America's Army 3
- June 17, 2009
- U.S. Army
- 20h median play time
America's Army fans and new players alike can now experience America's Army 3, the official U.S. Army game, which has more authentic military elements including training, technology, weapons, and audio than any other military game. Built on Unreal Engine 3, AA3 delivers stunningly realistic characters, environments, lighting effects, animations, and team-based experiences. In the game where Every…
Reviews
- The game offers a realistic approach to military training and tactics, emphasizing teamwork and strategy.
- It's free to play, making it accessible to a wide audience.
- The community, while small, is generally mature and focused on cooperation.
- The game suffers from a lack of active servers and a dwindling player base, making multiplayer experiences rare.
- Technical issues, including bugs and performance problems, detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- Many players feel that the game has lost the charm and quality of earlier versions, particularly America's Army 2.
- graphics78 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that they do not meet modern standards and appear dated compared to contemporary titles. While some players appreciate the visuals as decent for their time, others criticize them as poor, clunky, and reminiscent of older games. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may have moments of quality, they often fall short of expectations, particularly when compared to more recent releases.
“Had great graphics and authentic sound; multiplayer was fun too but very tough. I remember, had a great community all the way up until they closed the servers some years ago now.”
“Great game, very realistic with stunning graphics. No glitches as far as I know; for a free game, it's definitely worth a shot.”
“Its graphics are stunning and really put you into the action.”
“The graphics and sound quality of the game may not meet modern gaming standards.”
“The UI is horrid, the graphics in-game are barely a step up from games released 8-10 years ago.”
“The graphics are a bit on the weak side (Arma 2ish).”
- gameplay73 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its focus on tactical teamwork and realism, appealing to fans of military shooters, though some players find it lacks variety and can be clunky or buggy. While many appreciate the unique mechanics and training elements, others criticize it for being uninteresting or overly strict, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its flaws, the game is often recommended for those who enjoy a more strategic and immersive experience in multiplayer settings.
“Very recommended FPS for tactical teamwork gameplay.”
“The gameplay is amazing (having to go through training to use certain weapons) and I enjoyed the tactical aspect of squad movements.”
“Great gameplay with realism and lots of empowerment, making me feel great when doing well.”
“The gameplay is broken and bugged.”
“Very poor gameplay, little fun, too much strategy and not enough online cooperation.”
“Clunky mechanics, uninteresting gameplay.”
- story29 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a traditional narrative, with players noting that it primarily consists of training missions rather than a cohesive single-player campaign. While the training missions are seen as beneficial for learning gameplay mechanics, many users express a desire for a more engaging story mode to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the absence of a meaningful storyline detracts from the game's potential, leaving players feeling that it could benefit significantly from a well-crafted narrative.
“It provides players with the most authentic military experience available, from exploring the development of soldiers in individual and collective training to their deployment in simulated missions in the war on terror.”
“A shame speaking that this game is really good, and I like how they depict it as a combat mission rather than a training mission (America's Army: Proving Grounds).”
“If they ever release this game with a single-player mode, with a good story and thoughtfully crafted missions, I'd likely be one of the first to buy it.”
“The only problem is there is no singleplayer other than the training missions.”
“At least this has a coherent storyline, and by that I mean there is none.”
“America's Army 3, story-driven crazy shoot 'em up with bad graphics and lots of requirements.”
- stability24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly hinder the overall experience and gameplay stability. Many users note that while it has potential, the lack of polish and ongoing support has left it feeling unfinished and unplayable at times. Despite being free, the persistent issues with server performance and gameplay mechanics detract from its enjoyment, leading to a generally negative perception of its stability.
“If it was well polished, bug free, and had excellent online server performance, this game would be amazing.”
“I'm not sure, but AAPG 3 may just be version 3.0 of 2.5. Just starting it up on Alder 3GHz 6800 GeForce with 1.7 GB of RAM, 2.5 runs great on 1280 x 1024 without AA, but not so well. However, 2.5 runs great and I don't have to have Steam running to play; it uses 100 MB of RAM.”
“It's buggy, like a lot, and most servers.”
“This game gets the award for most unsupported worst buggy game ever.”
“It's contains so many serious bugs and glitches that make the game completely unplayable.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues even on mid-range systems that can handle other titles at higher settings. Complaints include poor server performance, inconsistent hit detection, and overall unpolished gameplay, leading many to label it as "horribly optimized." Despite its potential, the lack of optimization detracts heavily from the experience, with players suggesting that improvements in this area could elevate the game significantly.
“If it was well polished, bug free, and had excellent online server performance, this game would be amazing.”
“The biggest problem is still the optimization though; if they fix it, it's gonna be really cool.”
“However, you need a truly good computer; this is unoptimized.”
“This game has potential and it looks cool and all, but it's so not optimized. My PC is a mid-range gaming PC and it's a little old, but it can run games with these settings at 1080p easily, but not this one because its optimization is terrible.”
“The game is horribly optimized; I can barely run it smoothly on the lowest settings while I can run other games with high settings.”
“Terrible optimization, dead multiplayer, the requirements are a big lie.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is heavily criticized as it primarily serves as an advertisement for the U.S. Army, with users feeling that it prioritizes promotional content over gameplay quality. Many find it unworthy of their time, especially if they dislike the blend of generic multiplayer shooting mechanics with overt jingoistic themes and recruitment efforts.
“Basically downloading an American Army advertisement.”
“It is supported by the U.S. Army, so it is a 100% advertising game.”
“Not even worth your time unless you like your generic multiplayer shooters to come with a hefty dose of jingoistic propaganda and recruitment ads.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game, particularly the menu theme, has received positive feedback from users, who express a strong appreciation for its quality and appeal.
“I love the menu music.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting intense feelings of nostalgia and loss, particularly with the release of version 3.0, which marked a significant change that many felt diminished their beloved experience. The emotional impact is described as profound, with some players experiencing tears over the game's evolution.
“Constant emotional bursts - just amazing!”
“As a player of AA since it started and was the first FPS I ever got into, I cried when 3.0 came out and the game as we all knew and loved died.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviews on replayability are mixed; some players find limited value in replaying the game, while others, after extensive playtime, highlight its significant replayability, particularly when enjoyed with friends.
“Having played it over the course of a few years in excess of 1,000 hours, I can honestly say this game has huge replayability.”
“While it's fun to play with friends every now and then, I really don't see any value for replayability.”
“The game lacks enough variety to keep me coming back after the first playthrough.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally appreciated for its immersive portrayal of military life, making it a suitable choice for those interested in army simulations. However, it received a moderate rating of 6/10, indicating that while it captures the essence of military training, it may not fully engage all players.
“Overall, this game is a fantastic experience if you wish to learn how to become a soldier or simply want to immerse yourself in the general atmosphere of an army simulator.”
“Overall, this game is a fantastic experience if you wish to learn how to become a soldier or if you want to feel the general atmosphere of an army simulator.”
“Atmosphere: 6/10”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers find the humor in the game to be effective, particularly noting that even elements like the armor contribute to its comedic appeal.
“The armor is hilarious!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch!”
“I can't stop laughing at the witty dialogue!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Grinding in the game is seen as a double-edged sword; while it may deter casual players due to the time investment required to unlock interesting guns, it offers dedicated players a rewarding experience that keeps them engaged for an extended period.
“Unlocking most of the more interesting guns through gameplay feels excessively grindy for casual players, but it may keep those with ample time occupied for a long time.”
“The grinding aspect of the game is overwhelming, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found the grinding to be tedious and repetitive, which detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”