Finally, let’s address the biggest overhaul to the technology used by ArmA: the graphics engine. To be honest, I’m actually pretty impressed with how the developers have beefed everything up to match modern-day technology, as the open terrain looks gorgeous over a long distance, the water now looks much more impressive (and can actually be swum in now), and the character and weapon models are looking better than ever. Of particular impressive note is the long-overdue addition of animations and movement to a weapon model, making for some actual realistic-looking reload animations – albeit still awkward at times. Between all of this, as well as the heavy dose of the HDR happy-juice floating around the industry right now (which will either be loved or hated at first sight, given how heavily it ties into the gameplay now – expect to be blinded by the sun more than a few times), Armed Assault more than holds its weight as a graphical power-house – just be ready to spend a great deal of time tweaking the settings unless you happen to be blessed with an overpowered monstrosity of a computer.

There’s no doubt that one gets quite a package with ArmA - there are planes, tanks, soldiers, and other conveyances of war all waiting to be exploited, a substantially improved (if still a tad quirky ) physics engine, drastically improved graphics, and probably some of the best multiplayer wargaming to be had right now. If nothing else, Armed Assault can be considered just short of being a “flawed masterpiece”, desperately in need of the proper time and development to shine the way it truly should. It really can’t be denied that this is one of the most ‘practically realistic’ action-war games out on the market today, and blends just enough realism and accessibility for the right degree of fun. Providing Bohemia Interactive takes the right amount of time to clean up the game properly, this could definitely carry on the legacy of its predecessor, and become one of the best games of its kind for years to come.