Retrospective: Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

War is Hell, or so we would believe having played through various iterations of Call of Duty, but Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising would have us believe it isn't so hellish. Taking place on a fictional resource-rich island that just happens to be perfectly situated enough between China and Russia for conflict to erupt eventually draws the United States in as well. The perennial sequel to Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, the game places a significant emphasis on realism as opposed to titles like Modern Warfare 2. To be sure, there are definite successes to be had by playing the card to offer the exemplary realistic combat experience. On the other hand, there are vastly convoluted moments that I saw during my playthrough that ruined the game for me on multiple levels. While I can appreciate an attempt to make a compelling gaming experience for players interested in the tactical shooter genre, I wound up having more than a few gripes to share.