TSA’s Top 100 of 2011 – #74 Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Taking the more realistic road to modern warfare, Codemasters’ Operation Flashpoint series has traditionally attracted a more pensive, less rocket-obsessed fan-base. Described more as a “tactical shooter” rather than your typical FPS tea-bagging angst-fest, the Op Flash games (I have no idea if those in the know call them that but I’m going with it nonetheless) have dispelled the notion that war is one giant gung-ho scramble for streaks. It’s strategic, calculated, with people getting torn to shreds if they even think about crawling up behind a foe and no-scoping them in the knackers (admit it, you’ve done it.)

For Red River, yet another fictional conflict is concocted for you to drop into. Destination: Tajikstan: hotbed of political turmoil and tangos in need of your lead. Players can choose between four classes (rifleman, grenadier, scout and auto rifleman – we have no idea), with the abillity to upgrade your soldier through the purchasing of weapons and perks. Interestingly, the entire single-player campaign can be played co-operatively and, really hammering home the game’s co-op tendencies, Red River will completely forego a competitive multiplayer mode.

Operation Flashpoint has always proffered a different take on the popular war genre. It’s this alternative flavour that has us interested. Gone is the urge to run around trying to womp someone on the back of the head with your pistol just because it’s hilarious (to you, the womper, definitely not funny for the wompee), replaced with the tense reality that one wrong move on your behalf can be met with a solitary – and life-ending – enemy bullet.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River is set for a release on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next year. An exact release date has yet to be confirmed.