Operation Flashpoint: Red River

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Operation Flashpoint: Red River is a warfare shooter game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including a four-player co-op campaign. Players can choose from four distinct classes in a Marine Fireteam and face new insurgent enemies and the Chinese PLA in the setting of Tajikistan. With personalized load-outs, authentic weapons, and the option to call in airstrikes, the game provides an immersive and tactical experience.

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Operation Flashpoint: Red River screenshot

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 438 reviews

story23 positive mentions

graphics14 negative mentions

Offers a solid tactical shooter experience with a mix of realism and action.
The game has a decent amount of replayability with various classes and leveling systems.
The banter and dialogue, particularly from Staff Sgt. Knox, adds humor and immersion to the gameplay.

Heavily reliant on Games for Windows Live, which is no longer supported, causing issues with saving and multiplayer.
The AI can be frustratingly dumb, often leading to poor squad performance in combat.
Graphics and sound design feel dated and lack polish compared to other contemporary shooters.

story
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
71%
9%
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and realistic, while others criticize it as bland and poorly executed. Many noted that the campaign missions are varied and provide a sense of authenticity in military tactics, but the narrative often feels rushed and lacks depth, particularly in the latter half. Additionally, issues such as bugs and a lack of mod support detract from the overall experience, leaving some players frustrated with the storytelling elements.
- “The coolest thing the game manages is that you're always part of a larger force - you control a single squad (Bravo, IIRC), and two other AI squads (Alpha and Charlie) are always there on your missions, with their own roles.”
- “For me, this game is still very high up on its storyline.”
- “If you like to have a nice fun, immersive storyline and gameplay, then definitely try this one out.”
- “The story is bad in the first half and abysmal in the second half.”
- “It's not just because the story is lacking; though it feels like there was a wish to make this blend of simpler shooters like Call of Duty and a realistic shooter, it ended up rushed.”
- “The plot sucks, but the rest is pretty good.”
gameplay
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of tactical squad-based mechanics and linear mission structures, offering decent replayability and a variety of objectives. While some players appreciate the realistic shooting mechanics and team dynamics, others criticize the dated graphics, AI limitations, and repetitive nature of missions. Overall, the game provides a solid experience for those seeking a cooperative shooter, but may not satisfy players looking for a more immersive or complex tactical simulation.
- “With the fireteam engagement game modes with semi-radiant AI, the campaign, and the leveling system, this game has a ton of replayability and the potential for 100+ hours of gameplay easily.”
- “Amazing team-based gameplay.”
- “Gameplay mixes realism with action well.”
- “Bland, boring gameplay.”
- “It has extremely linear gameplay, really holds your hand the whole time and gives you no say in tactics.”
- “Controls, gameplay, and AI are all terrible even for a 2011 game. Plus, this game is no longer supported as Codemasters abandoned it a long time ago, still a ton of bugs that will never be fixed.”
graphics
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
49%
27%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, with many reviewers noting that they do not meet current standards, particularly for a title released in 2011. While some players find the visuals serviceable and appreciate the atmospheric elements, others criticize the low texture resolution and lack of graphical options. Overall, the graphics may not impress, but they do not significantly detract from the enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are certainly very nice and contrary to some reviews the screenshots show it off rather well.”
- “Graphics are great, and just some of the funniest cutscenes I've ever seen.”
- “Good graphics and fun gameplay!”
- “The graphics don't hold up to current standards but it's still a fun game.”
- “There are no graphical settings in the options menu so you're stuck with piss-poor texture resolution across the board for starters.”
- “Overall, it runs well, although for a 2011 game the graphics look like garbage and probably don't require much anyway.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its over-the-top dialogue and absurd situations, often drawing on stereotypes from military culture. Players find the interactions with AI and the antics of their fireteam leader amusing, leading to moments of genuine laughter, especially when the game's mechanics falter. Overall, the blend of intentional humor and unintentional glitches creates a lighthearted experience that is best enjoyed with friends.
- “Many hilarious hours and calling out targets to be smacked out by your crew.”
- “The dialogue in this is hilarious too; it's pretty much your stereotypical marine movie talk.”
- “A 'serious' game that's actually broken but still funny and good to play with friends and not take it seriously.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its diverse game modes, character progression, and cooperative gameplay, with players easily logging over 100 hours. However, some reviewers noted a lack of depth in replayability compared to its predecessor, suggesting that while the gameplay is enjoyable, it may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.
- “With the fireteam engagement game modes with semi-radiant AI, the campaign, and the leveling system, this game has a ton of replayability and the potential for 100+ hours of gameplay easily.”
- “Fun to play under realistic settings, replayable and fun every time.”
- “Great gameplay and mechanics but lacks replayability.”
- “Replayability: 1/1”
- “Because, with that you get character progression among several classes (replay value), weapon unlocks, gadget unlocks, full campaign co-op mode, fire team co-op missions, nice graphics, good sound and fluid controls.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting significant issues related to the outdated Microsoft Games Store DRM and Games for Windows Live, leading to frequent bugs and difficulties in launching the game. While some players find enjoyment in the campaign and co-op modes, they acknowledge the presence of numerous minor glitches and challenges in finding online matches. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," which detracts from the overall experience.
- “This game, due to still being attached to the old Microsoft Games Store DRM, is a buggy mess.”
- “Windows Live is buggy as hell; I can't play the game and spent nearly an hour trying to get it to run... I give up now.”
- “It has a lot of minor bugs and glitches.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the inclusion of classic rock and rap tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during vehicle segments. However, others criticize the soundtrack as subpar, noting that certain sections feature poor quality music that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Despite these discrepancies, many players find the music adds a fun element to the game, even if it doesn't align with the game's core identity.
- “The soundtrack is very nice too; you'll hear classic rock and rap songs while your team drives a Humvee to the next location.”
- “I got plenty of laughs out of being trashtalked by my squad, and listening to Megadeth and Pantera on the in-game music while driving through a battlefield.”
- “Good music while en route, enhancing the experience throughout the entire game.”
- “The mouse input is very 'floaty.' There's a five-minute part at the beginning after you complete the firing range portion of basic training, where all you do is listen to your platoon leader complain about how horrible you and your squad are while hard rock music plays in the background.”
- “Controlling the unit seems really bulky, the AI is poorly programmed, and the game has too long cutscenes with the worst game music ever.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The emotional responses to the game vary significantly; some players found it boring and poorly executed, while others felt a deep connection to the military experience it portrayed, citing authentic dialogue and relatable scenarios that evoked strong feelings. Overall, the game elicits a mix of apathy and profound emotional resonance, depending on the player's perspective and experiences.
- “I was about ten years old when my mother told him, 'If you ever want to see your grandchildren grow up, you have to stop immediately.' Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “This is the first game I've ever played that really made me feel like I was back in the corps, because of the authentic ways the characters speak to one another, common marine phrases they say, etc. Definitely one of the most realistic military experiences I've had in a video game.”
- “Misleading screenshots, clunky movement, poor controls, and a boring story.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highlighted by its visually appealing desert setting and sunset visuals, which create an engaging experience. However, some players find the desert environment can feel somewhat bland over time. The singleplayer campaign is praised for its decent story and immersive atmosphere during the initial playthrough.
- “The graphics create a stunning desert atmosphere with beautiful sunsets and clouds; great work!”
- “The singleplayer experience is enjoyable, with a decent story and an immersive atmosphere.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues and glitchy graphics. While these flaws are notable, they do not detract from the overall success of Arma 2.
- “It's unoptimized as hell.”
- “Other flaws include glitchy graphics and overall shoddy optimization, but not to the game-breaking level.”
- “There were still complaints about performance issues, but overall Arma 2 was a huge hit.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be characterized by lengthy and tedious cutscenes, particularly during humvee rides filled with repetitive tutorials and jingoistic speeches. However, some appreciate the humor and writing, especially if they have military experience or enjoy military-themed content.
- “Most cutscenes in the game are long humvee rides to the next objective, listening to your NCO give tedious tutorial lectures and increasingly jingoistic speeches, while the pre-mission scenes are flashy briefing sequences without much substance.”
- “These rides are tedious, but the writing is decent and the guy is genuinely hilarious at times (provided you've ever been in the military or are a fan of Generation Kill), and he reminds me of a sergeant in my old unit.”