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Arma 2

A brilliantly in-depth and vast war simulator that rewards your patience. But buyer beware: this game has AI issues.
74%Game Brain Score
gameplay
story, stability
72% User Score Based on 180 reviews
Critic Score 78%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows

About

"Arma 2" is an open-world warfare game set in the fictional post-soviet country of Chernarus in 2009. As a member of a US Marine Corps Force Recon squad, players will work to minimize civilian casualties and maintain stability. The game boasts large-scale environments, detailed modern units, weapons, vehicles, and a variety of single and multiplayer options, including co-op and multiplayer for up to 2 players.

Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
Arma 2 screenshot
+8

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 183 reviews
gameplay3 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions

  • Offers a nostalgic experience with a vast sandbox environment and a strong community.
  • Realistic gameplay that emphasizes tactical planning and teamwork, making it rewarding for dedicated players.
  • Includes a built-in controller support feature, enhancing accessibility for players accustomed to console gaming.
  • Severely dated graphics and poor optimization lead to a buggy experience that can be frustrating.
  • The AI is often unresponsive and can hinder gameplay, making missions feel tedious and unengaging.
  • Multiplayer functionality is largely dead, limiting the game's replayability and community interaction.
  • story
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally viewed as weak and underdeveloped, with many players noting its simplistic objectives and poorly executed campaign. While there are multiple storylines and mission types, the execution suffers from bugs, subpar voice acting, and a lack of engaging narrative, leading some to suggest that the game is better suited for creative sandbox play rather than a compelling story experience.

    • “You get a story where you play soldiers doing objectives.”
    • “There are multiple ways to do objectives progressing the storyline.”
    • “The main version I have has 2 storylines.”
    • “The main storyline you can beat in under an hour if you're good at the game.”
    • “Campaign is a big lol, spelling mistakes, like 10 missions, robotic voice acting, very boring.”
    • “So badly optimized that it runs worse than Arma III, stupid AI, buggy mechanics, and some of the worst FPS menus ever, not to mention the amateur dialogs and weak story.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, poor optimization, and clunky mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers describe it as "buggy" and "full of jank," leading to frustration, particularly with gameplay elements like team dynamics and AI behavior. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game's stability issues significantly hinder enjoyment, making it difficult to recommend.

    • “So badly optimized that it runs worse than Arma III, with stupid AI, buggy mechanics, and some of the worst FPS menus ever, not to mention the amateur dialogues and weak story.”
    • “In short: outdated, buggy, clunky, confusing... I would advise against it.”
    • “Nostalgia can't blind us from the fact that this game is a buggy, awful-looking, confusing mess.”
  • optimization
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting that it requires a powerful PC to run smoothly, often performing worse than previous titles like Arma III. Common complaints include buggy mechanics, poor frame rates, and overall subpar performance, leading to a frustrating experience even on high-spec systems. Overall, the optimization issues have significantly impacted players' enjoyment of the game.

    • “Bugs and lag, not well optimized, but I love the DayZ mod.”
    • “Requires a powerful PC to run smoothly.”
    • “So badly optimized that it runs worse than Arma III, with stupid AI, buggy mechanics, and some of the worst FPS menus ever, not to mention the amateur dialogues and weak story.”
    • “Poorly optimized, it runs like crap.”
    • “This is the first game I have to thumb down due to optimization issues.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as severely dated, yet some users appreciate the nice maps and overall visual presentation. Despite the outdated visuals, many believe that the immersive gameplay experience compensates for the graphical shortcomings.

    • “If you can look past the dated graphics and are willing to invest the time to learn its intricacies, you'll be rewarded with one of the most immersive and rewarding gaming experiences ever created.”
    • “It has nice maps and graphics although :)”
    • “Yes, the graphics are dated.”
    • “Severely dated graphics.”
    • “The OG military sim - still a legend, graphics be damned!”
  • gameplay
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is described as having depth and providing fun, particularly in its challenging mechanics compared to other first-person shooters. However, it suffers from significant optimization issues, buggy mechanics, and poor AI, which detracts from the overall experience, especially with the shutdown of online servers.

    • “But the gameplay, the depth, and the community are timeless.”
    • “The gameplay, in my opinion, gave me tons of fun, but with the shutdown servers, you can't get any hot online action.”
    • “Arma 2 has challenging gameplay; it's not like other first-person shooters.”
    • “So badly optimized that it runs worse than Arma III, with stupid AI, buggy mechanics, and some of the worst FPS menus ever. Not to mention the amateur dialogues and weak story.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers appreciate the game's nostalgic elements and thoughtful features, contrasting them with the prevalent microtransactions and season passes in modern gaming. The absence of aggressive monetization strategies enhances the overall experience, making it a refreshing choice for players.

    • “Honestly, this game and everything surrounding it just oozes nostalgia for me, which was already enough for me to buy it in a heartbeat on sale. I mean, it even has its own manual! I know it's such a simple thing, but I struggle to find those thoughtful features in games now with all the microtransactions and season passes. It's refreshing to go back to!”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases. It feels like a complete experience right from the start.”
    • “The monetization in this game is overwhelming; it feels like every corner I turn, there's another paywall.”
    • “I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game. It really detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases makes it hard to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend more money.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users feel that the presence of admins in all Arma versions negatively impacts the game's atmosphere, detracting from the immersive experience that the game aims to provide.

    • “The use of admins in all the Arma versions ruins and destroys the basic atmosphere of the game.”

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