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I had the original Flashpoint Campaigns Red Storm Rising many moons ago, played it for a while before life got in the way and I moved on. Any idea if this product is a marked improvement over the original? How about the AI...challenging?

marklaker wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 12:56 am I had the original Flashpoint Campaigns Red Storm Rising many moons ago, played it for a while before life got in the way and I moved on. Any idea if this product is a marked improvement over the original? How about the AI...challenging?

I would say that this a much much better than the original game (and I liked that game). There are many more
Functionalities and the AI is also much more challenging. It is definitely a recommend from my side

The AI in this game and Southern Storm is quite strong. I thought the AI in the early game was good too. Most battles were a mutual demolition derby for me.

I was looking at this game and when I read the manual the game appears quite complicated with so many settings for the units etc. In my old age I'm not up for complicated like when I was younger. Am I wrong about this? I did buy Red Storm and liked it. I don't remember that being very complicated.
Thanks for any opinions.

I recommend judging the game and potential complexity from gameplay videos, for example last night's video where team member Andrew walks us through the Basic tutorial:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2677094770

The team grew after releasing Red Storm, but still has the same core, aging like you, and the same opinions of what they want in a fun wargame.

Thank you for the quick reply and the video link.

stormbringer3 wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 7:22 pm I was looking at this game and when I read the manual the game appears quite complicated with so many settings for the units etc. In my old age I'm not up for complicated like when I was younger. Am I wrong about this? I did buy Red Storm and liked it. I don't remember that being very complicated.
Thanks for any opinions.

It is much easier when you start playing the game. It is very similar to Red Storm mostly same orders how to advance. You can leave arty & air for your staff to handle. And learn the hotkeys for checking Line of Sight and elevation and cover and artillery range are most important.

I read the Southern Storm manual twice back when they made physical copies of the book which makes it easier. It has a lot of harder topics like watching your electronic emissions and using many overlays and editing orders and stuff. Editing SOP can even be left to default cause they are pretty good already. And you can edit how your staff using fire support if you are lucky to have some arty & air. And there is now on map helicopter maintenance depots I think called FAARP which are very useful to avoid moving helicopters so far to reload and what not.