| VGLN.com
PC >> Reviews
>> article
Operation Flashpoint: Resistance
by Jolex Del Pilar
Tuesday, August 13 2002
This add-on to Codemaster's hit action title attempts to deliver as much punch as its predecessor did. Read our full review inside.
 |
|
|
Title:
Operation Flashpoint: Resistance
|
Platform:
PC; Minimum: PII 300, 64 MB RAM, 3D graphics accel., Win9x/ME/2K/XP,
|
Publisher:
Codemasters |
Developer:
Bohemia Interactive |
#
of Players: 1 - 16 |
Genre:
Action
|
Origin:
Europe
|
Expected
Release:
August 2002 |
Grapevine:
Even with all the flaws, such as the quirky A.I, and difficult targeting system, the OP Flashpoint series remains the top war game in its field... |
Last year Bohemia Interactive unleashed one of the most creatively fun games for the PC when Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis debuted. Featuring an efficient squad based system, a variety of vehicles, as well as intelligent A.I, the game was destined to become the premiere squad based, first person shooter for the PC, notwithstanding the "Counter Strike" fans out there.
Now a year later, with hundreds of fan sites, and legions of fans waiting, a new chapter has been released for all the Flashpoint fans out there. Operation Flashpoint: Resistance is not really a sequel or semi-sequel as most add-ons usually are, in fact to take a page out of the Star Wars books, Resistance is more akin to a prequel. The story takes place a few years before Cold War Crisis on the island nation of Nogova. Nogova is akin to a small baltic state, or eastern European country such as Hungary or Slovenia. With little military power or political force, Nogova has relied on its meekness on the world map to remain relatively untouched, that is until now. Recent government instability in Nogova has made the nation vulnerable and the Russians are on the island to "assert their authority" before anyone can blink an eye. That is where you come in.
As Victor Troska, an ex-special forces soldier who has chosen the quiet island of Nogova as his home to avoid the daily problems of the larger world, you will attempt through 18 missions to force the much more powerful Russian army into the sea to leave the island once and for all.
The Game
Resistance isn't a completely different game from the previous version overall but it does have a few new quirks that might be useful to know. You still have a different variety of missions (mission variety has always been OP Flashpoint's strength) ranging from recon to convey destruction. However there is one difference, since you operate as a resistance of sorts, you must act like one. You don't have many weapons or resources at the beginning of the game so you must steal resources. Tanks, guns, and ammo must be stolen from the enemy and the success of a mission is based more on how much stuff you can steal early on.
The basic gameplay mechanics of Resistance haven't changed much from Cold War Crisis. That may be good or bad depending on your personal taste. One gripe this reviewer had was with the overall targeting system for foot soldiers. It's well known that Flashpoint models ballistics which a lot of games don't even bother with, which is great, but I can't help but notice that maybe the whole Flashpoint series might do well to adopt a similar system to what Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon offer in their games. The floating "aiming indicator" makes sense but it's awfully hard to keep track of a miniscule "dot" jumping around the screen when you are running. Reorienting your aim is often a chore and takes great patience and practice to do reasonably well because it's hard to see where the dot has finally landed when you stop. Those who have played through the previous game know exactly what I'm talking about. Also, do we really need to see the gun on screen to know our character has a weapon? I think not.
That being said, the combat of Resistance is excellent as always. One thing that the Flashpoint series offers that Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon do not is dozens of enemy soldiers. On a good PC system, a player might be in a battle involving almost a hundred friendly and hostile forces all gunning at each other, add some vehicles, and air planes and you've got a full scale conventional war on your hands. There are a few bad points though. The enemy A.I seems to do stupid things sometimes, such as fighting tooth and nail to gain ground on the field, then stupidly running away regardless of any advantage they might have. This needs to be fixed. Also, enemies seem to be supermen, as they can continue shooting even when a round wounds them in the arm or chest. Rainbow Six solved this by not allowing you to shoot for a split second, the Flashpoint series might do well to adopt something similar.
Vehicle combat is amazingly clean considering that the developers had to model a multitude of gameplay modes. Most of the control is done with the mouse and keyboard, but some things can be automated if you choose to such as firing weapons, or even driving if you wish. Some of the vehicles are amazingly hard to control but it shouldn't bother you too much in the single player campaign since you won't even get access to them there.
Regardless of all of the little flaws that inhabit Resistance, one thing is clear, the game is very dynamic and also very fun. Unlike Ghost Recon, or Rainbow Six you can have full-scale military operations that most war junkies dream about. Want to stage an airport take over? Easily done with the intuitive map editor that comes with Resistance. Want to do a parachute jump behind enemy lines? Again, easily done. It's this dynamic nature of the game that makes us forget for a second that the game does have a few flaws. Special forces incursions, sniper duels, and city defenses are all capable within the Flashpoint engine. With a little clean up, this game might well be the most perfect war game ever created.
Flashpoint even features a powerful online capability that offers variety and even a mission creator/wizard for those who are bored with the pre-built missions. The Flashpoint series has enormous potential, and I'd love to see what this engine could do for a World War II type game (oh yes, oh yes!).
Even with all the flaws, such as the quirky A.I, and difficult targeting system, the OP Flashpoint series remains the top war game in its field and there's no denying that the sheer potential and fun factor that the Flashpoint series offers easily shadows what minor flaws it may have. Resistance is no different and is a worthy add-on for any fan of the series.
--- Jolex "SFC" Del Pilar
|
