This means war

Wargames tend to fall loosely into two categories. Strategy titles see players move battle units around the battlefield, to try to outflank and conquer the opposition's forces, while first- or third-person shooters feature a single combatant, who runs around blasting at stuff like they're appearing in a Hollywood blockbuster.

However, now and again, a game appears that aims to buck the trend and give players a more realistic slant on the challenges of active military service. One such game was Operation: Flashpoint. Released in 2001, it attempted to serve up an authentic slice of military action by combining strategic gaming with first-person style action. The team behind Operation Flashpoint, Bohemia Interactive, has given this new release a similar formula.

Order out of chaos

ArmA II takes place in a fictional Soviet country named Chernarus. It's a troubled place that's being ripped apart by civil war, in which several factions are battling to gain overall control. While Russia waits nervously at the border, the US sends in a five-man team to restore order.

This being a war simulation, rather than a straightforward shooter, every effort has been made to keep things as realistic as possible, and the story itself is full of plot twists. For a start, Chernarus is a living, breathing place that covers over 200sq km, encompassing over 50 urban areas plus forests, beaches and the like. The game's single-player mode involves tackling resource management challenges and incorporates role-playing elements.

Keeping It Real

A great deal of the game's realism comes from the behaviour of the non-player characters. Enemy soldiers' actions aren't predetermined and they react to changing circumstances, meaning that every encounter will be different each time you play. Civilian encounters are also made more convincing, thanks to a system of dynamic conversation, which essentially means that the player can also ask questions of other characters, who can then pass on information important to the mission.

An authentic military simulator would be nothing without a decent amount of authentic military hardware and ArmA II has it in abundance. An impressive arsenal of 81 weapons is further enhanced by such realistic, variable environmental effects as ballistic deflection and penetration, supersonic bullet-crack sounds, stopping power and weather.

Things are equally comprehensive on the vehicular front. A total of 136 land-based and airborne vehicles can be navigated around the game's massive environment.

The attractions of ArmA II don't end there, either. If solitary heroism isn't to your taste, you can play the game's story mode co-operatively. Alternatively, indulge your competitive side with a multi-player battle royale, against up to 50 others. One final thing worthy of mention is the built-in mission editor and modding tools, which enable players to create their own challenges. ArmA II is a big game in every respect and, thanks to its unique blend of real-time strategy gaming and first-person shooting, should appeal to anyone who wants to take their war gaming a little more seriously, without sacrificing the thrill of combat.

GAME's Verdict

• Intense combat
• Multiple vehicles
• Large play areas
• Realistic hardware
• Mission editor

• Too complex for some tastes

Review by: Simon 'Sir! Yes, Sir!' Kirrane
Version Tested: PC
Review Published: 24.06.09