Rising Storm/Red Orchestra 2 Multiplayer
- September 13, 2011
- Tripwire Interactive
- 43h median play time
"Rising Storm/Red Orchestra 2 Multiplayer offers a realistic WW2 shooter experience with the Heroes of the West mod. This free update for owners includes two new maps, Caen Outskirts and Hill 400, featuring British and US forces in intense battles, as well as new vehicles. The mod is created by the game's community, providing additional content and features for fans of the series."
Reviews
- gameplay1,553 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Red Orchestra 2" is widely praised for its realistic mechanics, immersive atmosphere, and emphasis on teamwork, making it a standout in the WWII shooter genre. Players appreciate the tactical depth, with features like one-shot kills, suppression mechanics, and a variety of classes that encourage strategic gameplay. However, some reviews note that the steep learning curve and occasional clunky mechanics can be frustrating for newcomers, while the graphics, though dated, do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
“Boasting a still-active player base and a gameplay formula that combines ultra-realistic action with simpler controls than most other military simulation games, this one is definitely worth a try.”
“If you’re looking for a game that delivers both historical accuracy and thrilling gameplay, Red Orchestra 2 is a classic that stands the test of time.”
“Amazing game mechanics such as groupings within squads (riflemen, assault/SMGs, LMGs) and the ability to individually task or move them during combat, realistic sprinting and stamina, death by most bullet wounds but where smaller wounds can be bandaged, bullet drop off at distance, adjustable iron sights, etc. just very fun and more 'realistic' than most FPS games.”
“The gameplay is absolutely nothing like Call of Duty or Battlefield, so if that's your thing then this isn't really for you.”
“The gameplay itself is frustrating, because once the enemy gets a little control on the map, the battle is almost always a sure victory.”
“The ai is just plain horrible, gameplay mechanics are awkward and the whole game disappointed me in every way possible.”
- graphics988 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely described as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they do not meet modern standards, especially for a title released in 2011. However, despite their age, some players appreciate the game's atmospheric design and attention to detail, which contribute to an immersive experience. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, the gameplay and realism often compensate for their shortcomings, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
“The graphics are still stunning, even today.”
“The graphics are amazing for a 2011 game, the guns feel and work amazingly.”
“The graphics, sound, and gameplay are all outstanding.”
“Suffering through the laggiest menu possible, and charging in a low poly 1280x720 environment that constantly stutters because anything higher than 8-bit graphics would make them frozen for five minutes.”
“The graphics are very poor, even on higher settings, for some reason I'm still getting under 30 fps on even the lowest settings (I have a sorta-decent notebook that can run many other more powerful games at 60 fps).”
“The graphics didn't particularly bother me, but the way the game felt was just poor.”
- atmosphere283 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of World War II, particularly the Eastern Front, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional sound design, music, and map design that enhance the overall experience. Despite its dated graphics, players feel a strong sense of realism and tension, making it one of the most atmospheric WWII shooters available. The combination of intense gameplay, authentic weapon handling, and a community that emphasizes teamwork further contributes to the game's unique and haunting atmosphere.
“The atmosphere is incredible and the graphics still hold up.”
“The soundtracks is also out of this world, it ties very well with the atmosphere and puts you in the shoes of those fighting on the eastern front.”
“Tripwire have done a phenomenal job of creating a genuinely terrifying atmosphere with Red Orchestra 2.”
“The game is incredibly unfun, has the worst gameplay I've ever seen, no soldier can survive 3 bullets to the chest, yet they do in this game, apparently, also the guns and the entire atmosphere make this game seem more like a WW1.5 game than an actual WW2 game.”
“Just a depressing atmosphere, loads of black and white sight due to getting suppressed and trying to understand if the one you're going to shoot is an enemy or not based on his uniform in a massive slaughterground.”
“It lacks the most important thing in my opinion: atmosphere and immersion.”
- music250 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the immersive experience, with a dynamic soundtrack that shifts based on the player's morale and the battle's progression. Reviewers highlight the orchestral compositions as both emotionally stirring and fitting for the game's WWII setting, effectively capturing the atmosphere of conflict and camaraderie. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and realism.
“The soundtrack is amazing, and sometimes you feel as if you are actually the soldier you are controlling.”
“The music dynamically changes according to your team's morale, and the changes are reflected in your HUD injury screen, making the experience even more immersive.”
“The music fits the war scene very well, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the gameplay.”
“The music isn't anything to rave about, but again it sets the mood of the game by changing the music based on the current situation if you are winning or losing a game.”
“My only complaint with this game is the terrible music.”
“The only music you will hear is the sound of soldiers' body parts flying around and people screaming 'banzai' or 'urah'.”
- story238 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is often criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, primarily serving as a backdrop for multiplayer gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the historical context of the battles, particularly those set during the Battle of Stalingrad, many find the single-player missions repetitive and poorly executed, with frustrating AI and a lack of engaging plot. Overall, the consensus is that the game excels in multiplayer experiences but falls short in delivering a meaningful single-player story.
“The storyline of Red Orchestra 2 focuses on the Battle of Stalingrad and centers on events from that period.”
“This game is excellent and very fast-paced; however, it is not for the faint of heart. The story is very similar to that of a war movie, and the multiplayer can be brutal at times.”
“By far the most realistic war game I think is out there, most intense WWII experience, and I believe it helps tell the story of Stalingrad!”
“The single player is broken af, ai teammates are terrible and there's literally no change on missions; German and Russian missions are the same, you play it from different perspectives.”
“I have got to say that the singleplayer for Red Orchestra 2 is the worst I have ever seen: horrible AI, tons of glitches, awful story, and the same objectives over and over again.”
“The game does have one flaw that I find irritating: it lacks any story at all and is a multiplayer-focused game.”
- stability187 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, many express frustration over the game's unpolished state and the lack of effective support for troubleshooting. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," making it challenging to recommend for those sensitive to technical problems.
“The gameplay is well done, not too buggy, and is easy to grasp.”
“The game runs great even when you find yourself setting up games with large groups of enemies and allies; everything is just very simple while at the same time being very complex.”
“Also runs great (constant 60fps with all settings at max, and I got a 3-year-old PC).”
“The game doesn't require much; however, on newer systems, you may experience frequent crashes and freezes that may require you to completely use the power button, making the game unplayable.”
“It freezes constantly, making it unplayable.”
“The game has tons of game-breaking bugs and glitches. If you are looking for a decent single-player game, don't buy this game!”
- optimization124 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over poor performance, bugs, and high hardware requirements. While some users report that the game runs well even on older systems, others highlight significant stuttering and lag, particularly on higher settings. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be inconsistent, with ongoing patches from the developers attempting to address these issues.
“This game is impressively well optimized, with a 1700x and 1080ti; in 4K it is using 70-80% of my graphics card's power running in 4K ultra everything.”
“The graphics are very pretty, and the game is also very well optimized.”
“The game is optimized really well as well, so all you people who don't have high-end gaming rigs (like me with my GTX 560ti) don't worry, you'll still be able to run the game.”
“It's truly incredible how a lazy company and lack of optimization can make an over-a-decade high-rated shooter so broken now.”
“This game is poorly optimized, has lots of bugs, a dwindling player base, few servers host custom maps, and is no longer supported by the developers.”
“The optimization for this game is horrible... beyond horrible.”
- humor59 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and absurdity, with players finding joy in both intentional comedic elements and unintentional glitches. Many reviews highlight the amusing interactions within the community, the funny AI behaviors, and the humorous voice acting, which often includes exaggerated accents and taunts. Overall, the game successfully blends dark humor with chaotic gameplay, creating a uniquely entertaining experience.
“Unstoppable, hilarious, and genius, simply put.”
“Aside from the occasional hilarious bug, this game is just fantastic.”
“There is a humor and fun competitiveness in this game that I haven't found anywhere else.”
- grinding42 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely noted as both tedious and rewarding, with players often feeling that significant time investment is required to unlock weapons and upgrades. While some appreciate the learning curve and the gradual improvement in gameplay, many express frustration over the repetitive nature of grinding and the limited variety of weapons available. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who are willing to invest the time, but it may deter players seeking a more streamlined or less grind-heavy experience.
“So fun, not really tedious at all.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“My biggest complaint about this game is that it seems grindy and repetitive at times, not rewarding you with many weapon selections, only staying with a few well-known weapons which hurts the game in the long run as many classes only have one gun.”
“The only downside in this game must be the painful grinding for weapons.”
- emotional41 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players reporting intense feelings of immersion and heartbreak, often leading to tears during gameplay. The combination of realistic sound design, dynamic music that reflects the player's morale, and the harrowing portrayal of war creates a deeply moving experience that resonates with players on a personal level. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke empathy for both allies and enemies, making it a standout in emotional engagement within the first-person shooter genre.
“As a native speaker of both these languages, it was heartbreaking to hear injured soldiers screaming for their beloved ones as they took their last breath.”
“The whole 'system' creates a heartbreaking scenario that drags you into it and leaves you with combined emotions.”
“Everything from the emotional and dramatic, yet faintly playing violin music in the background, to the screams of fellow comrades as they fight to their death, are all just things that make this game so beautiful.”
“The story mode feels like a tedious propaganda piece, filled with commander instructions that drain any emotional engagement.”
“I found the emotional depth lacking; it was overshadowed by a series of uninspired missions.”
“The narrative attempts to evoke feelings but ultimately falls flat, leaving players disconnected from the characters.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting the blend of team play, personal responsibility, and extensive unlock progression that keeps gameplay fresh. While some mention specific issues with certain maps and competition from newer shooters, the consensus is that it offers a rich and rewarding experience, particularly for those who enjoy realistic, historical FPS games. Ratings for replayability generally range from 8 to 10 out of 10, indicating strong player engagement and longevity.
“Blend of teamplay and personal responsibility in role makes for a battle sandbox to fit any play style, and an unlock progression that offers near unlimited replayability for each role, and on all teams.”
“Overall, this game is a rich and rewarding FPS with a lot of replayability.”
“This is the game that defines what a historical FPS is, with super replay value as this game never gets boring, and is the only FPS I now play and will continue playing.”
“Only specific maps are playable as others will instantly crash your game.”
“Times have changed though, and lots of new shooters are out, which are more replayable, like Squad or Hell Let Loose.”
“-no replay value.”
- monetization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 65 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has shifted to include in-game ads, which some players feel undermines the premium experience they expected when purchasing it. While there are no microtransactions or pay-to-win elements, the introduction of adware and targeted advertising has raised concerns about privacy and the integrity of the gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the lack of traditional monetization pitfalls but are frustrated by the new ad policies that feel intrusive.
“Gripping single player, realistic shooter game, multiplayer game, no microtransactions, lots of mods available, lots of players around.”
“No microtransactions, no overpower upgrades/leveling, and awareness of battle rewards much more than having a good aim.”
“This is a very in-depth shooter, focusing on pure content and mechanics over flashy graphics and microtransactions.”
“This new term I have a problem with though, is that they now reserve the right to install essentially adware onto your computer to be able to in-game target you for ads.”
“The terms of service have been upgraded so that the game can now take your info to display ads.”
“Take whatever expectations you'd usually have for a cynical piece of advertising shovelware and lower them by a few hundred percent.”