Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising

The point capture system is more realistic so no more halo drops in the rear by one guy to capture a teams main base (It'll take a team effort to take a point now).

NO PARACHUTES! Nothing more satisifying than tagging a helicopter with a stinger and watching everyone on board fall from the sky.

Vehicles don't magically dissapear after being destroyed and jeeps don't auto explode everytime you run into something.

Snipers are everwhere and quite dangerous, though bullet drop will seperate the men from the boys. Weapons balance is pretty much right on. Various factors such as weapon report, flash, and effective range combined with time of day and server limits keeps the M60 stupidity of BFV from rearing it's ugly head.

Armory (Ammo crates) have time limits on them so no more rocket or grenade spaming.

The Bad
Helicopters are so dumbed down that they are boring (no skill required), but at the same time can you load a couple of vehicles in the back of a Chinook along with 10 guys or have 3-4 guys hanging out of a scout helicopter. Makes for some interesting battles and reinforcements. So basically if all you like to do is fly, and by fly I mean you have to actually have some skills to do so, then this game has nothing to really offer you.

They need to work on the sound some more,the individual weapons don't sound distinct enough from on another and distance and echo effects don't work that well making it difficult to judge distances (Could be my sound card though SB audigy). I would suggest surround sound for better game play.

I'm having a hard time with coming up with more negatives. Very fun game, not as arcade and over the top play as the Battlefield series, but not as restrictive as many of the tactical shooters out there. Currently I only have the demo I would strongly suggest downloading it and see for yourself. (Mine's on order)

http://www.jointopsthegame.com/


You want this game!   July 7, 2004
Underwear X (Reno, Nv United States)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

After reading a couple of bum reviews posted by others, I chose to submit this review regarding the awesome gameplay I've encountered in JO. True to a few comments I've heard, I do not recommend this game to anyone who doesn't have DSL or a fairly modern video card (and processor-I have an Athlon 2200 and it works fine). Other than that though: you're set. Novalogic has vigilantly released patches to deal with almost all the issues that have come up (very few indeed!) and I've been rocking hard ever since! The maps, the team dynamics, the gameplay itself and easy learning curve (compare this to the near impossible mastery of any aircraft in battlefield 1942) make this a game with lots of depth for newbie and master strategist alike. The fact that you can engage so many people (I usually play on servers that host 70-100 people) at once makes for a more interesting and definitley fun experience. The day/night weather cycels are not to miss and the sheer number of weapons, uniforms/camo, vehicles to drive and maps make this, in my book, the definitive multi-player game out there right now. Pick it up-you won't regret it! just be wary of what it says on the box: although many people were initially turned away by the box reading something about having to pay for a 'premium service' everyting is absolutely free with no monthly fee at all (novalogic has since cleared this up at the official forums for the website) In conclusion, check it out: this game will own you!

Underwear X (if you see me out in the jungle, give me a holler!)


Novalogic Does it right this time...   June 17, 2004
D. J. Rigopoulos (Markham, Ontario Canada)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I don't know what some people are whining about on the forums. This is a darn good FPS. I played it for about 5 hours yesterday and for a 1CD game, I was surprised at the level of the graphics and content from this game. Novalogic has affiliated themselves with NVidia and this is a bit of a dissapointment for me because I use an ATI GC and I work at ATI, but even on my ATI 9800 Pro, the game looks sweet and runs like butter. I was also impressed with the level of control and realism in this product. For example, you have to calibrate sniping distance using binoculars and then adjusting your crosshairs accordingly. The mortars, grenade launchers, etc.. work off the same principles.

The foliage is rendered brilliantly, even better than BF Vietnam, and I love BF. When shells or bullets hit water, the effect is simply amazing. Flying around in the copters was a lot easier to learn than in BF or Desert Combat. Novalogic decided to keep the flying vehicle controls simple and this is fine with me. Also, it took a bit of an adjustment to get used to the controls, but trust me if you do thee training missions, they become a snap to learn.

Try the demo out and then decide for yourselves if it is for you. Don't listen to too many critics...this game is top notch. Hey, remember how many patches BF1942 had to go thru to get it to what it is today? And yet it still ended up getting Game of the Year awards. I think this one has a lot of potential too.


Adult Gamester Loves This One   July 9, 2004
Jonathan Bernstein (CA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I have always felt lost in online versions of BF1942 because (a) traditional strategy, stealth and teamplay were almost non-existent and (b) survival depended on your ability to constantly keep moving and jump around in random patterns, all while shooting anything that moved. I'm 53, old for a lot of these games, but I'm also an avid paintball player who can keep up with the teens and young adults very well in "walk on," big team versions of that game which rely more on stealth and strategy. I've found that many of the same tactics I use successfully in paintball -- and, for that matter, which I learned while in the Army from 72-77 -- work quite well in Joint Operations Typhoon Rising. I'll still learning how to play the game really well, but steadily improving. The game also allows me to play co-op versions offline -- me against any number of opponents. Play one on 10 or one on 20 AI opponents is great practice for my skills, so I like this option. I also think that there's a place in this game for anyone with relatively little practice, so you don't have to feel completely out-played by those who live their lives online. Buy it, you'll like it. And if you see VET72-77 online, let's jump in any vehicle together and rock 'n roll.


w00t!   June 17, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I am a long time gamer, and big fan of Battlefield 1942 - Desert Combat in particular. I have to say it is nice to finally see a game that makes you work for it! The maps are giant, so big infact that it would take you an hour just to walk across it! Through in that bad a$$ little helicopter with the missles, OMG it is amazing. The experience is very similar to Battlefield but with the Black Hawk Down feel in it. I personally think this is a close to real combat that PC Games have come.