Chuck "Magnum" Ankenbauer reviews both the PC and console versions.

http://www.simhq.com/_land3/land_104a.html

Nice review.
The AI could certainly be better--don't ask them to drive you somewhere. I think part of it is user error not knowing how to use them. Much like people blame AI in race sims for cutting them off, when the AI is really just racing as a racer *should* be racing. Sometimes.
Still, you can do an awful lot with them, and sometimes I've found that the problem is what I've told them to do and didn't change with the conditions.

My biggest complaint: you can't turn your head when driving. I'm fine with the rough graphics etc, but I'd sure like to see where I'm going or where I'm getting shot from.

On MP, I think it should be mentioned that changing the respawns makes a huge improvement in gameplay. Default is unretricted (unlimited) respawns. I normally prefer no respawns at all, but with this game restricted seems just about right. Keep your AI soldiers alive---and a couple in reserve out of the action, in case of a helo crash for instance ---and the gameplay thrives.

that was a good read Magnum. You summed the reasons why I felt apprehensive about this one.

there's a mistake in the review.
dragon rising DO have TrackIR support,for driver position and pilot position only.so if you have trackIR you can turn your head when driving.
just dont get it why you cannot turn your head with mouse...

IMO,DR has a really good AI,with some very realistic reaction.it feels more human to me than Arma's AI.

Thanks, and Welcome to SimHQ!

now, are you sure... I was told at E3 it would not be supported, I also tested it on day 1 and the game didn't even recognize it? Is it supported? or just mouse look supported, but yet in game a mouse don't work?

Additional info on this would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

Review is spot on for me. TrackIR is not working for me in vehicles and I am bitterly dissapointed it doesn't work for infantry (could be me but I can't figure it out). No third person view was also a let down. I thought the £17 I paid on pre-order was a bargain, it wasn't its about what this is worth IMO. It's an OK game and perhaps becuase of the hype and the wait thats the most dissapointing outcome of all.

I stand corrected... thier is limited Track IR support for SOME vehicles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ushDIMULt8

Thx Shenhan!

Review has been updated. Thanks for the info!

I think magnum hit it right on the head. I also think the game needs:
Increased Co-Op number. If it can have AI imbedded in the mission, why not actual players?
Increase it to at least 8. In MP and Co-Op eliminate any AI with real live players, or at least reduce their number.

Allow to chose weapons in MP/Co-Op. What's the use of a Night Mission, without being able to chose "silent weapons"...? DUH

Allow for MORE stuff in wep crates within maps. Never enough material.

Dedicated Server files..? I am tired of trying to connect and failing. Sometimes it works and then not. This alone could be a killer for the game. I donot see very many servers out there...?

Give me "free look", so it WILL support TrackIR. Goodness, lets keep up with ARMA2 at least!!!!

I like the fact that this game is not so much a Military Sim as a very (potentially) good tactical military FPS. Its where it could really shine.

To heck with a DEMO..........get going on making the game itself better and live up to its true potential....? Fix the game THEN, make a demo. You just might sell a few more games.
But, then again, what do I know? I am just a game consumer that has paid good money for this game. Make my purchase worth it.

Magnum..............great review. Well balanced and even tempered. Thankyou.

Good review, well balanced indeed. And correct observations about some strange design decisions they've made. These things really should be addressed. I put the game away after 2 missions though, felt way too gamey for me, but that doesn't matter now.

One little little little tiny thing: when you refer to ArmA 2 you call it Armed Assault 2 while it's actually ArmA 2. Armed Assault was the European sub title of ArmA: Armed Assault, ArmA itself is not an abbrevation of Armed Assault but is a latin word

http://www.bistudio.com/developers-blog/arma-2-the-name-tale-3_en.html

Actually I purposely stayed away from mentioning and comparing it to ArmA2... two different games, IMO... and hate reviews that compare games to other games, unless it was like ArmA1 and ArmA2...

That was a Editor in Chief edit... blame him. lol... jk.

If you don't get beyond the first 3-4 missions, you really aren't seeing what the game offers. Those are practically just training missions. The rest get much better.

nice writeup!

It looks like it could be fun game so I am starting to lean towards a purchase. it will be interesting to see where Codemaster intends to take this game series.