Guest Writer, Michael Summers: Red Orchestra 2 Review

This review is from a very special guest and personal good friend Michael Summers, if you enjoy this post make sure you check out his site at mikesgameandfilmreview.wordpress.com for more awesome reviews. I am probably going to have the occasional guest writer on my blog to spruce things up a bit as it is a great way for other bloggers to get there work recognised and the get there points across to a different platform of viewers, if this interests you there is a contact form on the left hand side of the Home Page. Enjoy the review!

Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad is a WW2 based tactical first person shooter video game. It is the sequel to Red Orchestra: Osfront 41-45. It was developed and published by Tripwire Interactive and released on PC in September of 2011. This game is heavily focussed on the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the most notorious battles in human history. This sequel has many gameplay changes that adds not only it immersion but also its overall enjoyment, both small and large changes like the first person cover system and the ability to blind fire while in the new cover system and also the new feature that allows the player to track their progress and stats.

Red Orchestra 2 has a very immersive and realistic gameplay style.  It uses its setting, time period, intense and fairly difficult gameplay to give the player an immersive and adrenaline fuelled experience.  The fact that this game has no ammo count, no mini map and has such a hard-core damage mechanic just shows what kind of shooter this game is trying to be. It is realistic and strategic multiplayer shooter that features weapons that were used throughout WW2, especially the battle of Stalingrad. These weapons behave how they would in real life. The player has to take into consideration distance, bullet drop and also the spin of the bullet. As mentioned earlier most of the HUD found in most first person shooters isn’t used in Red Orchestra 2, it features no mini map and more importantly no ammo count. This means the player has to remember how many rounds are left after firing each bullet, or they can check manually by holding the reload button. This point alone is one of the reasons this game brings so much tension and anticipation to the player because they have to stay so aware of what’s happening and they have to manage every little detail which in most games of this genre is monitored for them. This game also features a first person cover system which was a big new feature that was added to this sequel. It allows the player to take cover behind various walls, tanks, trees and other pieces of cover to shield them from enemy fire. When in cover the player can choose to peak to see enemies which they can then aim at from relative safety behind the cover they are in. Along with the new first person cover system another new feature that was added to this instalment was the blind firing mechanic which allows the player to fire from complete cover without putting themselves in risk. The only downside to this is that they can’t aim they just have to fire in a direction they think the enemy is. This is a feature used more in desperate situations where the player can’t really risk showing a part of their character that could result in them being hit. There were also a handful of tanks and armoured vehicles added to Red Orchestra 2. When the game was first released it only included the Panzer IV Ausf F2 German tank and the Soviet T-34 tank. A few months later two more armoured vehicles were added, the German Sd.Kfz 251 and the British Universal Carrier. Both of these new additions gave infantry protection and also a quicker way to get around the battlefield. A DLC package was also released for this game that added two more tanks, the German Panzer III Ausf.M and the Soviet T-70. Overall I think the gameplay in Red Orchestra 2 is nothing short of excellent, with the additions of the cover system and blind fire mechanic this game has even more fluidity that makes playing this WW2 epic even more enjoyable.

Gameplay rating 9/10

The graphics in this game are still of a high quality for its age. Even the smaller objects on the maps that the player fights in are up to a high standard, objects such as weapons and pieces of cover and even the damage that can be seen on the surrounding buildings. The small details of the multiple enterable buildings really adds to the overall immersion of the game. The multiple gaping holes blown into the buildings caused by tanks and artillery and the fact that you can navigate a building that has collapsed on one side to find that perfect vantage point to take out multiple enemies makes you feel so involved in the action. You get such a sense of achievement when you manage to find that perfect spot to help cover your teammates to ensure victory. The art style in Red Orchestra 2 is crisp, gritty and uses darker colours to not only keep the player immersed but to reflect the dark, bloody and violent time this game is set in. I think the amount of detail both small and large mixed with the art style gives this game such an appealing look for the players. It really adds to the immersion of the playing experience.

Graphics rating 8/10

The sound effects that this game uses are one of if not the biggest factor that adds to this games insane immersion. Every gun shot, every explosion even every scream you hear from soldiers on both sides as they get hit is so intense and gives you that shot of adrenaline that brings the anticipation and tensions factors to new levels. Even the sound track that is used in this game is so perfect and has so much depth. Each faction you play as whether it be the Axis or the Allies has their own tracks that play when you capture or lose an objective, even when you win the game depending on what side you’re on each faction has their own winning and losing music. This is another reason that shows this game has such a high level of detail and another of the many reasons the experience is so enjoyable to experience. Over all the sounds in this game adds so much to the gameplay and the overall feeling it is in my opinion the defining factor that makes this one of the most intense games I’ve ever played.

Sound rating 10/10

Pros

1. Fluid, intense, dramatic gameplay,
2. Every battle leaves you feeling like you’ve accomplished an impossible task,
3. Amazing sound effects and soundtrack.

Cons

1. New players will find it hard to get use to slow pace and high damage model,
2. Lack of weaponry.

In conclusion I believe Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad is one of the most intense and adrenalin fuelled games I have ever played. Combine the brutal battles, art style, soundtrack and hard-core damage makes for long intense battles that mimic real life and force the player to be patient and wait for opportunities to attack objectives. This also leads to teamwork which is a MUST if players want to succeed capturing an objective. Overall Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad is an amazing game that I would recommend to fans of hard-core, tactical first person shooters, and fans of games set in WW2.

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