Arma 2 Owner - OA Worth Getting?

[fearlessfrog]

Not sure about OA for 40 bucks. Have had Arma 2 for a while but haven't played it a lot. The campaign was glitchy and the perf not great (the 7gb patch will help I guess ;-)).

So, existing owners that have now played OA - is it worth the money?

[mcilrain]

I play ArmA2 for the multiplayer, so I don't think my opinion is particularly apt in this situation, but I definitely think it's worth it.

I think it is worth buying just to support a game developer who makes PC games (rather than console-compatibles).

[Ansonr]

I'm going to say yes. I have not played the campaign, but I have played numerous scenarios, they are waaaaaaay better than the Original Arma 2 scenarios.

The new weapons are really cool (grenade launcher FTW). A lot of new gadgets for stealth and night warfare, laser sights, flashlights, IR sights. New vehicles are cool. UAVs are incredibly fun.

A lot of little things have been done to improve game play in general including much improved vehicle HUDs. Now when someone says "X is at 1 O'Clock" you can actually tell where they are thanks to an on screen indicator. The AI has been improved a lot. While they are still not the bet I have seen, they have come a long way. Oh, and did I mention they actually improved the voice acting?

The performance increase is incredible. My rig (3.1 GHz AMD quad core, Radeon HD 5870, and 2 Gigs of Ram) can run it maxed out and get a good 40 FPS.

If you found enjoyment out of the original arma 2 you will definitely like OA.

[AussieSausage]

I'm going to say yes. I have not played the campaign, but I have played numerous scenarios, they are waaaaaaay better than the Original Arma 2 scenarios.

The new weapons are really cool (grenade launcher FTW). A lot of new gadgets for stealth and night warfare, laser sights, flashlights, IR sights. New vehicles are cool. UAVs are incredibly fun.

A lot of little things have been done to improve game play in general including much improved vehicle HUDs. Now when someone says "X is at 1 O'Clock" you can actually tell where they are thanks to an on screen indicator. The AI has been improved a lot. While they are still not the bet I have seen, they have come a long way. Oh, and did I mention they actually improved the voice acting?

The performance increase is incredible. My rig (3.1 GHz AMD quad core, Radeon HD 5870, and 2 Gigs of Ram) can run it maxed out and get a good 40 FPS.

If you found enjoyment out of the original arma 2 you will definitely like OA.

i am planning on getting OQ in about 30 mins.

but you sir just made me a hole lot more excited!!!!!!

[Ansonr]

Glad to be of help. Other things I have noticed include: the ability to adjust your scopes for various distances IE: if someone is 400 yards out you adjust your scope to 400 and you can put the cross hairs right on them to take them out. As well as the mission editor getting some improvements. Load times seem shorter, aside from running better the game looks nicer, and there are reflex scopes for the grenade launcher attachments on weapons.

[AussieSausage]

Glad to be of help. Other things I have noticed include: the ability to adjust your scopes for various distances IE: if someone is 400 yards out you adjust your scope to 400 and you can put the cross hairs right on them to take them out. As well as the mission editor getting some improvements. Load times seem shorter, aside from running better the game looks nicer, and there are reflex scopes for the grenade launcher attachments on weapons.

Dling now :)

[held]

What are the scenarios of ARMA 2 and ARMA 2: OA? And what are the factions fighting against eachother?

[uksimj]

I'm going to say yes. I have not played the campaign, but I have played numerous scenarios, they are waaaaaaay better than the Original Arma 2 scenarios.

The new weapons are really cool (grenade launcher FTW). A lot of new gadgets for stealth and night warfare, laser sights, flashlights, IR sights. New vehicles are cool. UAVs are incredibly fun.

A lot of little things have been done to improve game play in general including much improved vehicle HUDs. Now when someone says "X is at 1 O'Clock" you can actually tell where they are thanks to an on screen indicator. The AI has been improved a lot. While they are still not the bet I have seen, they have come a long way. Oh, and did I mention they actually improved the voice acting?

The performance increase is incredible. My rig (3.1 GHz AMD quad core, Radeon HD 5870, and 2 Gigs of Ram) can run it maxed out and get a good 40 FPS.

If you found enjoyment out of the original arma 2 you will definitely like OA.

All those 'new' features and weapons were all available in the ACE mod. Arrowhead hasn't really offered me much more than the mods provided. Although the thermal imaging is first-class.

I support Bohemia Interactive and am a huge Arma fan. Buying the expansion was an easy choice. I just wish Steam hadn't screwed up the installation of OA (I can't merge OA with Arma 2).

[slikbaz]

What are the scenarios of ARMA 2 and ARMA 2: OA? And what are the factions fighting against eachother?

ARMA2 is based on Chernarus, a very green country with plenty of foliage.. its the USMC and CDF (Chernarussian Defense Force) vs. Guerrillas vs. Russians and Insurgents.

OA is based in Takistan and Zargabad, both desert filled maps. Its the US Army/NATO vs. Takistani army.

All the factions are here: http://www.arma2.com/content_en.html

[held]

Thanks for the info!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT7n7szMYEE&feature=player_embedded :D

[bremstone]

Fearless dude, this is my first arma game, I almost bought all of them after this if that says anything.

Now, time to look for a good unit that arent elitest snobs.

[Loco11c]

All those 'new' features and weapons were all available in the ACE mod. Arrowhead hasn't really offered me much more than the mods provided. Although the thermal imaging is first-class.

I support Bohemia Interactive and am a huge Arma fan. Buying the expansion was an easy choice. I just wish Steam hadn't screwed up the installation of OA (I can't merge OA with Arma 2).

That is exactly what I was going to add, but you did it nicely:) Based on the screenies and testimony of those that have played OA. It seems that this is merely ARMA 2 with ACE MOD applied, while also using the AVGANI MAPs addons.

There were a bunch of Afghanistan desert maps made for ARMA 1 and ARMA 2. Also changing the zero range on the scopes was added early on in the first versions of ACE MOD. I certainly hope the missions are better in OA than they were in single player ARMA 2. I spent more time driving from place to place in the game than I ever did in a firefight. That made ARMA 2 single player incredibly BORING for me.

I do have one question though. Can the bots see through trees, bushes and tall grass in OA the same way they can in ARMA1 and ARMA 2??? If so, then I won't be making the purchase.

[fearlessfrog]

Thanks for the feedback all.

I'll buy it, and perhaps use it as an excuse to get into MP this time. I've got a lot of hours in PR online, so I should give it a real go.

Supporting BIS making future PC games is my main motivation I think, plus 40 bucks isn't that bad. Psychologically I could have done with $5 off as a ARMA II owner, but I think that's getting close to just moaning a bit.

Cheers!

[i_2_i]

I think it is worth buying just to support a game developer who makes PC games (rather than console-compatibles).

wow that's a sad statement.

[Fatal_Papercut]

I think it is worth buying just to support a game developer who makes PC games (rather than console-compatibles).

I agree, and this is coming from someone who has yet to be able to get the game to even run (it hard crashes my system as soon as the main menu loads; I am working with Bohemia's customer support regarding this issue).

Granted, I'm not happy that I have a game that doesn't work (Arma 2 IS working just fine as usual), but I trust that the developers will have the issue resolved soon. Since my system hard-crashes, it is most likely an issue that only occurs with specific hardware setups.

[b00tsy]

All those 'new' features and weapons were all available in the ACE mod. Arrowhead hasn't really offered me much more than the mods provided. Although the thermal imaging is first-class.

I support Bohemia Interactive and am a huge Arma fan. Buying the expansion was an easy choice. I just wish Steam hadn't screwed up the installation of OA (I can't merge OA with Arma 2).

+1

I have only played AO now for about 8 hours, but my impression so far is good (as I expected). For the most part it is the same experience as in ArmA2 like you mentioned, but in a different environment. This arabic environment I like way more then the eastern europe setting. The environment is greener (vegitation) then I expected, but at least there are no lagging forests wich is gives me a better fps. Also in the city area's i have a suprising good fps, considering that i play it on a pretty standard and old graphics card. I also like the fleeing opfor troops when they get attacked hard. And hell yeah, scud missles!!! :)

Few minor bugs i encountered so far. On steep hills the camera can act weird (3th person mode)and, in the mission intro's the voices did not play, I only saw the text dialogs. Online I noticed that AI is snapping from position to position when they move (shocky movement)sometimes.But again, it is minor.

Loving AO so far. Great job BIS!

[Shai`tan]

I`d say yes, but it needs work. I hope we see some optimization and graphics enhancement fixes in the next patch.

[Dwarden]

we are working hard on new patch,
as you can see there is new public beta patch
for these who have problems and want to try it, it might resolve theirs problems

[Peepin Tom]

I've been with the Arma community since the operation flashpoint; and I will have to say yes.

Just out of my personal experience with the game, I haven't had any problems with arma2 or this new expansion.

I don't know your gaming type, but I get the most fun from playing the multiplayer in the game. If you can find a nice friendly server running domination or CTI, It takes no time to make friends and just really start enjoying the awesome community behind these games :D

[$p1n3$h@k3r]

I would like to like the ARMA series, I have ARMA2 and like a previous poster said I drove around more than found a firefight and I found the voice acting intolerable. So is it easier to find the action and how much better is the voice acting?

[SkullCracker]

.

I think it is worth buying just to support a game developer who makes PC games (rather than console-compatibles).

Best comment I've seen in a long time. True PC gamer here which is good to see considering how us PC gamers are being treated. I just hope both games are great which I believe they are. But I heard the same thing about Operation Flash point Dragon Rising. Not a bad game but also not a good one. They took my money and cut support for the game.

But when I order this game are their any servers I should play on that are run very well.

Sorry for high jacking your thread OP.

[b00tsy]

I would like to like the ARMA series, I have ARMA2 and like a previous poster said I drove around more than found a firefight and I found the voice acting intolerable. So is it easier to find the action and how much better is the voice acting?

It can be an annoyance some times yes, but it also depends on what server you are playing. I always search for servers that have unlimited para jumps so that i can drop right into the action.

Some servers you can only jump every 30 minutes and then you have peeps flying choppers that do not wait for you. I run to the chopper and 5 meters before I can get in he takes off. That gets me pissed off quickly. Yesterday I was on a server and it took me 30 minutes before I finally arrived at the area of operation. 2 minutes after I was there the opfor troops were all killed. Bummer...

[$p1n3$h@k3r]

It can be an annoyance some times yes, but it also depends on what server you are playing. I always search for servers that have unlimited para jumps so that i can drop right into the action.

Some servers you can only jump every 30 minutes and then you have peeps flying choppers that do not wait for you. I run to the chopper and 5 meters before I can get in he takes off. That gets me jarateed off quickly. Yesterday I was on a server and it took me 30 minutes before I finally arrived at the area of operation. 2 minutes after I was there the opfor troops were all killed. Bummer...

Well that's MP how about the SP campaign?

[b00tsy]

Well that's MP how about the SP campaign?

I havent bothered with SP that much yet, only played the first mission a bit of OA. It began with action right away, so thats good :)

[fearlessfrog]

Well that's MP how about the SP campaign?

SP is action packed. Up to mission 7 and enjoying it. As per Arma 2 it swaps you around a bit, i.e. infantry, spec ops, tank commander, helo's etc. Always lots of people shooting at you, plus the ptakistan foothills make for a good combat area.

[jkhaaja]

All those 'new' features and weapons were all available in the ACE mod. Arrowhead hasn't really offered me much more than the mods provided. Although the thermal imaging is first-class.

I support Bohemia Interactive and am a huge Arma fan. Buying the expansion was an easy choice. I just wish Steam hadn't screwed up the installation of OA (I can't merge OA with Arma 2).

But all those 'new' features are done professionally in Operation Arrowhead. I used to and still play A.C.E. 2 also but I have to say the UI for those features in ACE is not very user friendly nor clear. On top of the new features like FLIR OA also has a more optimized engine.

[FubyDoo]

I just hope both games are great which I believe they are. But I heard the same thing about Operation Flash point Dragon Rising. Not a bad game but also not a good one. They took my money and cut support for the game.


Actually, i think they figured they had gone as far as they could and moved on to something else. Maybe a new version instead of a mod released as the next installment? If BIS had concentrated on ArmaII-C, instead of making OA would it be a much better product today? Decisions companies make and money to continue the company. Maybe ArmaII owners should have been offered a deal on OA instead of full price for a MOD? Maybe they need the money to continue support? It's how you look at things. I personally like OFPDR as much and in some ways better than ArmaII series. OFPDR works and has tools for the community so what support is needed at this point?

With that said..ofcourse BUY Arrowhead if you like the series and this type gameplay! it gives you another arena of battle to enjoy! I hope BIS continues to find and squash the performance bugs in the game, but its still worth playing through.

I sit here with my pilot helmet on and do "Littlebird" mission over and over with a grin on my face. Between BIS and the modders in the community you can be assured this game will continue. If the day comes they move on, you will still have a fine product. Time does move forward as does the performance of computers, this just has to get better over time.