Just a little while ago any multiplayer game allowing more than a couple of dozen people to play in the same game, at the same time, was something pretty special. Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising though allows for a mind-boggling one hundred and fifty people to compete at the same time in a subscription free, lag free, graphically stunning next-gen battle simulator.

The game’s rather obvious inspiration is EA’s Battlefield series, but whereas Battlefield Vietnam proved to be a rather disappointing cash-in, Joint Operations is all-new and a more genuine attempt to carry on the idea using the latest graphics technology. Set during a fictional modern war the game features maps that are up to fifty square kilometres in size (although there are smaller ones if you’re playing with less people) and a host of vehicles to help you cover the terrain including every possible permutation of helicopters, jets, tanks and boats. Like many such games Joint Operations is classed based, which means that you can choose to play the role of a large number of specialised soldiers, including standard riflemen, engineers and medics.

Although it does almost nothing that is original by upping the scale of the battles and the graphics Joint Operations becomes an entirely legitimate successor to Battlefield (at least until Battlefield 2 is released next year anyway). As with EA’s games there is no real single player mode to speak of, but as long as that’s not a problem for you this is hard not to recommend. --David Jenkins

Manufacturer's Description

Joint Operations takes gamers to Indonesia in the near future where the country is on the verge of disintegration. Gamers can play as either a member of the multinational Joint Operations Force or as a member of a powerful Indonesian separatist group. Teamwork is essential. Both sides are equipped with their own unique variety of modern weapons and player-controlled land, sea and air vehicles to achieve their mission objectives and ultimate victory. Terrains range from beautiful coastal islands to misty, dense jungles, all adding to the intense and chaotic atmosphere only experienced in large-scale, multi-player combat over the Internet or LAN