Arma 3: Same old, same old
I have finally gotten round to playing Arma III. The next in the line of games that are the spiritual successor from the classic Operation Flashpoint series. I am pleased to say that the game runs a lot smoother than it's predecessor, Arma 2. The feel of the game hasn't changed since Operation flashpoint. The UI and mouse movements seem reluctant and imprecise.
I've only had time so far to play a bit of the single player campaign but the same old gripes are there as from the original Operation Flashpoint (2001). And that's mainly the AI. They have improved in their tactical movements, moving from cover to cover and the such but you still land up shouting at your screen in the hopes that they'll hear and action your repeated pleas.
The enemy AI is still capable of spotting you in a hedge from a mile away they'll refine their fire against you so you don't die instantly anymore, but it's only a matter of time. Whilst the friendly AI also engages in battle across monumental distance, always opting to open fire on specs in the distance that haven't noticed them instead of moving in closer for an easier affair.
Of course, under fire the AI "hit the dirt", or, lie down in the middle of a geometric plane to become a sitting duck. During battle there is no concept of running for cover or breaking the line-of-sight.
In one particular mission you have to cross a valley full of mortar fire. It seems random whether you get hit - and of course, have to restart. The AI squad will stay in rigid formation and stop whenever something of interest pops up, irrespective of incoming mortars. In fact I had to restart the game as somewhere down the line my squad leader had injured himself so could only walk. So everybody else was at a crawl and we keep getting wiped out by mortars.
The only way to heal an AI unit is hope they get stuck behind an object for long enough so you can complete the healing animation on them. Whilst selecting it is easy, they'll always walk off before it completes and the action is cancelled.
Hopefully multiplayer will offer the enjoyable coop of previous years.