that OFP 2 has actually been in the Codemasters pipeline for several years - no doubt undergoing a rigorous development process – and at long last, just as the game is about to be released sometime this summer, details are finally emerging.
OFP 2 Dragon Rising Storyline
The storyline of OFP: 2 Dragon Rising is fairly simple; once again pitting East against West and communist against capitalist. The focal point is an Island called Skira, a remote destination in Alaska, and a major bone of contention between Russia and China. The story unfolds when American forces are obliged to step in and liberate the island from the Chinese on the behalf of the Russian government.
However the most intriguing thing about the Island setting is that it actually exists, and quite remarkable, the designers have digitally recreated the entire thing to scale, with every topographical feature true to life right down to the buildings.
So it is within this environment of realistic natural terrain that the player must coordinate their various missions, with every shell crater, destroyed bridge and building remaining from mission to mission, giving the player a realistic sense a modern war’s devastating impact upon the landscape.
Gameplay in Operation Flashpoint 2 Dragon Rising
There are also a huge amount of improvements with regard to the AI and overall gameplay. For a start the AI has had a complete overhaul from the days of Cold War Crisis and Resistance. The designers have based all enemy reactions on authentic military procedure. Apart from all the usual flanking and attacking tactics, the enemy AI will recognize when it is outflanked or pinned down and quickly execute a tactical retreat.
Interestingly, the player’s squad are no longer as obedient as they once were. They can lose confidence in the player’s leadership if they are, for example, led into open ground under fire or told to charge machine guns. No longer will they march off a cliff like Zulu warriors but will actually refuse to follow orders and abandon their officers if they carry out tactical blunders. (Not unrealistic as it did happen in Vietnam)
Realism in OFP: 2
However apart from these supurb features, the game incorporates all kinds of details which make it an even more realistic combat simulator than its predecessor. The weapons are all 100% realistic in terms of their look, reloading time, handling and how they perform in different situations.
This is also true of the vehicles. The designers have applied a ballistics system to the weapons which means that the range, velocity and impact of their fire completely mimics real life.
Overall Preview of Operation Flashpoint 2
So Flashpoint 2 is certainly shaping up as one of the most exciting new releases to come out in recent years. No longer just restricted to the PC market, the game will be available on all other platforms including the PS3 and Xbox 360.
The folks at Codemasters have certainly been busy fine tuning the last few details, but clearly the amount of work which has gone into Flashpoint 2 is staggering. For anyone who is yet to experience the world of Operation Flashpoint it is difficult to find a more intense gamming experience, so do not let it pass by.
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