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ArmA 2 is the third main title in the ARMA series.

Overview

The second modern-era game to be released after ArmA: Armed Assault, ArmA 2 is the third main title in Bohemia Interactive's flagship ARMA series.

Expansion pack

Main article: ArmA 2: Operation Arrowhead

Made available for purchase one year after ArmA 2's initial release on June 29th, 2010[2], Operation Arrowhead is the primary expansion pack for ArmA 2 and features numerous additions, ranging from three new terrains for the fictional Green Sea region country of Takistan, as well as many new vehicles and weapons, along with several factions and radio protocols.

Operation Arrowhead also included a platform update which introduces weapon zeroing, thermal vision modes, wearable backpacks, along with defensive electronic countermeasure systems for aircraft.

DLCs

ArmA 2 is the first game in the series to feature multiple DLCs which expand the base game's content. A total of three premium DLCs are available for purchase but require the Operation Arrowhead expansion to install and cannot be run standalone (the base game itself however, is not required):

British Armed Forces and Private Military Company were initially bundled together as part of the Reinforcements pack, while Army of the Czech Republic was sold as a standalone DLC (Operation Arrowhead was still required).

All DLCs were later bundled together as part of the ARMA 2: Complete Collection[6]. The ARMA X Anniversary Edition also combines ArmA 2 and its DLCs alongside previous titles into a single package.[7]

Plot

ArmA 2's campaigns begin in 2009, more than two years after the events of Royal Flush. All predominately take place in countries coasted to the fictional Green Sea.

Operation Harvest Red

Main article: Harvest Red

The Green Sea region nation of Chernarus finds itself embroiled in civil war as a powerful insurgent army calling itself the Chernarussian Movement of the Red Star (ChDKZ) lays siege to government forces, overrunning the South Zagoria region and even executing the nation's Prime Minister.

Under the request of the Chernarussian government-in-exile, U.S. Marines from the 27th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deployed to the country to drive back the ChDKZ and help restore order to the nation.

Deployed to spearhead the counterattack, the campaign predominately follows Master Sergeant Matthew Cooper, a Marine from USMC Force Reconnaissance fireteam callsigned Razor Team.

Eagle Wing

NOTE: This campaign was included with the release of Patch 1.05 but is considered to be non-canonical in the official timeline.

Main article: Eagle Wing (campaign)

A free addon campaign, Eagle Wing explores an alternate timeline where the United States launches a full-scale invasion of Chernarus to drive out both the ChDKZ and Russian military forces.

The campaign follows the story of Lieutenant Ed Winter, a U.S. Navy pilot who was sent to raid a Russian airfield prior to the invasion's commencement.

Operation Arrowhead

NOTE: Only available with the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.

Main article: Operation Arrowhead (campaign)

Three years after the events of Operation Harvest Red, the ruling government of Takistan led by Colonel Muhammad R. Aziz faces a bloody civil war as Royalist tribes in the region rebel against him, threatening the stability of the regime.

To reclaim his crumbling power base, Aziz threatens to launch chemical SCUD missiles at the nearby Green Sea region nation of Karzeghistan if they refused to submit to his demands. Under a mandate approved by the United Nations, U.S.-led NATO forces invade the country to overthrow the ruthless dictator before he can carry out his threat on neighbouring countries.

The campaign is seen from the perspective of U.S. Army infantryman Corporal Howard Drake, along with three others from his group of friends in the multi-national Task Force Knight.

Operation Crimson Lance

NOTE: Only available with the British Armed Forces DLC.

Main article: Crimson Lance

Following the events of Operation Arrowhead, coalition forces in Takistan have begun to focus on counterinsurgency operations instead. Along with rooting out the last of Aziz's military forces, they provide help to the newly established New Takistani Army (NTA) in order to restore stability and peace to the rest of the country.

Operation Crimson Lance primarily focuses on veteran warfighter Sergeant Brian Frost, a squad leader from the British Army's 2nd Parachute Regiment.

Operation Black Gauntlet

NOTE: Only available with the Private Military Company DLC.

Main article: Operation Black Gauntlet (campaign)

One year after the events of Operation Crimson Lance, NATO forces have begun to withdraw from Takistan as their mission comes to an end. However, the security situation in the country has deteriorated rapidly, with former pro-Western tribes fighting against both the NTA and coalition forces.

With the drawdown commencing in full swing, private military companies are contracted to fill in the gaps left by coalition forces. Operation Black Gauntlet continues the story of former British Army Sergeant Brian Frost, who now works as a mercenary for the ION Services PMC.

Frost is assigned to guard a UN weapons inspection team sent to the country to find traces of a supposed nuclear weapons program under the previous regime. He will soon find himself forced to decide between morality and personal gain, and in doing so, will even be confronted with a pivotal decision that could threaten the stability of the entire world.

Silver Lion

NOTE: Only available with the Army of the Czech Republic DLC.

Main article: Silver Lion

Civil war in Bystrica is at an end, but war criminals like Colonel Miyović continue to terrorise the populace with widespread looting and killings. Silver Lion follows the story of Sergeant Bohuslav Kouba, a soldier from the Army of the Czech Republic peacekeeping force sent to the region.

Gameplay

Continuing on from its predecessor, ArmA 2 follows in the series' roots as a tactical shooter that combines both a third- and first-person view camera. Players can take command of an infantry squad, drive ground vehicles varying from simple civilian cars to Main Battle Tanks, and even pilot fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

Some key gameplay improvements in ArmA 2 notably include enhanced weapon ballistics which now supports both deflection and material penetration. Micro AI has been improved further, allowing AI to better navigate in tight areas and find cover with centimetre precision as opposed to metre precision in Armed Assault. Human animations are less rigid and more fluid, as is limited support for hand signals when issuing certain commands. Additionally, it is now possible to reload weapons while walking, and the ability to vault has been added, allowing humans to climb over small obstacles and fences.

ArmA 2 features both single player and local/online multiplayer, which range from co-operative campaigns and missions to player versus player scenarios. The mission editor from Armed Assault has been further improved and allows for greater flexibility when designing campaigns or miscellaneous scenarios.

Terrains

Playable terrains in ArmA 2
BukovinaBystricaChernarusDesertProving GroundsShapurTakistanUtesZargabad
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces | Private Military Company | Army of the Czech Republic


Factions

Factions of ArmA 2
BLUFOR USMCCDFU.S. ArmyKSKACRBritish Army
REDFOR Russian Armed ForcesChDKZTakistani ArmyTakistani Militia
INDFOR NAPATakistani RebelsUnited NationsION
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces


Weapons

Weapons of ArmA 2
Handguns CZ 75 9 mmG17 9 mmM1911 .45M9 9 mmMakarov 9 mmRevolver .45
Submachine guns CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1 9 mmMP5 9 mmPDW 9 mmPP-19 Bizon 9 mmSa-61 Scorpion 7.65 mm
Shotguns M1014Saiga 12KAA-12
Carbines AKS-74U 5.45 mm* • G36 series* (G36C*, G36K*) • M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 M203, M4A3, M4A3 M203) • Mk16 CQC 5.56 mmXM8 Compact 5.56 mm
Assault rifles AK-107 5.45 mm (AK-107 GP-25) • AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25*, AKS-74*) • AKM 7.62 mmAKS 7.62 mm* • CZ 805 BREN A1 5.56 mm (CZ 805 A1 G1, CZ 805 BREN A2, CZ 805 B1 G1) • FN FAL 7.62 mmG36A 5.56 mm* • L85A2 5.56 mm (L85A2 UGL) • M16A2 5.56 mm* (M16A2 M203*) • M16A4 5.56 mm (M16A4 M203) • SCAR series (Mk16, Mk16 EGLM, Mk17, Mk17 EGLM) • Sa-58 7.62 mmXM8 series (XM8, XM8 M320)
Designated marksman rifles DMR 7.62 mmL86A2 LSW 5.56 mmM14 7.62 mmMk12 SPR 5.56 mmMk17 Sniper 7.62 mmVSS Vintorez 9 mmXM8 Sharpshooter 5.56 mm
Sniper rifles AS50 12.7 mmCZ 550 9.3 mmCZ 750 S1 M1 .308KSVK 12.7 mm* • Lee-Enfield .303LRR .338M107 .50* • M110 7.62 mmM24 7.62 mm* (M40A3) • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm*
Squad automatic weapons L110A1 5.56 mmM249 SAW 5.56 mm* • MG36 5.56 mm* • RPK-74 5.45 mmXM8 Automatic Rifle 5.56 mm
Machineguns L7A2 GPMG 7.62 mmMk 48 Mod 0 7.62 mm* • M240 7.62 mm* • M60E4 7.62 mmPKP 7.62 mmPKM 7.62 mmUK-59 7.62 mm
Grenade launchers M32M79Mk13
Launchers 9K32 Strela-29K38 Igla9K115-2 Metis-MFGM-148 JavelinFIM-92F StingerM136M47 DragonMAAWSNLAWRPG-7VRPG-18SMAW
Static AGS-30D-30DShKMIgla AA PodKORDL111A1L134A1M119A1M2M252Mk19Metis AT-132B14 PodnosRBS-70SearchlightSPG-9StingerTOWZU-23
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
* indicates partial DLC dependency.
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces | Private Military Company | Army of the Czech Republic


Vehicles

Vehicles of ArmA 2
Wheeled 9P117 SCUD-BATVBRDM-2* • BTR-40BTR-60BTR-90BM-21 Grad* • BusCarDingo 2 CZHatchbackHMMWV* • GAZJackal 2 MWMIKKamazLada* • LAV-25Military OffroadMotorcycle* (Old moto) • Mountain bike (Old bike) • MTVR* • Offroad* • Pandur II 8x8 CZPickup* • RM-70S1203SedanStryker (MGS) • SUV (Armored SUV) • T810TractorTouring CarTowing TractorUAZ-469* • Ural* • V3S* • Vodnik
Tracked 2S6M TunguskaAAVP-7A1BMP-2BMP-3BVP-1FV510 WarriorM1 Abrams* (M1A2 TUSK*) • M113M2 BradleyM270 MLRS* • T-34* • T-55T-72* (T-72M4 CZ) • T-90ZSU-23-4*
Rotor-wing AH-1ZAH-6J Little Bird (AH-6X) • AH-11 WildcatAH-64D* (AH-1) • CH-47F Chinook (Chinook HC4) • Ka-52Ka-60Ka-137Merlin HC3MH-6J Little BirdMi-8MTV-3* (Mi-17*) • Mi-24P (Mi-24D*, Mi-24V*) • UH-1Y (UH-1H) • UH-60 Black Hawk (MH-60S)
Fixed-wing A-10 Thunderbolt II* • An-2AV-8B HarrierC-130J Hercules* • F-35 Lightning IIL-159 ALCAL-39ZA (L-39C) • MQ-9 Reaper* • MV-22 OspreyPchela-1TSu-39 (Su-25*) • Su-34
Aquatic CRRCFishing BoatPBXRHIBSmall Boat
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
* indicates partial DLC dependency.
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces | Private Military Company | Army of the Czech Republic


Multiplayer scenarios

Multiplayer missions in ArmA 2

Chernarus

Harvest Red* • DeathmatchDetectorClose Quarter BattleCivil WarSuperpowersArmoryOperation SerpentWhen Diplomacy Fails

Utes

War Welcome

Takistan

Operation Arrowhead* • Operation Black Gauntlet* • One Shot One KillHike in the HillsSteel PanthersSeek and DestroyArmoryLaser ShowWildcatHeatMorning DewCrimson LanceMountain WarfareDogfighters

Zargabad

Tank HuntersSector Control

Desert

Scud Busters

Shapur

Payback
* is a standalone campaign.
Operation Arrowhead | British Armed Forces
NOTE: The Bystrica, Bukovina, standalone Takistan mini-terrain, and Proving Grounds terrains do not have any official multiplayer scenarios.


Requirements

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED
OS Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
PROCESSOR Intel Core 2.4 GHz
OR
AMD Dual-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz
Intel Core i5
OR
AMD Athlon Phenom X4 or faster
GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT with Shader Model 3 and 512 MB VRAM
OR
ATI Radeon 3650 with Shader Model 3 and 512 MB VRAM
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 with Shader Model 3 and 896 MB VRAM
OR
ATI Radeon HD 5770 or faster with Shader Model 3 and 896 MB VRAM
GPU MEMORY 512 MB 896 MB
DirectX® 9.0c 9.0c
RAM 1 GB 2 GB
HARD DRIVE 25 GB free space 25 GB free space
AUDIO OpenAL sound compatible audiocard OpenAL sound compatible audiocard
OTHER Internet connection and free Steam account to activate Internet connection and free Steam account to activate

Accurate as of July 2021[8]

Screenshots

Video

Trivia

  • To promote the game's release, an Android/iOS only title called ARMA 2: Firing Range was released for download that allows players to test different firearms featured in the base game itself.[9]
  • A free version of ArmA 2 called ArmA 2: Free was also made available for download in 2011.[10] Unlike the full game, Free features drastically reduced graphical fidelity, cannot be modded, and also does not provide access to the campaign itself, though players still possessed access to online multiplayer.
    • Free was eventually discontinued by Bohemia Interactive in April 2014[11], and can no longer be officially downloaded or utilised (multiplayer cannot be accessed due to the shutdown of ArmA 2's online GameSpy servers[12]).
  • Unlike its predecessor, ArmA 2 was intended to be the true sequel to Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis (the former name of Cold War Assault) and was to be tentatively titled as Operation Flashpoint 2. Due to complications regarding the series' future between Codemasters and Bohemia Interactive however, the title was dropped for licencing reasons.[13][14]
  • Excluding spin-off games, ArmA 2 is the only main title in the series to not have its own remix of the series' signature music theme, Flashpoint.

References

  1. Španěl, M et al. 2007, Real Virtuality, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 10 February 2023, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Real_Virtuality>.
  2. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2010, 'Operation Arrowhead is a go; enlist now!', Developer's Blog, 29 June, viewed 17 September 2018, <https://www.bohemia.net/blog/operation-arrowhead-is-a-go-enlist-now>.
  3. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2010, Arma 2: British Armed Forces Released!, Arma 2, viewed 17 September 2018, <http://www.arma2.com/latest-news/arma-2-british-armed-forces-released>.
  4. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2010, Arma 2: Private Military Company Released!, Arma 2, viewed 17 September 2018, <http://www.arma2.com/index.php/latest-news/arma-2-private-military-company-released>.
  5. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2012, 'Arma 2: Army of the Czech Republic DLC project announcement', Developer's Blog, 4 June, viewed 17 September 2018, <https://www.bohemia.net/blog/arma-2-army-of-the-czech-republic-dlc-project-announcement>.
  6. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2013, 'Announcing release of Arma2: Complete Collection', Developer's Blog, 15 February, viewed 10 February 2023, <https://www.bohemia.net/blog/announcing-release-of-arma2-complete-collection>.
  7. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2011, 'Arma X released', Developer's Blog, 30 June, viewed 10 February 2023, <https://www.bohemia.net/blog/arma-x-released>.
  8. Valve Corporation 2010, Arma 2, Steam, viewed 1 July 2021, <https://store.steampowered.com/app/33900/Arma_2/>.
  9. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2009, Arma 2: Firing Range, Arma 2, viewed 17 September 2018, <https://www.arma2.com/firing-range>.
  10. Owen, H 2011, E3 2011: ARMA 2: Free announced. Multiplayer, completely free, and released in June, PC Gamer, viewed 10 February 2023, <https://www.pcgamer.com/arma-2-free-announced-multiplayer-free-and-released-in-june/>.
  11. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2014, Arma 2 Free retiring from active duty. Arma 2 Franchise 75% off., Arma 2, viewed 17 September 2018, <https://arma2.com/latest-news/arma-2-free-retiring-from-active-duty-arma-2-franchise-75-off>.
  12. Španěl, M et al. 2014, End of Gamespy, Bohemia Interactive Forums, viewed 10 February 2023, <https://forums.bohemia.net/forums/topic/165617-end-of-gamespy/>.
  13. Purchese, R 2014, Bohemia's war: the story of the company behind Arma and DayZ, Eurogamer, viewed 9 February 2023, <https://www.eurogamer.net/bohemias-war-the-story-of-the-company-behind-arma-and-dayz>.
  14. Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2009, 'ARMA 2 - The Name Tale', Developer's Blog, 29 April, viewed 13 April 2022, <https://www.bohemia.net/blog/arma-2-the-name-tale>.

External links

See also

ARMA series
Main games Arma3-game-arma3-logoReforger-logoArma4-logo
Legacy games OFP-game-coldwarassault-logoArma1-game-armedassault-logoArma2-game-arma2-logo
Expansion packs Arma1-dlc-queensgambit-logoArma2-dlc-operationarrowhead-logoArma3-dlc-apex-logoArma3-dlc-contact-logo
DLC Arma2-dlc-britisharmedforces-logoArma2-dlc-privatemilitarycompany-logoArma2-dlc-armyoftheczechrepublic-logoArma3-dlc-karts-logoArma3-dlc-helicopters-logoArma3-dlc-marksmen-logoArma3-dlc-jets-logoArma3-dlc-lawsofwar-logoArma3-dlc-tacops-logoArma3-dlc-tanks-logo
Spin-off Tactics-logoMobileOps-logo
Entries are listed in order of release dates from left-to-right.
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