Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux

About

"Arma: Cold War Assault is a military simulation game that presents a harrowing storyline set in the midst of a World War III conflict. Players are tasked with commanding a squad of troops and utilizing over 4

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews

story5 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game runs well on low-end systems and is accessible for Linux and Mac users, making it a great option for retro gaming.
It offers a complex combat simulation with a lot of vehicles and a robust mission editor, providing high replayability and customization.
Despite its age, the game maintains a strong following and is considered a classic among war simulators, delivering a challenging and immersive experience.

The game suffers from outdated graphics and some technical issues, including bugs and a lack of polish in the user interface.
Players have reported problems with multiplayer functionality and the need to purchase separate versions for different operating systems, which feels unfair.
The controls can be awkward, and the game may not provide clear guidance on objectives, leading to confusion during gameplay.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
The game's story is presented through the perspective of a low-ranking enlistee navigating various realistic military scenarios, with a focus on following orders and documenting experiences. While some players appreciate the engaging missions and the ability to customize gameplay through a mission editor, others find the overarching plot—centered on a proxy war during the Cold War—lacks depth and emotional impact. Overall, the narrative is complemented by humorous cut-scenes and a variety of mission types, though technical issues occasionally detract from the experience.
- “The length of missions tends to go no longer than 20 minutes, and you are put in various situations that a soldier could be in real life, such as lookout, last man standing, ambush, etc. The story also seems to be told through the eyes of your low-rank enlistee, who is mostly told to follow orders, keeps a diary, and gets brief summaries of mission objectives and outcomes.”
- “Two campaigns with a lot of different missions and funny (as in retro-fun ;) ) cut-scenes.”
- “Great story (at least the vanilla version).”
- “To me, nothing in the story really mattered to me; the plot seems to revolve around another proxy war in the Cold War era.”
- “The length of missions tends to go no longer than 20 minutes, and you are put in various situations that a soldier could be in real life, such as lookout, last man standing, ambush, etc. The story also seemed to be told through the eyes of your low-rank enlistee who is mostly told to follow orders, keeps a diary, and gets brief summaries of mission objectives and outcomes.”
- “[*] Missions/scripts are not super-solid... sometimes helicopters crash, tanks get stuck, etc.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Overall, users report mixed experiences with stability; while some note that the game runs well with stable performance and minimal glitches, others have encountered bugs and issues that can affect gameplay. Additionally, there are concerns about potential risks, such as the game being able to delete entire disk partitions.
- “I did get Arma 3 and it runs great on Linux via Proton.”
- “Good fun campaigns, although slightly buggy at times.”
- “The port runs very well, no glitches, stable performance.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics of the game, being from 2003, are generally considered outdated and not a primary focus for players. While some users initially noted the poor visual quality, they found that the engaging gameplay and realism compensated for it, allowing for an enjoyable experience despite the graphics. Overall, the game runs well on modern PCs, and players appreciate the nostalgic value it brings.
- “Played this game labeled as 'Operation Flashpoint', still have the CD. I had many hours of fun, and the game is very challenging with great realism, which makes up for the aged graphics.”
- “Interesting missions, good storyline, graphics are about what you expect, and it runs very well.”
- “At first, I was pretty blown away by the bad graphics, but as soon as you dive into the campaign and sound, the fun starts again.”
- “At first I was pretty blown away by the bad graphics, but as soon as you hit up the campaign and sound, the fun starts again.”
- “Played this game labeled as 'Operation Flashpoint', still have the CD, had many hours of fun and the game is very challenging with great realism, which makes up for the aged graphics.”
- “Graphic doesn't matter in this game (yeah because it's a 2003 game), it will only require you a PC to play.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its strong performance, comparable to or even better than Windows, with stable operation and no glitches reported. Players appreciate the smooth experience, especially given the unique gameplay features it offers.
- “Performance just like on Windows, maybe better (don't know about Mac).”
- “The port runs very well, no glitches, stable performance.”
- “The performance is good... and what other games allow you to fly the Hind or Apache?”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite the potential, the game struggles with optimization, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “The performance issues are frustrating, as the game often feels sluggish and unresponsive.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay of Operation Flashpoint from 2001 remains engaging and worth experiencing, even in 2017; however, its aging graphics are noticeably less impressive compared to modern voxel games.
- “Gameplay-wise, Operation Flashpoint from 2001 is still holding up in 2017.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's worth playing, but the game has aged, and nowadays I've seen better textures in voxel games.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting its realistic elements that enhance the experience and encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The game offers an unrivaled level of replayability, keeping me engaged for hours.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes.”
- “The dynamic world and multiple story paths ensure that no two experiences are the same.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by its retro-style fun, featuring two campaigns filled with a variety of missions and amusing cut-scenes that enhance the overall experience.
- “The game features two campaigns filled with a variety of missions and hilarious (in a retro-fun way) cut-scenes.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and clever references that keep you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game balances its serious moments with lighthearted humor, making every mission enjoyable.”