As you play, obviously some of your AI-controlled squadmates won’t make it to the end, and if they don’t, they may cry out or curse their killer’s name. As you and your fellow soldiers begin your mission, it won’t take long for that initial charge of adrenaline to be interrupted with the tell-tale whistle of artillery shells, the pops of gunfire, and the cries of your comrades. You know the first five seconds of a mission or match, where you’re feeling really enthusiastic and can’t wait to get out there and kill whatever you’re supposed to kill? Red Orchestra 2 sets you up feeling just like that, only to completely strip it away with the harsh, terrifying reality of war. They may be short, but the Soviet and German campaigns effectively convey the tone and sacrifice made by both sides of this violent and hard-fought battle, which turned out to be a significant turning point in the war. While the campaign is a short one, but it’s also well-executed and feels very satisfying upon its conclusion, regardless of which side you are playing on. This is done by another disembodied voice, but this time it often reads poetry or diary entries from actual soldiers on both side of the conflict. One of the best parts of each campaign is how each chapter of the campaign is closed. While the German narration provides a somber tone, the Soviet campaign provides a much angrier and aggressive one. It’s one of betrayal, endurance and a vehement defense of the Motherland. The Soviet campaign, on the other hand, has a much different tone. He often speaks of honor, pride and getting his troops home for a nice, warm Christmas. In addition to the briefing, with his perfect English with a German accent, he also provides you with your context for the battle about to come. The German campaign is narrated by a nameless commander who gives you your briefing before each mission. Some things that surprisingly impress me about this game are the voice acting and the distinctive tone of each of the campaigns. Not only does the Grain Elevator and its surrounding structure look incredibly detailed and accurate, but the level itself allows for some of the most intense defense and furious assaults I have ever had the pleasure of playing. The levels, which take place all over the city of Stalingrad, all look fantastic, especially the Grain Elevator stage. To compensate, Tripwire has provided some of the best looking rubble I’ve ever seen. Therefore, I respect the design decision to keep this feature out of the game. Alas, you won’t find any destructible environments here, but that’s because by the time the German offensive began most of Stalingrad had already been reduced to rubble, so destructibility would have been a moot point. There’s also something special about filling an enemy with bullets from your machine gun as he attempts to hide behind a wall. You will have to work for every kill, but each one will be satisfying. Red Orchestra 2 features realistic ballistics and bullet penetration. By focusing on a single battle, Tripwire has provided an extremely polished and realistic version of this historically bloody battle.Īs I mentioned, this isn’t an arcade shooter, so don’t expect to have idiot-proof weapons. WWII was a massive conflict involving many campaigns, and I feel that most games set during this time period are far too ambitious. I appreciate that Tripwire has decided to focus specifically on a single battle rather than the whole war. Taking place over about a three-month period, from September to November of 1942, the German offensive and Soviet defense are represented in the two campaigns found in the game’s singleplayer mode. Red Orchestra 2 covers both the German and Soviet side of what is popularly know as The Battle of Stalingrad. This is Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad. Kids, this isn’t Call of Duty and it sure ain’t Battlefield, this is what real warfare was like. These developers eat, sleep and breathe WWII, so it’s no surprise that Tripwire has created on of the best simulations of mid-20th century combat ever seen on a PC. Hardcore people like those employed at Tripwire Interactive. As with any fad, there is a point where everyone’s into it, but once the dust clears and people move on, it’s only the hardcore who remain. Now, most developers have moved onto the greener pastures of “Modern Warfare”. It used to be you couldn’t walk two feet in a game store without coming across some type of game set during one of the darkest periods of human history.
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