Deal | Steam: Tactical, brutal, on sale – military shooter drops to $3
Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm is a bundle that includes both the main game and its standalone expansion. Initially conceived as DLC, Rising Storm evolved into a full-fledged expansion during development. Players who purchase Rising Storm on its own gain access to Red Orchestra 2’s multiplayer content – albeit with some limitations unless they fully unlock the base game. While Red Orchestra 2 focuses on brutal, close-quarters combat on the Eastern Front, Rising Storm shifts the action to the jungles and beaches of the Pacific Theater.
RO 2 caters to players who value military realism and tactical team coordination over arcade-style action. Departing from typical shooter conventions, it emphasizes authentic ballistics and a steep learning curve. Features like hit zones, blood loss, the absence of crosshairs, no auto-healing and limited HUD elements create a raw and unforgiving war experience. The game is heavily multiplayer-focused, with roles including infantry, tank crews and battlefield commanders engaging in 64-player matches where coordination is crucial. The standalone expansion Rising Storm introduces asymmetrical warfare to the mix. U.S. Marines wield superior firepower, while Japanese forces counter with guerrilla tactics, banzai charges and hidden traps, delivering a unique and tense dynamic to every match.
The story campaign in Red Orchestra 2 serves more as a supplementary feature than a core element. Rather than offering a structured narrative, it presents a series of loosely connected bot battles accompanied by brief historical texts, lacking true dramatic depth. Still, the game delivers a detailed and grounded portrayal of the Battle of Stalingrad – one of World War II’s most brutal confrontations. This campaign content is only accessible through the full version of RO 2. With Rising Storm, the focus shifts to the Pacific Theater. Players can take part in pivotal conflicts such as the battles for Iwo Jima, Saipan and Guadalcanal, bringing to life the intense struggle between the United States and the Empire of Japan in some of the war’s most iconic and hard-fought clashes.
Reviews: Authentic war experience with frustration potential
In its review, the German gaming magazine GameStar praised Red Orchestra 2 for its impressive realism. The testers highlighted the authentic weapon mechanics, realistic hit effects and gameplay that strongly emphasizes tactical teamwork. They also commended the well-crafted maps and immersive sound design, which together create a gripping and intense war atmosphere.
However, RO 2 isn’t without its drawbacks. The steep learning curve can be daunting, especially for newcomers, with punishing hit feedback and minimal in-game assistance often leading to early frustration. GameStar also criticized the single-player mode for its underwhelming AI. Visually, the game shows its age and matchmaking can be sluggish depending on the time and player availability. According to SteamDB, the shooter had a 24-hour peak of just 333 concurrent players at the time of research – a clear sign of its dwindling active community.
Red Orchestra 2 received strong reviews from critics and players alike, though opinions vary slightly by platform. GameStar awarded the game a solid 85 out of 100 points, praising its realism and tactical depth. On Metacritic, critics gave it a respectable Metascore of 76, with users rating it slightly lower at 7.3. Over on Steam, reception is significantly more positive – nearly 25,000 user reviews have been posted, with 93% of them recommending the game.
90% discount on Steam
Red Orchestra 2, developed by Tripwire Interactive, was first released in 2011, with the standalone expansion Rising Storm following in 2013. The bundle Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm is regularly priced at $30 on Steam. As part of the Steam Wargames Fest, the tactical shooter is currently available at a big 90% discount – just $3 until May 5. According to SteamDB, this price was last seen in early March, indicating that such deep discounts, while notable, are not unusual.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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