ArmA II Review and Rating

Arma II, the successor to the Operation Flashpoint franchise by Bohemia Interactive Studios is an absolutely immense and immersive experience that puts gamers in the brutally graphic and cruel world of modern warfare.  Like its direct predecessor, Arma, Arma II pulls no punches and certainly is not a typical shooter.  For all intents and purposes the game is as close to real combat as arm chair warriors are apt to get.  Because it’s so realistic and offers players such a deep level of control, the game’s major faults are its own clunky management mechanics and the fact that it’s not an easy creature to befriend.

Gameplay

While you can attack Arma II in first person, it’s definitely not an FPS.  There are elements of an RTS and RPG in the game and most will find that the third person point of view allows a much more comprehensive view of the battlefield. 
There are several modes of gameplay in Arma II but the easiest to start with is the boot camp mode which walks new players through the control scheme and allows them to get a handle on the game’s rather complex management system before jumping into the real gameplay.  It’s advisable that most players who’ve never been exposed to the Arma franchise start here because there really is a lot to learn and with no room for error (one shot equals one kill in the Arma world for players and their enemies) not taking advantage of the tutorials could mean some very frustrating trial and error. 
There are also 7 pre-made mission into which players can plug themselves without having to worry about an overarching plot.  This is great if you just want to jump in and have some fun without being bothered by storylines mission completion conditions that hinge on each other.

There’s also an armory mode in which players can test out any of the models in the game ranging from the various vehicles and weapons to animals!  That’s right, there’s wildlife in the Arma II world and players are given the option of playing as rabbits, goats, and other critters in challenging mini-games.  That’s something you won’t find in a first person shooter.

The main campaign of Arma II contains only twelve missions but each of those missions are so complex, and the map is so massive (the map itself is 225 square kilometers!) that each mission will take hours to complete.  During those twelve missions, you’ll be in control of your four man squad which includes a grenadier, a medic, a sniper, and a heavy weapons specialist.  You can swap between any of these playable characters during the action but only the grenadier can order the NPCs around.

The plot is fairly straightforward and a little bit clichéd.  Your squad is sent in at the request of NATO to help diffuse a war between two rival factions of some fictional country that resembles a former Soviet state.  That’s pretty much it.  There aren’t any twists or extraneous plot devices and the whole storyline feels sober and imminently plausible.

One of the best aspects of Arma II is the AI.  Your squad mates will almost never let you down and do a wonderful job of actually surviving to fight at your side, though you will still spend quite an amount of time either patching them up or having to sit still while first aid is being applied to you simply because of the one-shot-one-kill realism. 
The realism extends to the dozens of weapons and vehicles you can use in the game and each comes with their own true-to-life pros and cons.  Indeed, you won’t find any two weapons that feel identical in your hands which is a refreshing change from those cookie cutter run and gun games out there.

However, that excellent AI doesn’t extend to NPC vehicle control.  Heavy machinery will often crash into static objects, run player and non-player characters over, and helicopter pilots often get confused when trying to find a suitable landing spot.  Some of these mishaps can be quite comical and others can be maddening.  That frustration is made worse by the fact that Arma II only allows one save slot.  I suppose that was to increase the realism of the experience but it gets quite annoying when you choose to save just before your team gets slaughtered by the truck full of enemies laying in wait just over the next ridge or your chopper pilot decides to land on power lines and kill you all.

The in-depth control scheme is one of Arma II’s best and worst features.  The detailed nested control buttons (mapped to the number keys) allow you to micromanage just about every aspect of your squad’s situation from their stance to the weapons they’ve selected and even their tactics.  That’s great during long patrols across the 225 kilometers of fully discoverable landscape but not-so-hot when the lead starts flying.  Nobody wants to have to dig through layers of controls to find the one they’re looking for while simultaneously trying to keep your squad alive and put your enemies in the ground.  It’s just not fun.  However, the difficult control scheme does get easier to use with practice and with each mission lasting hours, you’ll have plenty of practice.

Graphics

Graphically Arma II is truly amazing.  The level of detail on the character models, vehicles, and even the weapons is just mind blowing.  It’s hard to comprehend the amount of time and dedication that went into making this game so true to life and that’s probably its greatest selling point.
Unfortunately, the graphical wizardry comes with a hefty price that must be paid in computing power.  To experience the glory that Arma II is truly capable of, you will have to have a fairly beefy machine on which to play it.  While the minimum specs aren’t that unreasonable, playing within them will leave you suffering from poor frame rates, weak draw distances, and serious system chugging.

Sound

The sound in Arma II is a mixed bag.  While the sound effects are spot on (the shells falling and bolts clacking really make it feel as if you’re really in a life and death situation) the soundtrack of basal rock and soaring opera feels a bit heavy handed. 
The voice acting is also unfortunately a mixed bag.  While the Russian is delivered with great gravity befitting the situation, the English dialog is sometimes a bit cheesy and over-the-top.  However, it’s hard to concentrate on the dialog when you’re ducking for cover and trying desperately to pick out camouflaged enemies hiding in a grassy field.

Value

This game offers incredible value.  Not only are the single player missions totally engrossing and requiring hours of gameplay, the multiple game modes mean you’ll have plenty to do after the crisis is resolved.  Also, the detailed level editor that is included with the game makes it incredibly easy to create your own levels.  Look for an immense online following and tons of user-created content after Arma II has had a little time to penetrate the gaming market.

Final Verdict

Arma II is a very intense game with lofty goals that, for the most part, meets all of our expectations. 

Pros:  Immense, immersive, and mind-blowing detail.

Cons:  Clunky control scheme, shifty AI, and system hog tendencies.


Overall Score: 8.5/10