ArmA II

 PC
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 639 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 427 out of 639
  2. Mixed: 103 out of 639
  3. Negative: 109 out of 639
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  1. EricDean
    Oct 14, 2014
    6
    So I see two sides here on Metacritic, the ubers who love this game and people who hate it for the uberness. Before you buy the game ask yourself what kind of shooter you want. If you just want to play DayZ I recommend Arma 3, if you want to play a tactical (and I mean tactical) shooter and wanna learn as much as possible from the game then by all means read the rest of the review.

    I'm    So I see two sides here on Metacritic, the ubers who love this game and people who hate it for the uberness. Before you buy the game ask yourself what kind of shooter you want. If you just want to play DayZ I recommend Arma 3, if you want to play a tactical (and I mean tactical) shooter and wanna learn as much as possible from the game then by all means read the rest of the review.

    I'm going to start off with setting straight the "bugs" in this game. People say bugs but I found very few bugs in my playing of the game. On a laggy server with lots of blown-up stuff the odd fire texture glitch will occur setting the sky on fire on when you crash the wheels will slightly sink into the thing to crashed into. Albeit there is one annoying bug that is rocks. Rocks will stop tanks and most cars and if your going to fast ruin your entire vehicle. Another thing is people complaining about the campaign. This game was not meant for a campaign. It's immensely hard to fit in the ability to talk to other people and be extremely tactical. AI are a bit cheating and sometimes dumb but if you install a 70kb download (ASR_AI) then it works fine. Also this game was made in the Czech Republic so complaining about the Voice-Acting isn't an amazing argument to give this game a 0.

    Multiplayer is where the true nature of this game is. An amazingly in-depth editor that is easy for starters to use but even more fun for the people willing to learn it. I play 300 hours of this game with just the editor and multiplayer and I have now reached over 1000 Hours with the hundreds of easy to install mods.

    I'm going to conclude however that this game is a 6 because like I said ultiplayer is the number one asset to this game and in recent times the servers have emptied and steam has ruined the conntection for most of them.    … Expand
  2. Broyax
    Apr 14, 2017
    2
    Arma 2 c'est 2 ! dont un point pour les jolis graphismes, si, si (même si c'est exigeant et pas qu'un peu : ce n'est pas la première machine venue qui fait tourner cette daube !). Et le premier point parce qu'on ne peut pas mettre 0 (zéro) hélas ; ça nous fait donc un navet.

    Comme tout ce que fait Bohemia Interactive depuis des années déjà, ce n'est pas vraiment un jeu : ce n'est donc    Arma 2 c'est 2 ! dont un point pour les jolis graphismes, si, si (même si c'est exigeant et pas qu'un peu : ce n'est pas la première machine venue qui fait tourner cette daube !). Et le premier point parce qu'on ne peut pas mettre 0 (zéro) hélas ; ça nous fait donc un navet.

    Comme tout ce que fait Bohemia Interactive depuis des années déjà, ce n'est pas vraiment un jeu : ce n'est donc ni amusant, ni distrayant, même vaguement. C'est blindé de bugs dans tous les sens (et une galère pour installer les patchs dans le bon ordre), l'interface est horrible et rien que les missions du didacticiel, c'est la croix. A ranger au rayon des infâmes étrons.    … Expand
  3. Roke_
    Feb 16, 2017
    8
    The multiplayer of Arma 2 was fantastic as it had a variety of gamemodes to do and a lot of mods from the whole community most notably DayZ and Wasteland so you could definitely sink a lot of time into it but don't play it for the campaign even though that's not what the game is well known for but still it could of been better as it was quite boring and lackluster.
  4. LesPaul
    Sep 30, 2017
    10
    This is both a military sim and a FPS. It is supported by a tremendous modding community which for me means that the game can be twisted and prodded into almost any type of experience you wish. But it has a decent learning curve and there is much background lore to digest, so players who are not aware of this assume that the game is bad. Witness the poor ratings on this website. Note - theThis is both a military sim and a FPS. It is supported by a tremendous modding community which for me means that the game can be twisted and prodded into almost any type of experience you wish. But it has a decent learning curve and there is much background lore to digest, so players who are not aware of this assume that the game is bad. Witness the poor ratings on this website. Note - the DayZ mod came from this game.… Expand
  5. S0pun
    Oct 20, 2019
    10
    Лучшая игра в серии, лучший симулятор бега по лесу и по совместительству военных действий.
    Популярность игра получила благодаря развитой системы моддинга. Подкачала оптимизация, анимация, физика(кроме баллистики) - все из-за древнего движка. Удивительно, но мне понравился сюжет кампании Красная Жатва, это мне что-то напомнило... Жаль что ее время прошло.    Лучшая игра в серии, лучший симулятор бега по лесу и по совместительству военных действий.
    Популярность игра получила благодаря развитой системы моддинга. Подкачала оптимизация, анимация, физика(кроме баллистики) - все из-за древнего движка. Удивительно, но мне понравился сюжет кампании Красная Жатва, это мне что-то напомнило... Жаль что ее время прошло.
  6. ArchOnua98K
    Jun 16, 2018
    10
    If Call of Duty is too awful for you and Battlefield is not realist at all, then one game is made for you: Arma 2. When I dropped COD this year after 10 years of gaming (I am 16 years old right now), I was asking myself if a good FPS Game exist for real. The professional gamers said " Yes, Arch. Arma 2. Forget all video games claiming to be realist. There is a reason why there is aIf Call of Duty is too awful for you and Battlefield is not realist at all, then one game is made for you: Arma 2. When I dropped COD this year after 10 years of gaming (I am 16 years old right now), I was asking myself if a good FPS Game exist for real. The professional gamers said " Yes, Arch. Arma 2. Forget all video games claiming to be realist. There is a reason why there is a principle where Call of Duty is for kids, Battlefield for teens and Arma for adults. ". After playing this initially hostile game, it instantly climbed in my top picks. How ? Let me tell why.

    1- REAL PHYSICS. From scales (1 meter from Arma 2 is 1 meter from real life) to physics (Bullet drop, velocity, realist recoil, accurate mobility ...), Arma 2 is the realism's quality option next to the very boring COD and Battlefield franchises. Also, the way you handle a gun is exactly like in real life. Do you hate when the stock is in your mouth when you aim ? You will like the way you grab a gun in Arma.

    2- REALIST PLAYSTYLE. No wonder why nobody in real life do trickshots, excessive rushing, tryharding and all that stuff found in COD and Battlefield. The way you play in Arma 2 is like in real life. This is like Vietnam, boy ! Naturally, if you rush, you are the first to die. So you must be very serious about what you do, use real tactics, do what your gun is intended for, never think you are superman, rely on teamworking ... well, act like a real soldier and you will make your way.

    3- COMPLETE CONTROLS. If you dominate in COD or Battlefield while you are 6 years old, it is because the game you play is way too easy. Moving, aiming, firing, equipments, killstreaks ... this is all you have in COD or Battlefield. Arma laugh at that intended novice setup. All is here my friend. Let's take off the killstreaks and talk realist. In addition to the basic controls, you have free look, leaning, zeroing, zoom in/out, squad commanding, NVGs, binoculars, vehicules's engines ... it is so huge than I cannot mention all in a 5000 words limit. That's right kid, this is real details.

    4- SERIOUS MISSIONS. What I find funny (and some players would agree with me) is when a COD player claim than the COD campaign is hard altought it is 100 % only made of slow-motions. Well, Arma 2's missions deserve the M-Rating by ESRB. Very huge variety of hardcore missions that take more than my days's length, formidable AIs, very entertaining feeling ... for the first time in my life, a PC game has fantastic PVE ! Thanks for saving me, Bohemia !

    5- VALUE FOR THE MONEY. Right now, the COD and Battlefield franchise are avaible for above 50-60 dollars. Add the multiple DLCs and you can waste above 150 $ for games that are copies of a boring game made in 2003. Very shameful ! But hey ! Bohemia know that, so they will be very smart with you ! You might think it will cost you 500 $, but no sir. 13.99 $ for the basic game. All the extra content cost 44 $ with taxes, but at that moment, you save hundreds of dollars and you have a much better offer. This add more weight to Arma 2 and now you should ask yourself " Why paying more for less ? Why I did a big mistake ? ".

    6- LIFETIME VALUE. What it is that, you ask me ? It is a way for me to describe the game's ability to be desirable even after many years without updates. To be desirable like in 2018 (9 years later), the game must be perfect. With all the offer from Bohemia, you might think it will be outdated. But no ! It won't ! You have the most modular mission creator of all times (PVE or PVP, it is customizable at 100 %), a very high amount of fantastic mods (Invasion 1944 for example) and a very big community. That's right kid, I am not the only fan of Bohemia Interactive. At above 300k sales, it isn't a reject at all.

    7- MATURE COMMUNITY. Not the most important aspect, but when it is a fact Call of Duty and Battlefield have 2 of the most toxic communities, you might consider important the players's attitude. Well, like I said, Arma is for adults. Ok I am not adult at 16 years old, but mentally I am. Well, there is no stupid players, no invalid toughts ... just good smart players like I ever wanted. Don't you find boring when your team is full of cowards ? Me I do and what you find in Arma 2 is formidable.

    Conclusion ? Well, you might say graphics are important, but no it isn't ! It even make a game worst in the appreciation. You have doubts ? Do me a favor. Think about a beautiful game you hate right now. You might be disappointed by the graphics and by consequences, imagine how atrocious it would be without ... easily the worst game in all times.

    So to conclude, Arma 2 is the perfection in the very prolific world of FPS games. If you have the smart brain, hurry to buy Arma 2 before you enter into the shameful hell of Call of Duty and Battlefield. If you hate it, well you might not admit it but you are bad and you should feed bad.    … Expand
  7. gamerz4life
    Sep 27, 2020
    5
    Unless you’re playing for the multiplayer, the AI in all Arma games are horrendous, at best they will get stuck for unknown reasons and stop following you, at worst there on the other side of the map doing who knows what, not listening, all while every AI is just running around with no tactical sense. Is best used in editor mode with mods just trying things out like Gary's mod, 1,000 hoursUnless you’re playing for the multiplayer, the AI in all Arma games are horrendous, at best they will get stuck for unknown reasons and stop following you, at worst there on the other side of the map doing who knows what, not listening, all while every AI is just running around with no tactical sense. Is best used in editor mode with mods just trying things out like Gary's mod, 1,000 hours can't be wrong!

    I just can't find the realism that people talk of when you run past a AI tank that has driven up a rock and flipped itself. Then take all this that this game is almost 10 years old and still runs poorly due to being badly optimized which is no surprise to the Arma community.    … Expand
  8. Tilt1k
    Feb 5, 2019
    7
    Probably the weakest game from the trio Operation Flashpoint, Arma 2 and Arma 3. Still a decent game, but i have encountered most bugs and flaws in this one.
  9. saplign
    Feb 2, 2023
    5
    meh‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
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Awards & Rankings

61
#61 Best PC Game of 2009
14
#14 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
45
#45 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Gamers.at
    72
    It's a shame the developers obviously didn't have enough time to finish ArmA II properly before they shipped it: There are many bugs in the game and the AI's actions mostly just don't make sense at all. One piece of advice: Get patch 1.01 – with it the game is at least moderate fun. Still, we hope that some further patches will follow and fix ArmA II's major flaws so that it will finally become the great game it could be – next time, however, we'd like to see the game finished by the time of its release!
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    70
    The vast and open world of ArmA II offers an incomparable army experience. You only need to accept its slow pace and batch of unpleasant bugs. Still ArmA is the only matchless war toy.
  3. GameStar
    66
    ARMA 2 doesn't seem to be a finished game. The AI is cheating, physics and controls are out of date and the game is full of annoying bugs. That the game manages to look great from time to time doesn't help much. Hopefully Bohemia Interactive will release some patches soon. The game still has a lot of potential.
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