Red Hammer - an explosive addition (Operation Flashpoint - Red Hammer (PC))

Member Name: Stevesb52

Product:	Operation Flashpoint - Red Hammer (PC)
Date:	24/06/05 (116 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 20 new missions, Brilliant new campaign, Host of new vehicles

Disadvantages: Graphics not as good as modern games

When Operation Flashpoint first stormed onto the market a couple of years ago it was revolutionary in its style. The ability to drive almost any vehicle in the game, handle just about every weapon currently used by modern armies, and operate as part of an effective 12-man squad, in perfect cooperation, was revolutionary.

Red Hammer is the first expansion to this honestly amazing game. Adding a whole host of new vehicles and a new island, there are certainly hours of fun to be had just fiddling about with everything. But, of course, to allow us to use these features there’s a whole new campaign.

However, this time the tables are turned. You play the part of various Russian personal, from a standard soldier, going into battle with his AK-47, a pilot, flying the SU-26 Blackjack. With the task of evicting the American presence, (who, incidentally, you are playing as in the original Operation Flashpoint), from the fictitious Malden islands, you have to shot, snipe and sneak your way through 20 levels.

It’s not easy either. The missions, in the true Flashpoint style, each have individual requirements; the tasks that need to be completed are varied – they range from Special Forces sabotage to frontal heavy armour assault.

With such a number and variety of missions and equipment, it’s difficult to become bored of the game, though this incidentally makes it fairly hard to complete for a more casual gamer such as myself. But, when you get bored of the campaign, there’s still the customary multiplayer experience, where you get to test all the new toys.

Down to the nitty-gritty of things, Red Hammer is not much different from Operation Flashpoint. The graphics are excellent and not too heavy on the graphics card, (though they don’t compete with the newest games out), the sound is excellent, with music adding a unique ambience, and the game play is excellent, though it would be nice if squad members that died did not re-spawn in the next mission.

Overall, Red Hammer is a brilliant expansion and well worth the money. Like it’s parent Operation Flashpoint, there is the odd minor shortcoming, but overall it is a wonderful game.

My rating: 4/5

Summary: