The Czech studio Bohemia Interactive continues to develop the combat action simulator genre, diligently moving towards a bright future. The foundation was laid in the iconic and mind-blowing game Operation Flashpoint, followed by the ArmA series (after a falling out with Codemasters and losing the rights to Operation Flashpoint), which serves as a direct descendant of the 2001 project. The release of ArmA 2 (Armed Assault 2) took place in the summer of 2009. The publisher in Russia was the company "Akella", which distributes the game under the title "ArmA 2: The Tactics of Modern Warfare".
The game's plot tells of a military conflict unfolding on the territory of the state of Chernarus. The fictional country (as conceived by the developers) is a remnant of the once mighty Soviet Union, but even after many years, a civil war has not ceased here, the active phase of which has lasted for a solid two years. The northern territories of the country, controlled by insurgent forces, have become the point of contention. Zealous communists have been trying for years to separate from the rest of Chernarus and join the Russian Federation, but they are hindered by a pro-Western government, which regularly conducts raids into the insurgent-held province. At one point, the regular army of Chernarus managed to push the group "Chedaki" (as the revolutionaries call themselves) to the very north of the rebellious territory, literally cornering the rebels against the mountains. Nevertheless, they were able to organize a counteroffensive and reclaim lost territory, declaring their independence. Realizing that such proximity would bring nothing good to Chernarus, the leader of the country calls for NATO troops for help. A local conflict begins, involving both Russian forces and the troops of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Like all creations from Bohemia Interactive, Armed Assault 2 impresses with its scale. The territory of Zargabad (where the main events unfold) covers over two hundred and twenty square kilometers of forests, mountains, hills, fields, and rivers. Towns and villages, as well as airfields, ruins of ancient castles, and dams, are also located here. Thus, Armed Assault 2 provides players with a wealth of opportunities for building unique tactics and offers nearly complete freedom of action. The main goal is to achieve the objective, and how this is implemented in practice depends solely on you.
In Armed Assault 2, there is a vast array of both ground and air combat vehicles, an extensive arsenal of weapons, and much more. The most interesting aspect of Armed Assault 2 is the ability to build bases and recruit new fighters, thereby creating a small army. However, such an experiment from Bohemia Interactive has been met with skepticism by many fans, as the RTS elements did not blend very smoothly into the gameplay. Moreover, the construction of bases and factories did not look very natural.