Conflict: Denied Ops

Conflict: Denied Ops
Developer(s)	Pivotal Games
Publisher(s)	Eidos Interactive
Composer(s)	Richard Jacques
Platforms	Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 Microsoft Windows Cloud (OnLive)
Release date(s)	EU 20080208February 8, 2008 NA 20080213February 13, 2008
Genre(s)	Tactical shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer (split-screen & co-op campaign) & online play

Conflict: Denied Ops is the fifth game in the Conflict series. Originally, the game was to be called "Crossfire" but was later changed. It is the first game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, but it was also released on PC. It was released on February 8, 2008 in Europe and February 13, 2008 in North America.

Gameplay

The game is played in a first person perspective, instead of the third person viewpoint of the four preceding titles, and is also the first game in the Conflict series which does not feature four main characters. Denied Ops is based around two CIA operatives, each having his own weapon and style: a sniper named Lincoln Graves who uses an SR-25 with an undermounted M26 MASS, and a machine gun operator named Reggie Lang who uses an M249 PARA with an undermounted M320 grenade launcher. The two characters have quite opposite personalities. Lang is rather loud and noisy while Graves is quiet and stealthy.

In single player mode, the player can switch between controlling each operative. In co-op, each player controls one operative. The operatives only use their weapon of choice, and cannot pick up enemy weapons. Ammunition for firearms is unlimited, but explosives are not and must be replenished at resupply boxes found throughout the levels.

Plot

The story takes place in a fictional war where a Venezuelan conflict is taking place. General Ramírez and his associates have staged the Ramírez regime where Ramírez is slowly plotting to take over his country. First he sends his troops to seize the Petro Nivera Oil refinery then threatens to deploy nuclear weapons if the USA continue to "meddle in his country's affairs". Immediately two CIA operatives, Lincoln Graves and Reggie Lang are sent on a series of missions to take down General Ramírez and any other possible threat. First the two operatives are sent to the ruins of the Santa Cecilia monastery to retrieve important data on Ramírez's connections and associates. After extracting via their commander, they encounter a number of different conflicts all seemingly connected to Ramírez. Eventually they track down Ramírez and end up arresting him.

Characters

• Lincoln Graves: A former Delta Force operator and expert sniper. Graves is a highly disciplined operative but is not really the kind of partner for small talk or getting along with. His last partner was killed in Afghanistan in what Graves calls an "Occuputional hazard". Working with Lang, Graves does not like Lang's gangster like attitude in what he considers too noisy and undisciplined. Graves hides a dark past with Delta Force in which he doesn't want to share with Lang.
• Reggie Lang: The exact opposite of Graves. A rookie and newcomer to the CIA denied ops team, Lang likes to get the job done with explosives and a M249 PARA. Lang especially enjoys blowing stuff up. He however has a habit of calling Graves his bro, which annoys Graves. He also makes fun of Graves's age and jokes that he (Graves) was the sniper that killed JFK and numerous off color comments such as calling him "Whiteboy" and "Redneck".
• Dr. Alexander Pessich: A scientist who is forced to make nuclear bombs for Morchenko. Morchenko is holding Pessich's wife and daughter hostage. After being rescued, Pessich decides to redeem himself by disarming all the bombs he made and is extracted by Lang and Graves. His fate is completely up to the player. It is unknown if Pessich's wife and daughter managed to be rescued.
• Paul Foley: The Codex Red Team sniper who survived the ambush in Colombia in the previous game Conflict: Global Terror. He was one of the main four characters and he is a gulf war veteran in Conflict: Desert Storm and Conflict: Desert Storm II. He was traded by the drug cartel that captured him and is being held hostage by a Colombian arms dealer named Clay in Suriname. His fate is completely up to the player.
• General Ramírez: The mastermind of the regime. He stages a coup in his own country and the US intends to take action for his violent actions. In response Ramírez has his troops capture the local oil fields and threatens to deploy nuclear weapons quoting only "If the U.S. continues to meddle in his country's affairs". He is the primary target for both Lang and Graves to capture and the primary antagonist. He is captured at the end of the game.
• Abasi Atongwe: A rich African businessman and ruthless African rebel leader. When Graves and Lang are in Africa to determine the source of a transmission Atongwe somehow finds them and ambushes them. He is eventually tracked down to the ATAK Diamond mine and killed by the operatives.
• Alexsei Morchenko: A Russian brutish and thuggish merc. He supports the regime by forcing a doctor to make nuclear bombs for him. When Lang and Graves rescue Pessich, Morchenko is killed in the process.
• Clay: A Colombian arms dealer. He is seen dealing with Atongwe's lieutenant Kwennoir. He is also holding Codex Red Team sniper Paul Foley hostage. Clay is eventually killed.
• Jean-Baptiste Kwennoir: Atongwe's Lieutenant who deals with Clay. He is eventually tracked down and killed.
• Jacques: One of Atongwe's men. He is holding a Navy inspection team hostage on his ship and personally kills one of them in a cutscene. He is eventually killed by the operatives.

Reception

Reception
Review scores Publication Score Game Informer 5.75/10 OXM 5.5/10

The game has received average to negative reviews from critics, earning averages of 57 on Metacritic and 58% on GameRankings. It was criticized for its unoriginal and generic gameplay and broken co-op system.

Both PC and console versions of the game have also suffered from serious sound problems. Most PC sound cards are not compatible with the game and thus output no sound, while on consoles certain guns do not make sounds. However, there has been an update released for the console versions which fixes their problems.