As an example I have just had my first real go at the opening training level (not that it trains you much) and it took me a good hour and a half to finish. Now by finish I have to admit that I missed one of the secondary objectives, however the vast majority of the time was spent moving (very slowly), planing and putting my team and myself into position.
I would estimate that only 5 - 10 minutes of that time was actually involved in firefights. However the buzz when you position your guys to provide suppressing fire and you flank the four 'tangos' and finish them off is great.
Most certainly a thinking mans FPS and that's a rare thing in this day, well worth every penny in my book, but nothing like COD at all.
Quoted for truth. I to confess that I actually skipped BOTH secondary objectives available as my team was wiped out on the final primary (I was on hardcore, it was my first mission and first play so forgive me!). Online co-op is the place to be, with 4 roles per fire team plus multiple ways to complete an objective, things won't get old fast. I was with a friend starting anew campaign for us to co-op through, the first mission took us an hour 37 minutes, completing both secondarys and the large amount of time being caused by the loss of AI team-mates when attempting to take one of those secondarys. Fortunately, as team-leader, I'd saved the artillery, and our dead AI buddies had made enough of a hole for us to mop up and claim 1 of the 2 secondaries. We then took a long, long walk searching for high ground to put the artillery down from without being seen, we simply couldn't afford to engage.
This is another thing which sets OF aside from most FPS games of the generation, engaging enemies is often more dangerous, more risky, and sometimes with no reward at all bar a gunship coming down to destroy you. You really have to pick and choose when you will engage, and when you won't. Sometimes engaging an enemy can help save other friendly units who will later aid you, and on more then one occasion I've found myself tasked with taking out anti-air or anti-tank troops. The longer you take, the more chance you'll lose your precious vehicles or the opportunity for air support or evac, but rushing into things could result in you losing your own life outright.
Making choices so open creates a fantastic sense of achievement when you get it right, particularly on Hardcore when one mistake can end it all, and similarly that you have no HUD aids to help out. Firefights are much more intense when you know you can lose an hours work, general travel are more nervous and vehicle encounters often frightening. Sometimes all of the above comes together to create something truly unique.
Example, during a stealth-ish mission, after successfully completing an objective which makes alot of noise, the PLA forces began to search for me, so I opted to attempt to retreat. Disaster strikes, the PLA forces spot me in open ground with minimal cover and open fire from unknown locations, half surrounding me and the team. 🤬 I think to myself, but at least I can still continue in my desired direction but then... uh oh, not 1 but 2 gunships descend, opening fire on my general locations as I lie prone, fearful that a round could take out one of the team. We have no option but to practically play dead, not knowing where the enemy infantry is moving. The choppers eventually move on, as I rise I find that the infantry have spread out, and one team is flanking. Taking shots to pin down this squad, we make a break for the woods and then quite simply keep on running due to the sheer numbers and strength of the opposing force.
The AI are very clever, infact in just the last mission I played on co-op (one I previously completed) my team (2 ai) and another random AI fireteam that I helped out are on convoy in 2 hummers. We drop the hummers off for a quick search of a location, then proceed up a hill in some woods to take out some MG nests and head towards our next objective. Choppers cause yet more trouble, AI comes down the large hill towards the now USMC occupied MG nests. I take the 2 or 3 squads out without much trouble thanks to my M4 Marksman.
Now here's what shocked me. I hear a vehicle approaching, turn around and just over the hill at about 30 metres is one of the humvees. Suspicious (I was sure the other fire team was still nearby), the squad disembark, and at the same time as I spot the distinctive PLA weaponry and camo, they open fire upon us! Fortunately, my suspicious sense has meant I quickly took out 2 of the 3 in 3 rounds at this range, and the final in another 2, dropping the squad in around 4-5 seconds with supporting fire from the squad and friendly team. Amazed that the PLA had followed us, stole our hummer and then used it against us, the friendly fireteam claims the hummer they drove to us, so we head back to briefly investigate the other hummer. All is quiet but much to my shock there's a PLA jeep parked by where we left the hummers, and the second hummer nearby.
Thats right folks, they followed us in their jeep at distance presumably, which I now remembering spotting in a village which we drove through firing at will, hijacked our empty hummer whilst we were busy 500metres further up the hill, and snook up behind us in ambush! To think if I hadn't have heard the vehicle, been paying attention to the other friendly unit, and acted upon suspicion, that could have very, very easily caused the loss of an entire fire-team in a matter of seconds at such range.
