With all the hype and attention surrounding Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, you may not have heard about Arma 3, the latest installment of the tactical military simulation game from critically acclaimed independent developers, Bohemia Interactive. Combining the strength of its predecessors with the radical engine improvements, Arma 3 looks to provide a unique experience of sandbox-orirented combat in the most detailed environment of the series.
After years of intense warfare against Eastern armies, Europe has become the last stand for the battered NATO forces. In hope of seizing what seems to be a well-guarded military secret, Operation Magnitude is launched. A small group of Special Forces and Researchers are sent to a Mediterranean island deep behind enemy lines. However, the mission is compromised, and the task force is destroyed, leaving Captain Scott Miller alone on the hostile island. In your effort to carry out the mission, expect to face the dangers of modern warfare, an unforgiving environment, and the consequences of your own decisions.
Watch the Arma 3 Teaser
You will evolve from lone prey into a military commander in the open-ended, story-driven campaign. While playing, you will control a multitude of aircraft, vehicles, and ships—all with accurate simulation. If there is one thing Bohemia Interactive does well, it’s simulation. In this game, they are continuing to take advantage of this by bringing in the simulation physics featured in another highly accurate simulator, “Take On Helicopters”.
Although we only had a chance to preview the game in it’s alpha stage, Arma 3 is already shaping up to be the best of the series. Arma 3 takes advantage of a new engine, PhysX, supporting the vehicle simulation, in-game interactions, and a revamped animation system. Judging from just the alpha demo, this game looks to be highly realistic.
One Arma 3 key feature is a customizable soldier load, giving you the ability to choose your uniform, assemble your weapon kit, and change your loadout. Arma 3 features challenging cooperative and competitive multiplayer scenarios, along with an intuitive and easy-to-use mission editor, giving players the ability to mod the game and create their own customizable scenarios.
Overall, Arma 3 looks promising. Bohemia Interactive seems to be taking a more realistic approach towards gameplay, aiming for accurate physical simulations and improved animations. The first thing you will notice when playing this game is just how real everything looks and feels. Bohemia Interactive has definitely kicked the Arma franchise up a notch with Arma 3. Arma 3 has a scheduled release date for Summer 2012.
