Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising

Large-scale first-person shooting. A wide selection of vehicles. An awesome array of weaponry. Nope, this isn?t another Battlefield. It?s much better.

Joint Operations is a totally addictive shootout. Sure, EA?s Battlefield series has dominated the WWII and Vietnam eras, but NovaLogic?s MMOFPS (that?s massively multiplayer online first-person shooter for you recruits) absolutely tears up the modern-day war zone and even one-ups the Battlefield stranglehold in many areas.

Military Might
Until you?ve heard the whisks of bullets flying past your head, downed a chopper full of enemies with your last rocket, or successfully transported friendlies through hostile water, you can?t even begin to fathom the intensity that Joint Operations brings to your PC. Of course, a tricked-out computer makes the experience much better, but even at just medium settings, this game shines. Joint Ops tops out at a mind-boggling 150 people at once (75 vs. 75), so the push for solid teamwork is certainly challenging?but it?s also absolutely gratifying.

Balanced gameplay is where Joint Operations commands authority. The setting is Indonesian badlands rife with large environments that include lush jungles, rolling hills, abandoned villages, and microislands?the perfect place for a showdown between Indonesian rebels and an international task force. It?s also a perfect place to use the many land, air, and sea vehicles available to each team. You can opt to pilot a wide array of helicopters, boats, and four-wheelers that respawn at just the right moments. Controlling these intimidating war beasts is an easy task?much simpler than in the Battlefield games. Weapon loadouts are just as diverse and easy on the hands. You can direct mortar fire as an engineer, laser designated targets as a sniper, and of course, heal the wounded as a medic. Combine all of these talents, add in cover from attacking vehicles and huge, huge environments in which to frolic, and you come up with a battlefield worth fighting for.

An Assault on All Senses
Joint Operations rocks with its visual presentation. Fighting in an area where the sun sets in real time, forcing you to whip out the night-vision goggles to move ahead midway through a game sets a new precedent in fighting tactics. This is compounded by expansive levels and some really cool-looking vehicles that will keep your eyes glued to the screen.

There are some minor setbacks in Joint Operations worth mentioning. Handling an auto can be trying at times?you can go through trees, and four wheelin? doesn?t always work through rice paddies. And the sporadic lag, even on decently high-running machines, can be bothersome, especially when there?s a lot going on in one specific area or when you?re trying to aim at targets from long distances. All of the positives, however, certainly overshadow these negatives. If you?re even remotely interested in funning around with large groups of like-minded soldiers, then Joint Operations certainly tops the ranks.

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