Introduction
I remember picking up the original version of Operation Flashpoint, before the Red Hammer add-on, before the Resistance add-on, and before the Game of the Year edition which I currently own. I played it for a day or two and was ready to package it back up for a return. (You could do that within 7 days back then.) I liked the concept of the game but I found it difficult, too difficult to live long enough to enjoy it, and too difficult to lead my men when I was put in charge.
I am glad that I didn’t follow up on my return; instead I shelved it for a few weeks, and revisited it when I had more time to properly learn and play it. Operation Flashpoint is now one of my all time favorites. The level of realistic tactics and warfare, along with it’s never ending game play makes this game a classic.
As time will have it, I have always kept OFP installed for a quick mission or two once in a while but moved on to other games. Well after a revisit to the OFP Game of the year version, which can still be bought for fewer than 20 bucks, I am back into it deep. I’ve discovered a couple of new, fantastic modifications, and a new Capture the Island game play mod that is just mind blowing.
First I revisited the tried and true Game of the Year version which contains the Original Operation Flashpoint, the Red Hammer add-on and the Resistance add-on. So with the Game of the Year edition, you get all the extra vehicles and equipment, along with three separate and very well done single player campaigns. The original campaign is played as the US military, the Red Hammer is the former Soviet Union side, and finally the Resistance, yep, you guessed it, the resistance group are in the middle of this 1985 US vs. USSR war.
You get more than 60 total missions included in the campaigns along with a number of single player missions, and then a number of cooperative and adversary online missions.
Check out the screenshots below of the original game with no mods or alterations. It may not be the prettiest game out there, but it sure is the best when it comes to game play, tactics, and military procedures.