Gamespot review

[kevbaz 0]

Quote[/b] ]Operation Flashpoint 2 E3 2005 Hands-On Impressions

As of right now, Bohemia Interactive's latest PC project exists in something of a state of flux. Designed to be the sequel to its excellent 2001 military shooter, Operation Flashpoint, the game that would be Operation Flashpoint 2 is currently without a US publisher or official release date. The reason? Codemasters, Operation Flashpoint's publisher, still owns the franchise name, and currently Bohemia is engaged in something of a struggle with them over the game's release. However, undeterred, Bohemia is championing ahead with the project, and even if they have to call it something else, they'll find a way to get the game out. In a small meeting room at E3 2005, Bohemia gave us a look at what we'll call Operation Flashpoint 2.

The original Flashpoint was an interesting game, in that it took a very realistic approach to its gameplay. Battles were largely squad-based, and combat generally took place over long distances, with lots of carefully placed shots, rather than the kind of fast-paced, run and gun shooting found in many modern-day shooters. For those who enjoyed this brand of shooting gameplay, Operation Flashpoint 2 seems like it won't disappoint. We were shown a few different battle scenarios, and the mechanics seemed to work very much the same. One new aspect to battles is just the sheer number of units that will be available on-screen during the game. Battlefields will be around 400 square kilometers in size, and literally hundreds of soldiers and vehicles will be able to coexist on them. One example of this was shown to us, and it was quite impressive watching huge groups of allied soldiers march across a battlefield with tanks and other vehicles following along.

Whereas the original Flashpoint took place in 1985 during Cold War operations, Flashpoint 2 will take place during a fictional near-future conflict in the year 2010. You'll be able to play in three different areas, including Southeast Asia, Central Europe and Africa, and you'll play as three different soldier types during each section of the game, including a Marine Corps solider, a US Army officer and a Special Ops operative. As you play the game, you'll be able to upgrade your squads and soldiers through what Bohemia refers to as something of an RPG-like leveling system. In another nod to RPGs, you'll also be able to chat it up in real time with NPC allies, and learn valuable reconnaissance intel from them.

Obviously, a big draw for Flashpoint 2 will be its improved visuals. The first Flashpoint was a good looking game for its time, but the dedicated fans of the series are likely looking forward to what Bohemia can do with current generation PC technology. A big part of the visual upgrade is the damage modeling, which is fully dynamic across the many set pieces you'll find on the battlefield. The developers showed us one example, where when driving a tank, a nearby building was targeted and fired upon. The first hit did a little damage, but nothing too devastating. The next hit took a big chunk out of it, and the next one practically eradicated it. The developers state that no two explosions will look quite the same, as the debris will always fall dynamically. This, coupled with the huge numbers of units on-screen at once, and the generally upgraded soldier models and environmental designs, should prove to be a big upgrade from the first game.

Of course, Flashpoint 2 will feature online multiplayer. Bohemia wasn't able to provide exact details of what kinds of modes, or how many players you'll be able to compete with or against, but they stated that they plan to make the multiplayer a big part of the game, and will try to squeeze in as many players as they possibly can. One notable improvement over the original Flashpoint's multiplayer is that in this game, you'll be able to join battles in progress. In the first Flashpoint, you'd have to wait for an open server, or sit in the chat lobby waiting for your friends to finish. That won't be the case, here.

Another thing that Bohemia wanted to emphasize was that they recognize and appreciate the fan communities that have developed from Flashpoint and its expansion packs. While not the biggest game in the US, the game certainly had its fans here, and internationally, Flashpoint developed a big mod community. Flashpoint 2 will once again include a robust map editor for committed players to mess around with, and like the first game, Bohemia fully intends to support the game with new content long after its release.

The cloud that currently sits over Operation Flashpoint 2's release possibilities is certainly unfortunate, but Bohemia seems thoroughly undeterred by the situation. One way or another, they fully intend to release the game, so you won't have to worry about them just giving up on the project any time soon. While the demo we were shown had some rough edges, we're excited about the prospects that this shooter holds. We can only hope that Bohemia's gung-ho attitude continues, and that they keep hammering away on the game and get it a North American release. We'll be sure to bring you more on Operation Flashpoint 2 in the near future.

sounds fab to me

[Colossus 2]

Aww, just one minute be for me.

Anyway, here is the link

EDIT:

Quote[/b] ]Battlefields will be around 400 square kilometers in size

Quote[/b] ]As you play the game, you'll be able to upgrade your squads and soldiers through what Bohemia refers to as something of an RPG-like leveling system.

Sounds like you have the same squad in every mssion and you can upgrade them after every missions or after x amount of exp.

Quote[/b] ]The developers showed us one example, where when driving a tank, a nearby building was targeted and fired upon. The first hit did a little damage, but nothing too devastating. The next hit took a big chunk out of it, and the next one practically eradicated it. The developers state that no two explosions will look quite the same, as the debris will always fall dynamically

Quote[/b] ] One notable improvement over the original Flashpoint's multiplayer is that in this game, you'll be able to join battles in progress. In the first Flashpoint, you'd have to wait for an open server, or sit in the chat lobby waiting for your friends to finish. That won't be the case, here.

Thank you, I hate that waiting.

Very nice interview, gave me more reason to buy it and Armed Assualt

[Antichrist 0]

Quote[/b] ]As you play the game, you'll be able to upgrade your squads and soldiers through what Bohemia refers to as something of an RPG-like leveling system.

Sounds like you have the same squad in every mssion and you can upgrade them after every missions or after x amount of exp.

About time that happened. And I really hope it will be implemented better than they tried in Resistance. Hopefully the weapon they use more often will affect what stats are increased etc.

Obviously getting you squadmates killed will result in you getting rookies for you squad.

[shinRaiden 0]

w00t! 25.6km's standard? Do my eyes decieve me? This is good news indeed.

[ebns72 0]

would be very cool to actually have a reason to try to preserve your squad, as well as have some downside to have them getting killed.

[Postduifje 0]

Very nice indeed. This way you'll think twice before sending one of your top guys into a dangerous situation, and you can let your rookies do all the baitwork

[JdB 151]

*Looks at topictitle* '' Gamespot review''

If it was a review than we would have (nearly) had the game by now

I think you mean ''preview''

[Heatseeker 0]

Sry, not good enough, the preview should be bigger and more detailed and they should mention everything they had the priveliege (spl?) to see, 5 pages, 100 pages, i dont care.

They have to realise this is not just another game and give it proper and deserved atention, they better do so in the future or i will simply kill them all .

[Colossus 2]

Haha, more people is visiting the Operation Flashpoint 2 site on gamespot then Battlefield 2.

Nice

[gonk 0]

Sry, not good enough, the preview should be bigger and more detailed and they should mention everything they had the priveliege (spl?) to see, 5 pages, 100 pages, i dont care.

They have to realise this is not just another game and give it proper and deserved atention, they better do so in the future or i will simply kill them all .

You forgot one thing... It should be in the latest gaming mag with a playerable demo... it that too much to ask for ? LOL

[hardrock 1]

Quote[/b] ]The reason? Codemasters, Operation Flashpoint's publisher, still owns the franchise name, and currently Bohemia is engaged in something of a struggle with them over the game's release. However, undeterred, Bohemia is championing ahead with the project, and even if they have to call it something else, they'll find a way to get the game out.

Top notch! My fullest respect, BIS!!

They have to realise this is not just another game and give it proper and deserved atention, they better do so in the future or i will simply kill them all .

They probably were too stunned looking at the monitor that they forgot to take proper notes

[Radnik 18]

Quote[/b] ]While the demo we were shown had some rough edges, we're excited about the prospects that this shooter holds.

... a demo ?@#$%^

[JdB 151]

As in ''demonstration''...

And ''demo'' doesn't have to mean that it was playable

[gandalf the white 0]

it does mean that you can run fraps during that demo, and release it to the hungry crowd

[Friedchiken 0]

Quote[/b] ]While the demo we were shown had some rough edges, we're excited about the prospects that this shooter holds.

... a demo ?@#$%^

Let's hope that people don't fall to the dark side and attempt to hack BIS servers to "liberate" this demo. I think developers are already scared that people always pirate their games along with other nasty activities.

(Influence too strong... want to see video...)

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

Very nice indeed. This way you'll think twice before sending one of your top guys into a dangerous situation, and you can let your rookies do all the baitwork

Rough time for FNGs coming up

[Warrior Xâ„¢ 0]

Imagine new player coming in to join the game and a squad/clan of a server:

squad leader: "You have to walk point dude".

new guy: "Again?! I have been walking point for 10 times this week..."

squad leader: "Hey your the new guy. So walk point if you wanna join our squad."

new guy: "Alright...$@@!"

2 minutes later.....*contact!*.....*Oh no 12 is down!*

new guy: "AH sh@t not again!"

some squad memeber: "He would be still alive if he had played for a few more days... Now he has to start over again lol"

[SpecOp9 0]

Quote[/b] ]As of right now, Bohemia Interactive's latest PC project exists in something of a state of flux. Designed to be the sequel to its excellent 2001 military shooter, Operation Flashpoint, the game that would be Operation Flashpoint 2 is currently without a US publisher or official release date. The reason? Codemasters, Operation Flashpoint's publisher, still owns the franchise name, and currently Bohemia is engaged in something of a struggle with them over the game's release. However, undeterred, Bohemia is championing ahead with the project, and even if they have to call it something else, they'll find a way to get the game out. In a small meeting room at E3 2005, Bohemia gave us a look at what we'll call Operation Flashpoint 2.

Reguardless of who publishes the game, I stand by BIS, not the title of "Operation Flashpoint" I have more faith in BIS than I do in a game title, whatever on earth Codemasters is thinking, they'll be sorry...

I think Ubisoft is a French, and well, France is somewhat close to Czech, so hey, it works out :P

[BlackScorpion 0]

Nukes + realistic physics modelling...

You thinking what I'm thinking?

[Heatseeker 0]

Nukes + realistic physics modelling...

You thinking what I'm thinking?

negative (-0) frame rates .