As I write this on Christmas morning 2009, my 14-y.o. video-game-loving son has opened Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising, played with it (or really just sat there and explored, because he couldn't figure out what to do) for 30 minutes, and then discarded it in frustration. No directions, no clues, no tutorial, and confusing gameplay. The reviews here slamming this game are 100% correct. He's now much happier, playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, which he also got for Christmas.

Don't waste your money on Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising.

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Reading some of the negative reviews and then playing this game I almost wonder if we're dealing with the same piece of software. Yes a few more save points would be nice but apart from that I really feel this game is something close to a masterpiece. No COD MW style scripting where you sit back shooting enemies by the dozen until you cross a magical line on the map and they all of a sudden disappear. In this game if you come across a squad size enemy unit then that's what you're faced with - not an infinite supply of bad-guys appearing at windows. And the tactical situations genuinely require you think things through and come up with a plan - do you try and quickly roll up the defensive position using nearby woods as cover or do a large flanking manoeuvre that will take longer but give you the best chance of success?

Most of the engagements take place in the 100m+ range (as they would in real-life in this sort of open landscape) and so it can be tough to a) see who's shooting at you; and b) be sure you've killed them. Contrary to what some of the reviewers say an enemy cannot take large numbers of hits - generally a couple of 5.56m rounds within 100 metres will do the job, sometimes 3-4 at longer range. Often you can see dust kicking up near the target which might make you think you're scoring hits but you're not - again, this is entirely as you would expect small arms fire to behave at longer ranges, with not all rounds hitting the exact same point.

So in short if you want realism and a game that requires you to think as a junior battlefield commander and offers a level of realism that in my view is completely unprecedented then buy this game. If you want to kill 130 jihadi in your first battle then probably best to look somewhere else.

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After reading all of the negative reviews about this game, I began to wonder if anyone even realizes this is a 3rd installment to this game. The original, and add-on, was based on a fighting a war against the Soviets.

This is a thinking man's game. Not a doom/delta force knock off. If thinking is too much, look elsewhere. This game is as fun as the original. I do not regret buying this at all.

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Let me begin by saying this..."Flashpoint" is not a run and gun game. More accurately described as "one shot, one kill". The realism is amazing, being tactical will make you successful. I have yet to complete the game, but far enough into it to provide a fair review. If you enjoy strategy games that offers a lot of action and realism with the weapons used, then I would highly recommend this game. I am anxious to complete this game.

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Flashpoint is and always will be the best infantry sim ever created. I played the original Flashpoint on PC and was blown away with the realism. When they released it for the Xbox I was skeptical and found it to be junk compared to the PC version. I played Flashpoint 2 on the PS3 and must say that it reminds me of the old Flashpoint (there's nothing better). I went back and rented this after they told me to get call of duty 2 because it was better than this. I found the opposite. This is the best sim on console I've played since the old medal of honor on xbox. This is "the" best sim for a console released to date. I just wish that it was longer and you could interact with the world like the old Flashpoint. You could drive or pick up anything and use it if it wasn't broke. The old Flashpoint had you seize an objective only to get one hell of a counter-attack sent at you. You could operate more vehicles and had were outnumbered more. This game, like the original, will tax your patience and your tactical skills as well as add a nice dose of realism. It's nice to have more real world scenarios in a game instead of having to get through a stage of a game to stop a never ending stream of terrorists coming out of buildings like clowns out of a car. I just wish you got to fight the Russians in this one also. I can't say enough about this game here. Get it and immerse yourself. This is a completely better infantry sim than anything on a console out there.

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if u like COD and BFBC this game is'nt for u this is not ur tipical run and gun u will get mowed down very tactical but fun..

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For someone who likes more realistic shooters, this is one of the best. The multiplayer is sweet.

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Let's get this out of the way first: Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising is a fantastic game, and on top of that, a wholly unique one, being the only "milsim" (military simulation) for the current crop of consoles.

It's also much maligned, as you might've noticed, both for what it is (difficult) and what it isn't (a game with all the features of its PC brethren: ArmA2, ArmA and OFP:CWC/RH/R). Fine, read the critics, but take their reviews with a grain of salt. You might *want* a difficult game (they're called "challenging" games when well designed, as indeed Operation Flashpoint is). You might not mind that Codemasters left out this or that in bringing the Operation Flashpoint experience to the console, because in the end, it's still a milsim, it's good, and you can play it with a gamepad in an easy chair in front of your 40" HDTV.

For those new to the genre, here's a taste of what "milsim" means, OFP-style:

* Firefights take place at long ranges, "end zone to end zone"

* Bullets act like bullets, not laser beams: they impact distant targets low, close targets high, penetrate wood and sometimes bounce

* One shot often kills, be it the enemy or you

* Friendly bullets don't discriminate

* Your abilities degrade as a result of wounds and fatigue--you limp, your aim wavers

* Lone wolf tactics do not work; you'll have a fireteam, and you'll need to learn how to use it

* More enemies cross your path than you could (or should) engage

* Missions are long; you might begin under the stars and finish under morning's first light

* The game's only boundary is the coast surrounding your island

* Oh, and one more thing: Under no circumstances shall you bunny hop

Coming to Dragon Rising from PC milsims, the first thing I noticed is its polish. As great a game as the original OFP became, it never lost its rough edges--the awkwardness of movement in a building, the scripting bugs, the halting speech in combat, the embarrassing dialog (Kozlowski!) and yes, those ugly hands. Dragon Rising looks and feels smooth, from the opening menus to the way you hop over a wall, or open a door, or the way your binoculars shift focus from close objects to distant ones. Lots of little touches. That's polish.

Dragon Rising has great sound, from the faint thud of distant artillery, miles away, to the way your rifle report changes inside a farmhouse--even spent casings sound like they're landing on wood. I also consider the graphics great, though not on first glance. Instead of vibrant colors and photorealism, the designers opted for desaturated hues, similar to the look of Saving Private Ryan. As for resolution, I've seen better. However, I regard this as the price Codemasters paid to render Skira, the game's island setting, in all its size (220 km2) and detail. Clearly a lot of care went into making Skira. Every rock, bush and tree seems purposely placed.

It all makes for immersive gaming. Yet in the end, a great game requires but one ingredient: gameplay. Codemasters doesn't fumble here: the gameplay is mind-blowing ... sometimes, anyhow. Sometimes it's gripping. Sometimes it falls flat. This, by the way, is what separates Operation Flashpoint from Call of Duty games. Call of Duty places a series of scripted cinematic moments along your path. Every event exists for your viewing pleasure. In other words, a tree never falls in the forest when you're not there to hear it, and trees always fall according to plan. By contrast, things happen in Dragon Rising whether you're a witness or not, and they happen primarily through cause and effect: an errant rocket from a Super Cobra knocks out a friendly MG nest, allowing a jeep to penetrate the lines, causing your left flank to crumble, allowing PLA troops to flood your position from the east side of town. That's the "sim" half of "milsim." Dragon Rising doesn't depict, it simulates. Consequently, whereas Call of Duty always plays out the same, like a (great) movie or Disneyland ride, the same mission in Dragon Rising changes every time it's played. For me, it's this--the dynamic nature of the game's events--that keeps me playing into the night.

Of course, so does one other thing: frequent death. And therein lies the greatest complaint of the game: It's hard! You die! It's frustrating to reach the end of a mission, only to make a mistake and THUMP!, find yourself shot dead. Depending on the level of difficulty, that'll set you back anywhere from a few minutes (Normal) to square one (Hardcore). If that sounds unacceptably cruel or unfair, then you might want to pass this one up. Like Raven Shield or the original Ghost Recon, Dragon Rising challenges you to complete a mission without errors. And given the volatile nature of what transpires, there's no trick or pattern that'll carry you through.

Although I'm giving it five stars, I'll admit I'd hoped for more: Voice commands instead of the radial menu. A lean function (using the SIXAXIS). More multiplayer modes (CTI). More stand-alone missions. Map annotations in the briefing screen. A mission builder. I also think Codemasters bungled the release of Dragon Rising: Requiring unlock codes for stand-alone missions. Advertising but not including air and armor missions. Failing to document the available orders in the manual. (And for heaven's sake, Codemasters, it's a magazine, not a "clip.")

Those are "what ifs," the same sort of "what ifs" at the heart of scathing critiques you might've read. As for me, I'm reviewing Dragon Rising for what it is, and for that I'll come back to what I said up front: It's an exciting, challenging one-of-a-kind milsim for the console crowd.

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I will say this is an amazing fps combat sim. The level of realism is set above and beyond most anything else released. If you are looking for the next thing to top COD-style fast action, this is not what you're looking for. Yes, I like most other people am looking very forward to the Modern Warfare 2 release, but not every fps needs to be compared to it again and again.

This game is very simular to the original Rainbow Six (non-Vegas) or SOCOM from the PS2 era. The combat is slower and tactical based. You command your fireteam with a decent range, but simple to use commands. They include surpressing fire, assault on targets, wepons free, etc. You can also call in various Air and Artillery strikes as part of your attack. So far, missions are straight to the point: covert search and destroy, eliminate all hostiles, clear and secure command posts, etc. But I'm only a couple hours into the game, and have a lot more to explore. The free-roam ability is a very nice touch to the overall gameplay. The outdoor terrain is vast and gives you a lot of options for plans of attack or escape.

Again, the biggest strength of this game is realism. If the following examples do not sound challenging, then this game will not be for you:

-Engaging the enemy at average of 100-400 meters, Sometimes only with iron sights.

-When you take a bullet the screen doesn't just turn red while you wait to respawn health. The impact will stun you if it doesn't kill you.

-You cannot unload your sidearm as fast as you can tap your finger. It does portray the recoil of a .45 and you need precious moments to resight your target.

This game is a great shooter that offers a different style gameplay. The controls are very intuitive and took almost no time to get used to. I have not tried the multiplayer/online game modes, so I have no reviews on that aspect. No, there is no real backstory to your character, you just jump into each mission. No, you will not run and gun your way straight to each objective until you complete the level. Please do your research before dropping $50+ bucks on a game before assuming it was going to be like another game you really, really like.

Pros:

-One of the few tactical-based FPS on the market

-Expansive enviroments seem like a battlefield, you're not locked into a set path

-Realistic damage makes you plan carefully, and more intense when you need to move

Cons:

-Gameplay is not for everyone

-Taking a stray bullet to the chest or head and restarting checkpoints can get frustrating

-Some objectives are governed by unspecified time restraints, resulting in a no-warning mission failure.

Overall:

Rent this game if you're unsure you'd like it. It's not the next Halo or COD, nor was it ever advertised to be. The intesity and accomplishment is multiplied knowing you can't just simply rush point B from point A. One bullet can kill you, three bullets definately will. You will always need to think before your next move. This game is very entertaining if you can plan a mission and adapt/react when it all goes wrong.

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I was a big fan of the first Operation Flashpoint game, and I have found this game to be similarly entertaining. The only thing I liked better in the first game was that I never remember coming across a vehicle I couldn't drive.

On one mission in this game, a Chinese gunship killed me several times as I advanced through the mission. I ended up at a mobile AA site and I couldn't wait to get in an AA gun and take that thing out. Well, I couldn't get in one and the helo continued to irritate me throughout the mission. In the first Op Flashpoint, that thing would've been toast.

Other than that small complaint, I have found this game to be very similar to the first one, which is a good thing. The interface for ordering your squad around is easier on the PS3 than I found it to be on the PC. I really like how you can choose to go about completing a mission in so many different ways. It should make for great SP replay value.

I haven't tried out multiplayer yet so I can't comment on that.

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Game is ultimately below-standard on many fronts, but it is also unlike anything else on consoles right now. No, it's not the "milsim to end all milsims" that some were hoping for and expecting, but it delivers a unique experience, fantastic atmosphere, and lots of replay value.

Lots of games experience this thing where gamers put their expectations so high, an "average" or "decent" game all of a sudden becomes "awful." My advice to potential buyers is that you should read all the negative reviews, soak them in, and then laugh when you play the game and think, "this isn't that bad at all."

Game definitely needs further support - a second patch is currently in the works, as well as DLC - but all in all the game is challenging, rewarding, exciting, realistic, and fun. If they fix the bugs, add enemies to free-roam mode, and continue to support the game with DLC, this game is actually quite good, hardly an "utter failure" or "debacle."

I guess my point is that if you go into this game expecting it to be terrible, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that it isn't - far from it. Yes, it may ultimately be best characterized as "decent" when compared to the Killzones and Uncharteds of the world, but if you're looking for a realistic/tactical shooter, this game delivers. That is, buy it KNOWING it's "not very good" and all of a sudden it becomes pretty damn sweet; buy it thinking "this game's gonna be the best game eva," and you'll probably be disappointed.

Overall I'd give the game a 7/10, with the potential to hit 8 or even 9 with proper support. Point being, it's a far cry from a 2/10 or 3/10 like other reviewers would have you believe. It's a cool, fun, unique game; it just lacks a bit of polish.

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Bought game after reading favorable reviews. SP is challenging enough to keep you bound to your controller.
each mission can take awhile to complete, if done with life or death tactics.

MP on the other hand in a word - unfinished
It needs a few tweeks but has potential to be great. still very fun. I played for 5 hours straight .

A buy if you enjoy life like warfare and tacticical command.

**UPDATE**
After a few weeks of play, Still waiting for MP patch and maps.
Still fun BUT... if patch doesnt fix and add new content, IT's MW2 time.

**UPDATE** Patch and DLC List released today. I MUST TELL YOU...
DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!!!
This a bargin bin game. it's fun but only $20 fun. not worth $60.

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This is a tough game. There is no easy setting and the gameplay doesn't really change from the normal to more difficult options except for some heads-up display items. You lead a 4-man fire team engaging in missions against the Chinese forces that have occupied an oil-rich Russian island. The game experience seems to be more realistic when compared to a more cinematic FPS (like Modern Warfare). It's more slow-paced and tactical and less "run and gun". You can order your team to: assault, engage, flank, defend, etc. Reminds of the original SOCOM titles on PS2. But the nice graphics are on par with next gen war game titles. Your missions include: eliminating anti-tank defense, calling in air strikes and artillery, securing an airfield, anti-armor, etc. A pretty good gamut of operations. You will die alot. I got killed about 100 times in the basic campaign as a fairly casual gamer. When you get wounded: you need to either treat your wounds or have a medic treat you - otherwise you'd become incapacitated. Sometimes you're killed or incapacitated by the initial wound. Sometimes your medic won't get to you on time to save you in a firefight. But I think that makes it realistic, if sometimes frustrating. Hence the knock on "fun" aspect of the review. However, the environment looks great and it's fairly open-world as you can decide how to accomplish your main objective and whether to pursue secondary objectives. You'll also be "humping it" (walking on foot) at a slow pace for much of the game. I found it to be a satisfying experience and I'm glad I played but alot of people will be put off by the difficulty, pacing, and occasional gliches.

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Great game overall. Attention to detail on some things was clearly neglected such as blown up vehicles. All houses were very small and empty. Graphics need a little work. Campaign overall was pretty good. Great gameplay!! If you aren't easily annoyed with little details and are looking for a good game with great gameplay this is it! Haven't taken it online yet but will sometime soon!

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I bough this game as a gift for Christmas for my husband. He really liked it.

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