Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead

Well, I've had some more time with the game, and here are my first impressions.

Let me start by saying that OA is abso-*******-lutely epic, and that it was worth ever penny and then some. I absolutely love it. Here are only some of the reasons why, I'm sure I'll find many more:
Arma 2 integrates with it perfectly, changing to Combined Operations in the process.
The campaign is quite varied and appropriately challenging, with a good story and some great cinematics/cutscenes. There's also no Warfare.
The SP missions are also very good and a hell of a lot of fun. I'm also very impressed with how they did the training scenarios.
The radio protocol is heavily improved, much more fluid, and units talk in whisper when set to Stealth mode.
The faces and head models are very good, and although they've gone back to the way lip sync was in ArmA and OFP, it's a lot better than what it was like in Arma 2.
FLIR. 'Nuff said really. It's awesome.
UAVs. Again, 'nuff said.
Flashlights are very cool at night, and I could see them making for some very atmospheric missions. Laser pointers also kick ass.
Performance is great for me, and the game looks fantastic. SSAO adds a lot to the visual experience and hasn't had such a large FPS impact as I thought it would.
The three maps are great, Zargabad is very impressive, and Desert is like the Desert Island of OA. Perfect for testing and using the Town Generator.
The Town Generator Module is ******* awesome.
The new units all look great, but my favorites are still some of the US units. Some of them just look bad ass. The vehicles are also awesome, I love having my Bradley back. Also - SCUD Launchers.
Incremental zoom and zeroing works exactly how it should, and is great.
The new effects are very cool, such as, at times when the player becomes tired, the image starts to get wavy, as if from a heat wave. Very cool effect.
The HALO function is much improved.
I don't know if I'm just seeing things, but the medics seem a lot more responsive than they were in Arma 2. They've gotten to me a lot quicker than they used to, and are much more reliable.
The sound track kicks ass.
The conversation system is also much improved, and is much more fluid.
The new radar system is great, and the counter measures have saved my ass many times.
Again, I don't know if I'm just seeing things, but the AI seem to act a lot better in convoys and use the roads better.
The mod management works great, though I do look forward to some improvements with it, namely being possibly able to download the mods without having to go searching for them.
However, there are some, but only a few issues which nag at me:
A couple of the voices are the same guy in different pitches, and they're that damned British voice actor doing the fake American accent.
What happened to the Czech voices? I can understand the Germans not having German voices, but the UN CDF and the Czechs speak with American voices. Why couldn't the Czech voices from Arma 2 be used? Or why weren't more recorded for use in OA?
Some of the units are missing blood textures on their bodies, but not their heads, arms or legs. Kinda disappointing again to see this affecting the UN CDF despite the CDF in Arma 2 having blood textures.
The AI do still f*ck up occasionally, just like in Arma 2.
The fluidity of the voices means that emotion was removed from them, so the calls for medics and stuff do sound a bit too calm given the apparent mavity of the situation.
Though the HALO script is improved, it's still quite clunky.
Fraps still does not work for me with OA, therefore I can't do any videos with it. FPS still drops down to 0 and stays at it.
Those are my main issues, but they hardly detract much from the game, they're just a bit annoying.

Overall I absolutely love OA. Did I say that already? I don't think anyone will be disappointed with so many improvements made just in a standalone expansion. It's almost enough to make it an entirely new game. I feel very refreshed with these games now, and I can see myself playing it for years. Expect some user-made content coming

from me soon!
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nice review
 
Our server should be up today, people are welcome to join and a few of the old OcUK clan are here too.

IP: havoc-company.com
Port: 2310

Welcome to join our teamspeak 3 as well,

IP: havoc-company.com
Port: 9987
Password: apple

If anyone is looking for proper coop on this game (30+ people), then we'd be happy to have you along for a sunday op etc if you apply.
 
I'm keeping my eye out for the postman this morning but I'm not holding out much hope. With Play.com, when you log in to your account does it say "Dispatched" or something?. Because checking mine this morning again it is still showing just "Order Placed".

@lumpeh - How did you find out your order from them was "Shipping"?.
 
rexehuk said:
Our server should be up today, people are welcome to join and a few of the old OcUK clan are here too.

IP: havoc-company.com
Port: 2310

Welcome to join our teamspeak 3 as well,

IP: havoc-company.com
Port: 9987
Password: apple

If anyone is looking for proper coop on this game (30+ people), then we'd be happy to have you along for a sunday op etc if you apply.
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i was in TS last night and people said it will take maybe 2 weeks before we do a proper coop sessions etc on OA. it is to give all clan members a chance to get the game
 
Draeger said:
I'm keeping my eye out for the postman this morning but I'm not holding out much hope. With Play.com, when you log in to your account does it say "Dispatched" or something?. Because checking mine this morning again it is still showing just "Order Placed".

@lumpeh - How did you find out your order from them was "Shipping"?.
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The status will change to packing
then status will change to Shipped once its out the door
 
Been waiting for this for ages, and will definitely be getting it... As soon as I've replaced my PSU that popped recently :(

I remember how bugged the first version of ARMA 2 was when at one point in the campaign, half of your squad would be killed during the intro-cut-scene of that mission. So you're standing there listening to the mission brief while being attacked and watching your squad die in front of you and unable to do anything about it till the briefing finished... Half the time you would also get shot during this moment!!

Obviously the campaign was over from here on as it was impossible to actually progress beyond that point >:(

Still, saying that, I couldn't agree more with the review that suggests the campaign is more an intro to what the game really offers.

On-line, playing the Hold Location game type plays just like BF2, and similar titles but with a level of realism and immersion that nothing else comes close to.

Going back to the likes of BF2, or MW2 just feels so shallow and boring that I always end up back in ARMA2.

For example, being able to take out the tyres of a HMMV carrying a bunch of enemy soldiers half-way across an open field then watching them bail out and try running for cover while you pick them off from a mile away is just awesome.

It's also the only FPS where camping doesn't bother people as it's so realistic that to snipe effectively is actually really hard, as I imagine it is in RL. Snipers have to account for bullet drop, and range, while choosing their shots as once you give your position away, it's pretty much over.

To sum it up, the level of realism allows the player to use his imagination, and common sense to play to his/her style.

You also find yourself using the terrain and the map to plan your approach as in RL. Tactics like flanking, diversions, and air support REALLY work!

One thing that can't be guaranteed is protection from idiots. You know the type, people who insist on taking the pilot seat yet can't actually fly, or those that don't check their targets (PRESS SPACE BAR OVER POTENTIAL TARGETS... OR JUST LOOK AT YOUR MAP!!) before laying waste to half their team who've just spent the last 15 mins getting into position only to have to do it all over again.

Still, these niggles aren't the game's fault imo, and just add to the experience as it sort of fosters an environment of cooperation amongst the rest; you can actually find plenty of players who carry out their roles properly. Like snipers who choose their positions based on the positions of the rest of their team, therefore being able to provide real cover, or tank crews that hold high positions and resist giving their position away by firing on infantry in order to defend against enemy armour, or pilots who focus on ferrying people to and from spawn points and hot-spots. When this happens, this game's on a whole new level of its own.

I just hope they've fixed the ridiculous HDR in night vision mode. Useless if there's so much as a camp fire in your line of sight as the HDR over-compensates and makes the view so dark you can't see anything.
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good comment from that Bit Tech review
 
jonneymendoza said:
i was in TS last night and people said it will take maybe 2 weeks before we do a proper coop sessions etc on OA. it is to give all clan members a chance to get the game
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Yeah this is true, but we have got a server up and running and a few of us have the game. Be more than happy to have a few join us for some small intimate games.
 
Hovering over the buy button on steam now. Trouble is I loved Operation Flashpoint to bits, but the little bit of arma 2 I played on my brothers PC did not make me wanna buy it. What to do.
 
KautoStar said:
Hovering over the buy button on steam now. Trouble is I loved Operation Flashpoint to bits, but the little bit of arma 2 I played on my brothers PC did not make me wanna buy it. What to do.
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Arma 2 IS operation flashpoint, there is no difference apart from the improved graphics and features. Oh and the campaign isn't really any good at all on Arma whereas Op flashes was really good. But you have the editor so its a moot point. If you have the pc for it I really can't see how you'd not love it.
 
lumpeh said:
my Play order is shipping. I'm tempted by the sprocket option and give/sell the hard copy to a friend, but its a tenner more from there!
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Strange. I've just had an email update from Play saying :-

Thank you for your recent Play.com order for Arma II: Operation Arrowhead

We have recently been informed by the manufacturer of this product that the release date has been changed to 02-Jul-2010. We have updated this information on site and will endeavour to process your order in readiness to arrive with you on the release date.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused to you in this matter and thank you for your patience and valued custom.

Kind Regards,

Customer Support Team

Play.com
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So how come yours is showing "Shipping"??. :confused:

No matter, I'm about to cancel the order anyway and download it. Last time I'll be going near Play.com with the proverbial barge pole. :rolleyes:
 
Draeger said:
Strange. I've just had an email update from Play saying :-



So how come yours is showing "Shipping"??. :confused:

No matter, I'm about to cancel the order anyway and download it. Last time I'll be going near Play.com with the proverbial barge pole. :rolleyes:
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Shower of ***** :eek: just had the same.

Play is £8 cheaper than steam tho :/
 
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