Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45
- March 13, 2006
- Tripwire Interactive
- 1000h median play time
Get on Steam"Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a realistic WWII first-person shooter with a focus on the Eastern Front. The game features multiplayer combat and a variety of infantry and armored vehicle weapons. The D-Day Anniversary 2016 update includes five new maps for the Darkest Hour mod, free for RO:Ostfront owners. Fight through some of the most intense combat of the war in this immersive and authentic experience."
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Reviews
- This game is a pure nostalgia trip with intuitive tank combat.
- The gameplay is realistic and immersive, making players feel like they are in a true WWII battle.
- Despite its age, the game still holds up well and offers a unique experience compared to modern shooters.
- The multiplayer is nearly dead, making it hard to find active games.
- The controls and gameplay can feel sluggish and clunky, which may frustrate new players.
- Bots in practice mode are often unhelpful and can detract from the experience.
- gameplay59 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of realism and tactical combat, with many players appreciating its focus on teamwork and careful strategy rather than chaotic run-and-gun mechanics. While some reviews highlight the intense and immersive infantry and armored combat, others criticize the sluggishness, clunky mechanics, and lack of modern features, leading to a divided opinion on its overall execution. Despite its dated graphics, many players find the gameplay engaging and rewarding, particularly for those who enjoy a more realistic World War II shooter experience.
“The realism and gameplay are amazing!”
“Infantry combat is intense and incredibly realistic for such an old title, and the armored combat is a fantastic balance between simulation and casual gameplay.”
“Gameplay that makes you think and plan, guns that really feel like mechanical weapons instead of dakka-machines, and realistic troop types (1 sniper per side!), this game is everything a PC FPS should be.”
“Bland, dull, and above all sluggish - attrition gameplay.”
“The gameplay is incomplete.”
“Had to ask for a refund: gameplay is messy, graphics are bad and hinder combat.”
- graphics54 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, especially compared to modern standards, but many players appreciate the effort and care put into its presentation. While some reviews highlight decent visuals for its release year, others criticize the graphics as poor or lacking, particularly on higher resolutions. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, the engaging gameplay compensates for these shortcomings.
“The graphics may not be up to par with modern day standards, but you can tell the developers put a lot of love and care into this game.”
“For a 2006 shooter, this game can be graphically very impressive.”
“For the age of the game, the graphics are great; built on a great engine, the game has realistic sound which makes it very immersive.”
“My graphics on a large wide screen monitor looked worse than the photos.”
“Had to ask for a refund: gameplay is messy, graphics are bad and hinder combat.”
“Awful graphics, the controls are awful as well.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively capturing the intense and gritty nature of World War II combat. Players appreciate the combination of sound design, visual presentation, and the need for teamwork, which enhances the overall experience and encourages a more strategic approach to gameplay. The game's ability to evoke a sense of struggle and realism, particularly in its portrayal of environments like Stalingrad, contributes to its lasting appeal.
“The game is so much fun to play despite all these years; do note I am biased in favor of WWII. A game with excellent presentation and atmosphere is far more important than graphical power.”
“The atmosphere, the sound design, and the immense struggle to complete objectives while looking around for enemy activities can really get into your head.”
“The atmosphere, the sound design, the immense struggle to complete objectives while looking around for enemy activities can really get into your head.”
“Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a slow-paced realistic tactical shooter with a heavily depressive atmosphere and predominantly bolt-action, which makes it a unique experience.”
“Incredibly captures the atmosphere of Eastern Front World War II combat, especially in its visual portrayal of half-destroyed urban environments such as Stalingrad.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting smooth performance on various systems, including low-end laptops, while others experience significant issues such as bugs, crashes, and control clumsiness. Overall, the game appears to have a range of stability problems that detract from the experience for many players.
“It runs great on Windows 10.”
“Runs great on my cheap little laptop.”
“The graphics are very good - I run on ultra settings and it looks great, and I have experienced no glitches.”
“The controls are weird, the resolution is buggy, and the gameplay feels extremely clunky.”
“Buggy, unfinished piece of crap that is RO2 and RO:OF.”
“No servers, FPS drop, glitches, and crashes.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is centered around World War II, offering a perspective from the German side, which some players found appealing. However, there are criticisms regarding the limited number of missions and the lack of English support in the workshop, which detracts from the overall experience.
“So by purchasing this game, you actually purchase the full war story of World War II.”
“Not enough missions and the workshop is not in English.”
“I bought this game thinking it had a story after I spent weeks searching the globe for a game that showed the Germans' side of the story.”
“I bought this game thinking it had a story after I spent weeks searching the globe for a game that showed the Germans' side of the story.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality, with many users highlighting the great soundtrack and appropriate, non-intrusive audio. While some feel the graphics have not aged well, the audio experience, including distance-based sounds, remains a strong point. However, there are mixed feelings about the repetitiveness of the soundtrack over time.
“The music is great.”
“Graphics and animations didn't age very well, but the soundtrack and audio are still good, especially the distance-based sounds.”
“The soundtrack is appropriate and non-intrusive.”
“Playing Call of Duty 2, I thought it was the best simulation of the Second World War, but I was mistaken; the soundtrack has been the same for the last 6 years.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the game avoids tedious grinding, offering a more accessible experience without the need for stat grinding or unlocks. Players appreciate the balance between realism and fluid gameplay, making it engaging without feeling overly repetitive.
“Most realistic and accessible without grinding past restrictions.”
“[*][i]no stat grinding or unlocks[/i].”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its humor, with players finding the walking animations particularly amusing. Additionally, the lighthearted tone is complemented by quirky references, such as the asparagus joke, contributing to an overall entertaining experience.
“This game is very cheap; a potato PC can run this. The graphics are not bad, and it's very funny.”
“The walking animations are funny.”
“Does asparagus make your pee smell funny?”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are highly polarized, with some players expressing intense joy and empowerment, while others describe feelings of extreme frustration and pain. Despite these mixed emotions, many still find the game engaging and worthwhile, indicating a strong emotional impact overall.
“This game made me feel so happy. I still play it, so clearly it's good.”
“Very engaging game, made me feel like an absolute champion. 10/10!”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally effective, with performance issues resolving when players change their focus. The graphics and sound effects are considered good for the era, contributing to a solid overall performance.
“The graphics are reasonable for the time it was made, the sound effects are good, and the performance is excellent.”
“The performance returns to normal if you avert your gaze.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, especially in crowded areas.”
“Loading times are excessively long, making it frustrating to get into the action.”
