If you are seeking for the world's most realistic modern shooter...
Saying realistic to most gamers may varry from gamer to gamer, but this will probably just up to that level are far off the scale, and to extreme for some. AA is reserved for those who seek such realism, modern shooter that is, and maybe for those veteran FPS gamers. This can be proven wrong by those annomalies in this small community of AA, since the overwhelming multi tasking you need to do just to fight. The many protocalls needed to maintain a combat stance on the field will be overwhelmming for even the more experienced.
This maybe a deterant, but this may not apply to all, if you can't handle, don't bother continuing... Although there are those who are just skilled at shooting, but are just needing that extra experience to get down on the many actions that restrict you to fight in a fire fight.
The gameplay is obviously only for the online players, the trainings are not realy 'trainings' in which it will train you to fight, but more of a unlocking tutorial that may frustrate few who can't master they keys that are needed to function on a battle field. But with the new 'Play as a hero' choice, we will see alot of new gamers entering the community. Though I do have to criticise that it would be much wiser to make that a demo, and make it a contain a small part of the full game, thus just needing to install a second part to make it full for those who are not willing to commit to the game yet. But that's just my opinion.
The technical part of the game has been a rollercoaster ride through out all of the patchs. But of late, (v2.4) the crashs have dramaticaly dropped, which is a start.
New content from 2.4 is alot of fun. The new COOP mode is very interesting. AI is a little lacking, make it non existant. The way the bots react is nothing to realism, but it proves to be a challenge, as the wield the good old aim bot, so be prepared if you get head shot for no reason, just 'cause you walk around a cornor. Though it is sometimes forgiving at times.
The new map. Steamroller, is probably the first of it's kind. An extreme CQB map on a realistic shooter. GRAW(Ghost Reacon Advanced Warfighter) is a CQB orientated game, Steamroller has alot more leveled buildings, and roof-top snipers. After you run through all the maps a couple times, everything gets a little more predicable.
Some of the other maps do take your breath away, just because of the size. But this only builds up to the illusion of infanate possibilies in a combat situations.
The weapons is also decent. Although it only caters to the standard American used weapons that are deployed on the field, it does seem like thats all you need. Although sometimes you feel like you just want to see what the other weapons stack up like to the stock load out you get in the game engine.
With the new release of Gears of War and Rainbow Six: Vegas, they require you to hug your cover with your dear life, AA has already emulated such real life situations in the game from the start. Cover is your best friend. And that is no under statment. But the other factors do play in alot in the game. Random rounds can accidentaly (or intentionaly) clip your head, and you've got to wait for the round to end. Thus it does come down to the situation.
This game is nothing like CS, GRAW, Gears of War, or anyother game realy out there. As said many times, this is the most realistic Modern Shooter out there. (The most realistic shooter is probably, Battlegroup Europe.) So be it you are ready to seatle down to a more realistic shooter, and getting frustrated over the un-realistic physics of some games, or those who are just wanting a pretty good challenge to build up that skill, then check this game out. Its totaly free for download, or you can order the CD instead of waiting for a download if you have a slow connection, but if you do have a slow connection, be advised that you will have a rough experience with this game... So ya, check it out...
-Opi
-FPS Fanatic