Hello,

I was searching online for some new FPS's. I just located Arma. It looks like a really good game so I would like to give it a try. However, it looks a little intimidating with all the addon's etc. I have Arma II free downloading right now. Do I need anything else? Also, is the game kinda like a enhanced version of Battlefield 2? What I mean is do you have the option to fight as a soldier, and also the ability to fly helicopters, planes, drive tanks, etc.? Is the player actually doing the fighting or are you just commanding troops and vehicles? I take it the free version is very basic, and the paid version has a lot more stuff you can do? If someone could get me pointed in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. I am trying to find a alternative to America's Army 3.

Thanks,
grimreaper

ArmA2 is a military simulator more than it's a game. You can fight as a soldier or part of a team or lead a team or drive a tank or just gun in one or fly helicopters or planes or anything really. :) ArmA is a super expansive game so be patient in learning it. As with any game also who you play with determines how good a game it will be, so be prepared to find unbelievably horrible public online play before you find a really solid group of guys to play with. :) It's totally worth it.

The free version is the full ArmA2 game without the single player campaign/scenarios and with lowered quality graphics (all the textures are blurry instead of crisp HD awesomeness they usually are). The game it otherwise complete and the editor is fully functional.

The content you'll be missing is the aforementioned campaign stuff. The Operation Arrowhead expansion, which brings in desert terrain and the US Army units. The British Armed Forces DLC (BAF) which brings in the British units and some new features like engineers that can repair vehicles. The Private Military Company DLC (PMC) which brings in video playback in game and Blackwater/Xe type units.

If you upgrade to Combined Operations (Which is the ArmA2 game + Operation Arrowhead expansion) you'll get "Lite" versions of BAF and PMC. So all the content (minus the missions) and blurry units. You can then buy the DLCs on their own for $10 each or so or get "Reinforcements" which is a DVD with BAF + PMC + OA "Lite".

Personally I'd suggest one of two upgrade paths:

1. Buy ArmA X directly from BIS. It's $60, so seemingly expensive, but you get EVERY ArmA game. OFP/A1/A2/OA + all expansions and DLCs for. All downloadable with the games and keys stored online for you. No DRM.

2. Or else I'd suggest getting Combined Operations then the two DLCs. That'll be $55 or so, $30 for CO + $20 for the DLCs. Really, ArmA X for $10 more is so worth it. :)

arma had me hooked for years now man, the things you can do in this game is ridiculous and then fun you can have in this game is unmatched. if you are looking for realism then your at the right address but if you want fast pace unrealistic action with no real point behind it then check out any other game. give this game time because its something you never played before. also dont judge it off of singleplayer mode, make sure you get into a game of coop multiplayer, preferably join somebodies teamspeak and play tactically.

Thanks fellas for the detailed posts. Also, thanks to Foxhound for editing the title for me. I was in a hurry earlier, and for the life of me couldn't think of a good title lol. I did some reading about Arma the other day. It sounds like a lot of people really like it due to the realism and amount of content. I am going to get the "Free" version installed now to check it out. That way I can kinda get the hang of things. Plus I can see how much I like it first. It takes a really special PC game for me to get really into it. Other wise I will play it a few times and be done with it. I just hope the "Free" version is going to be enough to sell me on the "Full" version. I don't want bad graphics to play a role in my judgement for the game. Then, I end up missing out on something greater. Bad graphics is what turns me off with other shooters. AA2 and AA3 type graphics I can live with. However, some of these other shooters I could care a less for. Thanks again for the quick replies, and great advice!

Graphics will be good, but the textures will be blurry, so a lot of detail lost. Here's a video to give you an idea of the difference between the free textures and the full game textures:

Be sure to watch this in HD: