The Gentleman's Reticule

OFP2’s island, Skira.

At the beginning of November Codemasters and Intel launched a mission-making competition for Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising in an apparent attempt to kick some life into the moribund and underwhelmed community while shamelessly pimping Intel’s I7 chips.  OFP2:DR was a bit of a curious disappointment; it looked great and had loads of impressive little touches but the single player campaign was sterile and missed all opportunities to show off the game engine by a wide country mile.

The mission editor was the most exciting feature of the PC edition, providing a toy box full of soldiers and vehicles for use in creating your own thrilling scenarios.  I was able to knock up a few interesting skirmishes fairly easily and quality missions were not far off, if only I had the patience to learn more lua script.  I’ve been waiting for the valiant community folk to bring some exciting content to the war-room table and hopefully this Intel-centivized  compo will encourage them to do just that.  The current crop can be downloaded and rated here and I’ve been testing out a few of the front-runners.  As stipulated by the competition rules, prepare for some ludicrously Intel I7 themed missions.

‘Operation Absolute Intel I7’

Survive a beach landing, hold a small village then move on to destroy an Intel I7 powered tank and Intel I7 thieving Chinese commander, or something.

Great!  An immense amphibious assault with boats and water-tank things which put Codemasters’ efforts to shame.  Most friendly landing craft are destroyed as you hit the beach leaving the 65ish entity limit free to spawn defenders as you attack and hold an artillery-pummelled village.  Afterwards, a commandeered helicopter allows you to missile to death the Intel I7 tank and commander as they hunker at a fuel depot a click or so in land.  You’re also given a generous supply of artillery strikes.  It always seemed odd when the single player campaign denied you fire support, as it so often did.  Why would the richest military on the planet be so reluctant to grant a few measly artillery shells?

This mission makes impressive use of the game’s audio assets and pleasingly expected you to pinch the Chinese chopper without writing it into the briefings.  Unfortunately, the mission objectives only mention Intel three times so I can only give it 3/10.

‘Intel Operation Sabretooth Squirrel’

Fly Major Macon to a meeting about Intel I7s then move some troops and defend a bridge.

Great!  A run-of-the-mill helicopter piloting jolly, just like those in OFP; how I missed them in OFP2:DR.  There’s a race at the beginning to reach your briefing on time after which you jump in a Blackhawk and ferry Major Macon to his Intel I7 meeting.  Interaction with other soldiers is something OFP and the Armas had but OFP2:DR completely neglected.  Any game intending to create an authentic combat experience has to go some way to emphasise the humanity of those with whom you are fighting, otherwise you may as well be running about with a bunch of robots.  The drama of simulated combat is diminished if you don’t care a jot for your comrades beyond their function as bullet and medicine dispensers.  After dropping the Major off, further objectives failed to appear so I flew about aimlessly before crashing into a hill, flipping over and losing my legs to the heli’s pesky rotor blades.  I’ve never seen the red damage location arrows appear all at the same time before - they made a pretty red circle.

A promising start, and a good tour of the island’s geography but ultimately broken.  However, creative inclusion of the Intel I7: 10/10.

‘Cobra Rising: Intel Sweep’

Use a Cobra helicopter to destroy captured enemy intel on the Intel I7; blow up a few tanks while you’re at it.  Oh, and kill General Han, the git.

Great!  Another chopper mission, they’re certainly popular with the voters.  This time your kite is the decidedly angrier Cobra attack thing.  I completed all the objectives up to the point where I was instructed to land and pursue General Han in a Humvee; I made the tactical decision to remain up in my death bird and track him thusly.  Scouring the island I failed to find him but, in the waning sunlight, OFP2:DR’s terrain stole my breath for the first time ever.  The sunlight reflecting from the water and shading effects on the vast, craggy terrain were simply beautiful.  I would love to be able to interact with the environment in ways other than bombing it - some kind of naturalist survival game perhaps?  Where was all this visual splendour in the single player campaign?  Baffling.  It really is depressing to think that such a wonderfully realised location will only ever be host to Chinese and Americans killing each other.

Helicoptering with lots to shoot, a solid Intel I7/10.

These missions were a little ropey with none working exactly as they should but they all exhibited a creativity which Codies’ single player lacked.  It will be interesting to see who wins at the end of December.