Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Looking for a brutal war experience? Look no further than Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.

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Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is a tactical military shooter set on the fictional island of Skira. Players engage in battles against enemies with various military equipment. The game features a wide-open world with a day-and-night cycle and dynamic weather, providing a realistic battlefield experience. Cooperative multiplayer mode allows up to four players to complete missions together.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 781 reviews

story38 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

Great realistic shooter with decently paced action.
Fun gameplay with a good sense of immersion and tactical elements.
Offers a unique experience for fans of military simulations, especially in co-op mode.

AI teammates are often unresponsive and can hinder gameplay.
Controls can feel clunky and take time to get used to.
Multiplayer servers are shut down, limiting replayability and co-op options.

story
264 mentions
14 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered one-dimensional and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of missions than a cohesive narrative. While some appreciate the variety of mission types and the tactical gameplay, others criticize the linearity and lack of engaging plot elements, leading to a perception that the missions are often frustrating and poorly designed. Overall, the campaign offers a basic storyline set against a military backdrop, but it fails to deliver a compelling or immersive experience.
- “The story is quite good as well and given current geopolitical events transpiring right now, this is a good preview to combat operations involving U.S.M.C.”
- “I love the singleplayer/campaign games with a nice story behind and this Dragon Rising has a nice story, which captures you in the game.”
- “The feeling within the gameplay is a fluent one of being part of a good story, which you can experience from different perspectives as a soldier within the frontline, a sniper on a mission at night.”
- “The campaign storyline also makes no sense.”
- “The story and missions almost feel like if nobody tried at all.”
- “The story for this game is lacking any depth and easily gets forgotten about making the game purely about killing the enemy and never about saving the day.”
gameplay
76 mentions
32 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its realism and tactical elements, while others criticize its clunky mechanics and sluggish pace. Many reviews highlight the fun and challenging aspects of the campaign, but also point out issues like bugs, poor AI, and frustrating controls that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique military simulation experience that can be enjoyable, especially with community mods that enhance gameplay.
- “A little jank, but once you got the game down from a gameplay perspective, you might just get hooked.”
- “The gameplay is fun and challenging, and the sandbox battlefield is fun to run around in.”
- “Gun mechanics, ballistics, the fact that you can die from one shot and many other features make Dragon Rising a must-buy if you want an FPS that will reward patience and teamwork.”
- “But gameplay itself is baaaaaaad.”
- “Take the realism level of a battlefield game, but replace the polished fluid gameplay with the clumsy sluggish feeling of a milsim, and you get this abomination.”
- “The mechanics are clunky, the missions are poorly thought out, the AI is dim-witted on both sides, gameplay unsatisfying and the save points are infuriating.”
graphics
70 mentions
41 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising" are generally considered dated, with many reviewers noting that they resemble early Xbox 360 titles. While some players appreciate the game's aesthetic and sound design, others criticize the graphics as unplayable or lacking compared to modern standards. Despite these criticisms, a few users highlight that the visuals were impressive for their time and still hold up reasonably well, especially with community mods that enhance the experience.
- “The game's overall aesthetic is very cool even to today's standards and holds up today.”
- “Stunning visuals and cinematic audio make this game quite intense.”
- “Graphics are awesome!”
- “This game at best looks like some of the initial released Xbox 360 games in late 2005, compared to where the graphics should have been in 2009.”
- “The graphics are so bad that it is unplayable; I had it set to the highest possible settings and it was still a mess.”
- “Terrible graphics and video glitches take you right out of any realism they were going for.”
stability
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
-10 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, particularly in mission triggers and AI behavior. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, many describe it as a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as less stable than its predecessors, with a mix of fun and frustration stemming from its technical shortcomings.
- “It runs great, plus it's the best war experience (on foot marines) I have ever had in video gaming. I have played many war games, from the old Delta Force games to the present.”
- “The game is incredibly stable, allowing for smooth gameplay without any frustrating crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; it enhances the overall experience and keeps me immersed in the action.”
- “Mission 6 is buggy as others have pointed out; you will complete the mission and are supposed to be extracted via the helicopter, but sometimes the ending doesn't trigger and you are left in-game free to roam around the map but unable to progress.”
- “Not recommended, it has too many bugs and glitches.”
- “Very buggy and broken, but played with friends you can spend hours on this :)”
optimization
10 mentions
40 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its ability to run smoothly on a variety of hardware, including older systems and the Steam Deck. While the graphics may feel dated, the performance remains consistent, though some users note issues with keybindings and interface design, particularly for gamepad use. The optimization appears to be more tailored for console, leading to mixed experiences in certain gameplay aspects.
- “I play it on my Steam Deck and it runs smoothly.”
- “At least it runs pretty well even on a potato, and performance is also consistent.”
- “This game looks gorgeous, yet it runs smoothly even on older hardware.”
- “Keybindings and optimization were wack... shoes wack... hair wack... but me- I'm tight af!”
- “I believe most of these issues are because the game was optimized for console release.”
- “The result is a bit hit and miss, due to unforgiving difficulty, a tightly scripted experience on an open map, and a clunky interface that was not even optimized for gamepad.”
music
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the unique tuvan throat singing theme and the menu music, while others note that the overall soundtrack is limited and not a focal point of the experience. Despite this, many agree that the sound effects and music contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing its classic FPS appeal.
- “However, the Tuvan throat singing main theme strikes a chord with me; if you don't dig the main menu music, then don't even @ me, mate.”
- “I love the challenge it brings, and despite every animated soldier looking the exact same, and the graphics in general being 'some years old', the soundtrack, the various missions, etc., make this into a FPS classic.”
- “Music and sound effects are great.”
- “The story is decent but don't expect a lot of music.”
- “However, the tuvan throat singing main theme strikes a chord with me; if you don't dig the main menu music, then don't even @ me, mate.”
- “I love the challenge it brings, and despite every animated soldier looking the exact same, and the graphics in general being 'some years old', the soundtrack, the various missions, etc., makes this into a FPS classic.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its absurd design choices, such as a hilariously narrow field of view and clunky controls, which often lead to comical moments, especially when interacting with the AI. Players find amusement in the game's failures and the ridiculousness of its mechanics, making it more enjoyable when shared with friends, despite its shortcomings. Overall, the humor is rooted in the game's flaws and the shared experiences of navigating its challenges.
- “And I haven't even mentioned the AI; it's okay for the most part, but will occasionally make me burst out laughing at how dumb it is.”
- “It's realistic enough that it seems to either bore or scare away more casual shooter fans, but it's also too dumbed down and stripped of features to appeal to serious milsim gamers. It got crushed in sales by Arma 2, which is kind of hilarious in hindsight, because Codemasters specifically made this to be more successful than Arma.”
- “It is much more fun to go through the pain of the game with a friend, bragging about how you just hit three guys several yards away with your tube grenades and laughing about how you just turned into some meaty, gory chunks from an explosion or insulting the AI partners you're given.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, attributed to its realistic tactical gameplay and extensive content from expansions, which enhance the overall experience. While it may not lead the industry in every feature, its vast map size and player freedom contribute significantly to its lasting appeal.
- “All in all, this is one of my favorite war games that I've played and has offered me a ton of replay value over the years.”
- “The original Operation Flashpoint GOTY game was one of the greatest 'realistic', tactical, sans-health bar FPS games of all time, with two fantastic expansions which both added huge amounts of content to the game and a wonderful gameplay style that gave the game tremendous replayability and allowed the player tremendous scope to imagine the world around them.”
- “The original Operation Flashpoint led the industry in map size, replayability, freedom, difficulty (if you so desired), and scope.”
- “The original Operation Flashpoint GOTY game was one of the greatest 'realistic', tactical, sans-health bar FPS games of all time, with two fantastic expansions which both added huge amounts of content to the game. It had a wonderful gameplay style that gave the game tremendous replayability and allowed the player to imagine the world around them.”
- “These advantages are real and enjoyable, but none of them represent industry-leading iterations of the features. The original Operation Flashpoint led the industry in map size, replayability, freedom, difficulty (if you so desired), and scope, but Dragon Rising doesn't really set the world alight in any one way.”
- “Replayability: high”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its atmospheric, slow-paced tactical action set in expansive maps, which creates an engaging experience for players. While some users feel it lacks certain elements found in similar titles like Arma 3, they still find the overall ambiance charming and immersive, despite minor drawbacks such as language support.
- “Atmospheric, slow-paced tactical action with big maps.”
- “I liked the atmosphere of the game; it's a tactical strategy that requires your full participation, and seeing the battlefield from the first person is engaging.”
- “Maybe it lacks the capacity of Arma 3, but I still feel weirdly charmed by its atmosphere.”
- “Nope, that's not bad, but it would be more interesting with a few elements of original Arma, like ballistics, weapon sounds, color spectrum, vehicles, and... atmosphere?”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring excessive time and resources, particularly in terms of limited ammo. The awkward control system further detracts from the experience, overshadowing the game's potential.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This can get a little tedious and costly in terms of ammo, which is very limited compared to more casual shooters.”
- “Frustrating, tedious, and an awkward control system ruin the awesome potential this has on paper.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over misleading advertising and server issues. Overall, the game's financial model has contributed to its failure and negative reception.
- “This and Red River were just cash grab attempts by CM (who have since shut down their FPS studio and are probably going to be shutting down their racing one too soon).”
- “It is a huge shame that this game failed, and while some admirable advertising almost convinced me to give Red River a go, it was apparently even worse than DR, and as such sadly I fear we must lay this game to rest.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to "Flashpoint: Red River" is overwhelmingly negative, with players expressing frustration and disappointment due to poor graphics and overall gameplay experience, leading to a strong aversion to revisiting the game.