Arma Reforger isn't just different - it's kinda revolutionary for console military gaming
After spending like 15 hours (not even rookie numbers, I know) with Arma Reforger on PS5, I can confidently say that nothing could have prepared me for this experience. As someone who's played virtually every military shooter on consoles, I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. This isn't just another military game - it's a radical departure from everything I thought I knew about console shooters.
My initial experience was, frankly, humiliating. I spawned into my first match confident in my FPS skills, only to spend 20 minutes wandering aimlessly, unable to find the objective. There's no minimap here, no convenient markers pointing where to go. Instead, I had to pull out an actual in-game map and compass, trying to match landmarks to my surroundings like a real soldier would. I died countless times to enemies I never saw, ran in circles more times than I'd like to admit, and basically felt like a complete rookie.
The game's complexity hit me hard when I tried to customize my loadout for the first time. Gone are the simple weapon selection screens I was used to. Instead, I found myself in a detailed inventory system where I needed to manually select not just my weapon, but the correct ammunition type, appropriate attachments, and even decide how many magazines to carry. It was overwhelming at first, but now I appreciate how this attention to detail adds to the immersion.
You get shot, you get knocked down and if there's no medic around, after a while, if you are lucky, you will get up. But you will be hurt bad, so it's up to you to well, fix yourself. You'll apply a tourniquet, you'll take morphine, you'll bandage yourself. And if you've bleed enough and you do not have a saline bag, your vision will start to take a hit. Managing all of this and more is a real challenge and I am all for it.
Playing on PS5 isn't without its compromises. The framerate isn't always stable, especially during large-scale battles, and the control scheme takes serious dedication to master. I still occasionally fumble with the inventory system, and sometimes the menu navigation feels like wrestling with the controller. But these issues fade into the background when you're immersed in the experience.
I'll never forget the moment this game finally clicked for me. I was part of a squad defending a small town when we got word that enemy forces were approaching from the north. Our squad leader - a random player who actually knew what he was doing - started coordinating our defense through the radio. We set up firing positions, designated sectors of fire, and waited.
What followed was the most intense 15 minutes I've ever experienced in a game. The enemy attack came not as a dramatic Hollywood-style assault, but as distant shapes moving between trees. The firefight that ensued was chaotic yet controlled. No background music, no killstreaks, just the crack of rifles, shouted coordinates over the radio, and the thump of distant explosions. When we finally repelled the attack, I realized I was literally sweating.
This is what Arma Reforger is all about. It's not about flashy graphics or over-the-top action. Most of my time is spent moving carefully, watching sectors, or helping to fortify positions. But this pacing makes the intense moments so much more impactful. When a firefight does break out, every shot matters. There's no regenerating health to save you, no respawning right back into the action. Death means a long trek back from your spawn point, making survival feel genuinely important. It's about realism, teamwork, and the sheer intensity of combat. It's not easy, but it's incredibly rewarding.
Some of my most memorable moments have been during dawn and dusk operations. The lighting engine creates absolutely stunning scenarios, and night operations are genuinely challenging. Night is pitch black here and you will not see a thing. Sure, you have a flashlight, but that doesn't help you see anything. In fact, I would advise you to not use since since the enemies will see you long before you see them. What you want to do is to use a GL to launch a flare up in the sky. This will create a small light source that will help you see the area. Of course, as a new player, you will not know about this, I didn't, until I saw another player do it. I then asked via proximity chat how to do it and they were nice enough to guide me through it. Boom, I learned something new.
This is what truly surprised me about Arma Reforger, the community. In an era where most online shooters are filled with casual chatter or trash talk, Arma Reforger's players largely maintain a level of roleplaying that enhances the experience. People call out contacts with proper military terminology, coordinate movements methodically, and actually work together. It's refreshing and adds immensely to the immersion. So if you are planning to play this game, I recommend having a headset on and ready to communicate otherwise you'll be left out in the cold.
While the PS5 version lacks some of the PC version's flexibility, especially regarding controls and modding (though mods are promised for the future), it's remarkable that we can play something this complex on a console at all. Each session teaches me something new, whether it's a better way to approach objectives or a more efficient way to communicate with my squad. But as I said in the beginning, I am still just a rookie when it comes to this game as I still have to come to grips with the whole base building system, supplies, fixing vehicles and so much more.
On PS5, Arma Reforger maintains a relatively stable performance, though frame rate dips are noticeable during intense moments, particularly in larger-scale battles. The performance mode targets 60fps but doesn't always maintain it, while the quality mode offers better visuals at 30fps.
The control scheme is complex, mapping PC's numerous keyboard commands to the DualSense controller. It takes time to become comfortable with the various button combinations and holds required for different actions. However, the DualSense's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are implemented impressively, adding tangible feedback to weapons and explosions.
Arma Reforger isn't just different - it's kinda revolutionary for console military gaming. Yes, it's demanding. Yes, it can be frustrating. And yes, you'll probably spend your first few hours feeling completely lost. But if you're willing to push through that initial barrier, you'll find one of the most rewarding military gaming experiences available on any platform.
This isn't a game I can recommend to everyone. If you're looking for quick action or casual play, this isn't it. But if you're willing to learn, to be patient, and to engage with its systems properly, Arma Reforger offers something truly special. It's changed how I view military games, and despite its technical imperfections, it's become one of my most valued gaming experiences on PS5, one that I'll be playing for a long time to come. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 via a code provided by the publisher. Arma Reforger is available on Xbox, PS5 and PC.
