Rising Storm/Red Orchestra 2 Multiplayer
- September 13, 2011
- Tripwire Interactive
- 78h median play time
Get on Steam"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."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay1,108 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is widely praised for its realism, smooth mechanics, and immersive atmosphere, making it a standout in the WWII shooter genre. Players appreciate the tactical depth, requiring teamwork and strategy, as well as the unique features like one-shot kills and detailed weapon handling. While some find the learning curve steep and the graphics dated, the overall experience is considered rewarding and engaging, with many highlighting the game's ability to create memorable moments in combat.
“The shooting feels smooth and responsive, and the controls and mechanics are easy to pick up.”
“Some of the best gaming memories formed in this game alongside incredible sound design and sound choices, gunplay, and mechanics that still aren't beaten over a decade since release.”
“The gameplay is challenging enough to be really engaging, without taking a long time to learn.”
“Gameplay is hit or miss.”
“The mechanics are not always at their brightest, especially when vaulting over obstacles, but there are a lot of good stuff to make up for that.”
“Gameplay is suffering badly from bugs.”
- graphics683 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, released in 2011, are generally considered dated and below modern standards, with many users noting that they show their age. However, despite the outdated visuals, players appreciate the game's atmospheric design and immersive gameplay, which often compensates for the graphical shortcomings. Overall, while the graphics may not impress by today's benchmarks, they are still deemed acceptable and contribute to the game's unique charm and realism.
“The graphics are amazing for a 2011 game, the guns feel and work amazingly.”
“The graphics are still beautiful, and still hold up to current games easily and on top of this the game runs silky smooth even on slightly slower PCs.”
“The graphics are fantastic, the controls are great, and it reaches into battlefield territory with its 64 player cap.”
“The graphics are very poor, even on higher settings, for some reason I'm still getting under 30 fps on even the lowest settings.”
“The graphics didn't particularly bother me, but the way the game felt was just poor.”
“The graphics are outdated, but currently the best realism shooter.”
- atmosphere209 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in this game is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of World War II, particularly in settings like Stalingrad. Reviewers highlight the effective sound design, realistic weapon handling, and detailed environments that collectively create a tense and authentic war experience. Despite some dated graphics, the overall atmosphere is considered unmatched in the genre, making it a standout title for fans of realistic military shooters.
“The atmosphere is the best out of any game I've ever played.”
“Tripwire have done a phenomenal job of creating a genuinely terrifying atmosphere with Red Orchestra 2.”
“The atmosphere they made in this game sends shivers down my spine.”
“It lacks the most important thing in my opinion: atmosphere and immersion.”
“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.”
“Some bugs and imperfections (buggy collisions and animations, some crashes, English voice packs with some German or Russian terms in it) cripple the atmosphere of the game.”
- music170 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its dynamic and immersive qualities, adapting to the gameplay and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the experience. Composed by Sam Hulick, the soundtrack features orchestral pieces that evoke a range of emotions, from somber reflections on war to triumphant moments of victory, making it a standout element of the game. Players appreciate how the music complements the intense combat and historical setting, contributing significantly to the game's realism and emotional impact.
“The music dynamically changes according to your team's morale, apart from this the changes are to your HUD injury screen (your soldier gets sadder or happier), and the characters' voice lines.”
“The soundtrack is amazing, and sometimes you feel as if you are actually the soldier you are controlling.”
“The atmosphere created by the music and phenomenal sound is a very immersive and somewhat dramatic experience.”
“The music dynamically changes according to your team's morale; apart from this, the changes are to your HUD injury screen (your soldier gets sadder or happier) and the characters' voice lines.”
“The only music you will hear is the sound of soldiers' body parts flying around and people screaming 'banzai' or 'urah'.”
“My only complaint with this game is the terrible music.”
- story166 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and poorly executed, with many players noting that it lacks a compelling narrative and is primarily focused on multiplayer gameplay. Single-player missions are often described as repetitive and shallow, featuring weak AI and a lack of engaging plot, making them feel more like multiplayer maps than a cohesive story experience. Overall, while some players appreciate the atmosphere and setting, the consensus is that those seeking a rich narrative should look elsewhere.
“This feature is by far one of my favorites, and makes every life feel like a complete story with character and consequence.”
“The game is not about ideologies; you won't be getting a Medal of Honor-type story about how country A saved the world from country B.”
“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 campaign missions are shallow versions of the 'territory' mode in multiplayer, and it is not worth a look.”
“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 also the same objectives, over and over again.”
“Plot is almost nonexistent with a couple of bland missions loosely tied together.”
- stability130 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players acknowledge that it has improved over time and can still be enjoyable, many express frustration over persistent issues that make it difficult to play consistently. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and "unpolished," with a need for further updates and fixes to enhance stability.
“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).”
“It might be a good game, but I could not get it to work - freezes every few seconds, glitches in various parts of the game, no servers with the Western Front mod, and limited to no tech support to figure out how to fix the game.”
“If you have to restart the game to change V-Sync in 2022, then I'm not playing this buggy mess.”
“The game itself is great, really enjoyed it; however, I found it very buggy. Upon completion of a map, you are moved onto another map, and this is where I am finding major issues: mid-game the screen freezes or the controls are non-responsive.”
- optimization85 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to run well on older hardware, while others report significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates even on higher-end systems. Many users note that the game was poorly optimized at launch, with ongoing bugs and a lack of developer support for fixes, leading to frustration among the player base. Overall, while some players find it playable and enjoyable, others highlight serious optimization shortcomings that detract from the experience.
“This game is very well optimized, and I can assure you the game will run even if you have a 10-year-old computer with an Intel HD 4000.”
“The game makes use of the Unreal Engine, which does help to ease performance issues while maintaining decent graphical quality.”
“This game is impressively well optimized, with a Ryzen 7 1700 and 1080 Ti; in 4K, it is using 70-80% of my graphics card's power running in 4K ultra everything.”
“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.”
“Severely disappointed and I should point it out that they have no plans to fix it as they have already said about the single player being a stuttering 10 fps pile of rubbish since the Rising Storm and GOTY update and have stated 'just play MP instead of playing SP', in other words this game is not going to be fixed anytime soon and should be avoided at all costs.”
“They released the game half-baked and optimized like garbage, then complain people's computers aren't powerful enough.”
- humor38 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often highlighted through its quirky glitches, amusing voice acting, and the lighthearted banter among players, which adds a layer of fun to the competitive experience. Many players find the combination of realistic gameplay with comedic elements, such as funny accents and exaggerated animations, to be both entertaining and engaging. However, some reviews note that the humor can be overshadowed by the serious themes of war, leading to mixed feelings about the overall comedic tone.
“Aside from the occasional hilarious bug, this game is just fan-fucking-tastic.”
“There is a humor and fun competitiveness in this game that I haven't found anywhere else.”
“The German taunts are so funny, 'Run home to your mother, Ivan.'”
- grinding33 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players noting that significant effort is required to unlock weapons and upgrades. While some find the grind rewarding and enjoyable, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, especially given the limited variety in weapon roles and the game's interface issues. Overall, players seem divided, with some embracing the grind as part of the challenge, while others view it as a frustrating hurdle.
“So fun, not really tedious at all.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The only downside in this game must be the painful grinding for weapons.”
“My only complaint about the game is it's grindy with the weapon level-up system, but who knows, normies love that.”
- emotional31 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players overwhelmingly describe the emotional impact of the game as profound and immersive, often leading to tears and a deep sense of connection to the characters and their struggles. The combination of realistic sound design, haunting music, and intense gameplay evokes feelings of guilt, sorrow, and empathy, making it a standout experience in the first-person shooter genre. Many reviewers note that no other game has made them feel as deeply engaged in the emotional weight of war, highlighting its unique ability to convey the harsh realities of battle.
“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.”
“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.”
“This game made me cry over the death of a meaningless AI in a multiplayer game.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, with many users highlighting its rich multiplayer experience, diverse roles, and extensive unlock progression that keeps players engaged for hundreds of hours. While some mention that certain maps may crash the game, the overall consensus is that it offers a rewarding and immersive experience that stands out among other shooters in the genre. Ratings for replayability range from 9 to 10, indicating a strong appeal for players seeking long-term engagement.
“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.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has shifted from a premium experience to one that includes targeted ads, raising concerns about privacy and the installation of adware. While players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and the focus on gameplay balance, the introduction of ads has altered their perception of the game's value, leading to frustration over the perceived loss of a premium experience.
“No microtransactions, no overpower upgrades/leveling, and awareness of battle rewards much more than having a good aim.”
“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.”
“The only thing I have got to complain about is... why the hell are they advertising Rising Storm, which for me is a completely different game in this one!?”
