Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis - Single Player Demo

In order to properly depict the conditions on the battlefield, shooters must take a lot of things into consideration, which makes it difficult for the developers to deliver an enjoyable experience to casual players as well. However, when that does not constitute a concern and all bets are off, video games can evolve into something exquisite, as it was the case with the title at hand.

Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis managed to take everyone by surprise when it came out, because it held back nothing and it made things as difficult as possible for the players, all for the sake of gritty realism. Hence, the gameplay was tough and the weapons responded accordingly to your input, while the scenarios themselves were inspired from real operations and they basically allowed you to choose the desired approach with every occasion.

The plot revolves around a conflict between the United States and the USSR during the Cold War, representing an alternate history in which things weren't that cold after all and the two superpowers clashed in an attempt to best each other. As far as the campaign is concerned, the missions take place on three separate islands, all of which are completely explorable and they do not force you onto a particular route, leaving you able to choose the desired tactic each time.

As previously mentioned, the game emphasizes on realism more than on everything else, which results in a very challenging gameplay, yet also highly enjoyable at the same time. Thus, the missions are modeled after actual military operations and they can sometimes require a lot of planning and precision in order to be effectively completed, not to mention the fact that you are always in danger of stumbling into ambushes or triggering alarms.

This realism, however, also required a potent graphics engine in order to have the desired impact, which was accomplished as well, thanks to the advanced technology implemented into the game. With the help of high-resolution textures, good-looking 3D models and plenty of nice particle effect, the atmosphere is thoroughly enjoyable and believable.

Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis may require a bit of practice before you are able to figure out the gameplay mechanics and adjust to the high difficulty level, but after all that, you are left with one of the most realistic first-person shooter ever released.