Operation Flashpoint: Red River

"An invitation to war"



Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Codemasters
Release Date: Jun 7, 2011
Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: First Person Shooter




Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising was not only a war game. It was a game designed for super soldiers to fight the war which appeared above any other vital issue. Forget the idea of dragging yourself through the mud distributing bullets. Because in Operation Flashpoint: Red River, things are different than before. Compared to Codemaster’s previous Operation Flashpoint game, this second iteration in the series seems much more human. In focus, both depict the horrors that lie behind all wars, especially for those who see the mutilated bodies - even at safe distances.


In comparison, the Codemasters title seems to rest comfortably in between the simulation presented in Flashpoint, as well as the frenetic action from the Call of Duty series. Yes, this is a potential blow to purists, but there are more things in store.

 

Red River is the next war game that raises the classic question, "What if...? While other scenarios built in video games produced geopolitical chaos between the U.S. and Russia (Modern Warfare 2), and also simulating a blundering rise of North Korea to the rest of the world (Homefront), the question for Red River is this: What if Tajikistan (Central Asia) was raided by Afghan troops, thus requiring the US to take action?

Politics aside, your mission in Red River is to lead three other soldiers, doing your best to keep everyone alive. The isolated atmosphere in the game’s setting could not be more pronounced. While you and your compatriots are part of the U.S. Army, you constantly find yourselves all alone behind enemy lines.

Anyway, do not be surprised if you end up spending most of your time hiding and taking care of your mates. There is a practical radial menu in which you can give direct orders to your teammates: flank left, flank right, run for cover, defend, cease fire, and so on. However, when giving orders and trying to gain ground as you progress, something becomes very clear in Red River: it is an experience mainly focused on cooperative gameplay. Not that the slow pace in the single campaign isn't good, just relying on other human intelligences makes the whole thing much more believable, and also much more effective.

 

Finally, Operation Flashpoint: Red River seems perfectly capable of doing justice to the series’ legacy. You purists out there may feel the lack of some cliches regarding the game mechanics. However, according to Codemasters, the end result should bring a balance so unprecedented, that the feat could be a first for simulation games within the first person shooter genre. Red River should hit store shelves on June 7 for PC, PS3 and X360.



Marco Cecilio, NoobFeed