Arma Reforger

One of the most visually and mechanically realistic war simulators of all time is finally getting a next-gen upgrade with Arma Reforger. Revisit the same locations as in the first game in the series, now made even more technically impressive with the updated Enfusion Engine and streamlined controls that aim to open the Arma experience to a whole new audience.

While it might seem decidedly more petite than the impressive amounts of content we’re used to seeing in an Arma title, Arma Reforger serves as a nice appetizer while long-time fans of the series wait for the release of Arma 4.

Realism Redefined

Since its early days, the Arma franchise has always been all about delivering the most immersive battlefield experience players had ever seen. Through its use of complex bullet physics and outstanding visuals, it became progressively tougher to tell reality apart from Arma’s visuals, especially with the fan-favorite ARMA 3.

However, one aspect that always seems to scare away possible new players into the series is the game’s steep learning curve and needlessly complicated controls. Arma Reforger aims to fix that, featuring gameplay that – while still quite rich in features – is presented in a more streamlined manner that should appease franchise newcomers.

It takes the core tenets of the series – namely realism and authenticity – and refines them further through a focus on combat tactics and team play. That said, it’s very disappointing to see that Arma Reforger is the only game in the mainline series so far that doesn’t include a single-player campaign.

The jump to Arma becoming an exclusively online multiplayer experience is something that fans have been dreading for quite a while now, and it seems like Arma Reforger might become the first game in the series to bite the bullet and become online-only. It’s a huge shame, given how well Arma Reforger does at presenting itself as a solid entry point for those who are looking to get into the series but aren’t interested in going down the multiplayer route just yet.

Look Into The Future

It’s no secret that Arma Reforger is just a demo of what Arma 4 aims to be. Even the developers describe the game as “the first step towards Arma 4.” It’s similar to what we saw a while back with Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes being the preamble to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – only that Arma Reforger offers much more replay value thanks to its satisfying multiplayer gameplay.

One thing to note is that the game is still very much in continuous development. As such, some glitches and inconsistencies might arise during gameplay. However, they don’t affect the overall experience too much, with Arma Reforger remaining one of the best war simulations you can find on the market today. Just don't be too surprised if matchmaking seems a bit slow, or if the servers collapse without any notice.

All in all, Arma Reforger is a worthy addition to the series, serving as proof that the franchise still has a lot to offer. If the devs decide to keep Arma Reforger as their main showcase of what to expect from the next installment, then fans will definitely be in for quite a ride when Arma 4 comes around.

Pros

• Amazing visuals look better than most next-gen titles
• Streamlined controls make the game feel even better to play now with a gamepad
• Refined player movement makes the game feel far less clunky than its predecessors

Cons

• Some multiplayer server issues
• No singleplayer campaign
• A few minor bugs and glitches