Operation Flashpoint: Resistance

8.3

Format PC

Developer Bohemia Interactive Studio

Publisher Codemasters

Genre Action, Sim / Strategy

After retiring from active service, Richie Shoemaker opens his door to a stern-faced Colonel Korda, who barks out some orders: "We've got an expansion pack situation and we need you back for one last mission"

Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia are countries that up until the end of the Cold War few would have even heard about, let alone visited. Indeed to a great many people they might still remain today as fantastical as Middle Earth or Button Moon if it wasn't for their combined musical might. As some of you may know, it was Estonia who won last year's Eurovision Song Contest and Latvia who dominated this year's event. (Not that I saw either contest, you understand.) These Baltic brothers may be small in number, globally insignificant and geographically pitiable, but they certainly know how to rock the funky beat.

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However, the citizens of fictional Operation Flashpoint islands Everon, Malden and Kolgujev - in stark contrast to their Baltic neighbours - know nothing of euro pop, freedom, or indeed, Button Moon. Stuck in a mid-'80s time warp - though they have been spared the mullet epidemic - the collective population of Operation Flashpoint's three fictional islands have instead had to play host to successive waves of NATO and Soviet forces, each slugging it out for control of their lands.

RUN TO THE HILLS
According to official figures, in excess of a million people have fought across Flashpoint's war-torn world, first in the original campaign for NATO, then as the Soviet Union, thanks, of course, to last year's Red Hammer mission pack. However, we've had quite enough of Flashpoint's previous three islands, and it is with thanks and some relief that Flashpoint's second expansion pack Resistance, introduces a fourth, Nogovo. Rather than have you fighting as the technically affluent West or under the red banner of socialist Russia, this time you are on the side of the little people; the ones who in time of war pick up their pitchforks and head into the mountains.

Set some years prior to Operation Flashpoint, Resistance has you playing as Fatboy Slim look-alike and Pierce Brosnan sound-alike, Victor Troska, an ex-Soviet soldier, who, having had enough of fighting for the motherland, has moved to the relatively idyllic republic. It is there, one day on his way to his office, that he learns on the radio that his adopted homeland isn't quite as tranquil as he first envisaged. It seems the pro-democratic government is in tatters and seizing the chance to reclaim the land in the name of socialism, the Reds are poised to take over in a way only they know how; by sending in a massive invasion force.

The inevitable transpires and, of course, a few locals put up a fight, but like trying to find a decent pub in Welwyn Garden City, it is a gesture as desperate as it is futile. Nonetheless, it isn't long until our reluctant hero is in the thick of the action fighting against impossible odds.

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
Far more convincing than either the original game or the first add-on, thanks to improved cut-scenes and a competent script, Resistance provides a much more intense experience, where your actions have greater consequence not only on the mission at hand, but in future operations. As your soldiers progress through the campaign they steadily gain experience. Lose one and you lose not just one man, but a potentially experienced soldier.

As well as experience, there are more tangible resources to worry about too. Up against a large, well-equipped and organised force, Nogovo's resistance needs to steal every weapon and bullet they can from captured supply trucks and twitching corpses. It may all sound a bit low-tech compared to previous Flashpoint adventures when you're spending all your time going through the pockets of dead Russian conscripts, but there are few better Flashpoint moments than when there's a tank coming towards you and halfway between you both is a dead body slumped over an anti-tank rocket.
COLD WAR STASIS

While it would be difficult to recommend Resistance for its new weapons and drivable vehicles (though the motorbike is a lot of fun), those wishing to upgrade a game they still find enjoyable should see this as an essential purchase. Graphically, the terrain is far more detailed - not just on the new island, but the old three have also been touched up; all the trees look like proper trees and for those with top of the range PCs, the game now boasts an incredible depth of view. Certainly some of the animations could have done with an upgrade - soldiers still run as if they've lost bowel control - and there are clipping problems indoors and bizarre instances of soldiers running around in odd directions. Most annoying of all is that the archaic RTS-style interface used to give orders remains intact, whereas a context-sensitive order system would have worked far better. Alas...

Although the campaign itself is a little on the difficult side, the fact that Flashpoint players have a new island to explore should prove a big draw. Despite the hangovers of a cumbersome interface and some annoying bugs, it's a quality addition to what was and remains the best tactical action game around. Those who may have given up on Flashpoint halfway through are the only ones who need think twice before purchasing.

Richie Shoemaker