Had a quick two rounds and so far, I'm more impressed with it than RO2. Pretty much as I'd hoped too, there's a more 'relaxed' game mode, making CTF and the like much more enjoyable.
It conveys the idea of 'keeping your head down' very well and makes you realise on a trivial scale - just how hellish those conditions were in WW2. Especially the night-time map(s) which I'm never a fan of. Movement and shooting seems well balanced - and sniping takes a fair bit of practice. The distance to target has to be calculated in order to achieve results and already, there are some very good snipers out there. One guy spotted me on the upper floor of a building, in an opening between sandbags and a wall. Only the whizz-crack of a round hitting the wall slightly above me made me move position quick - lol.
Issues so far? Maybe the machine gunner class. To have any hope of hitting anything beyond 20ft away, you have to deploy it on its bipod. When in situ, its a lethal device to mow down the enemy, but you're such an obvious target, that you're dead in no time. Lay prone in some cover however and you can be pretty effective.
Flamethrowers are superb and probably the n00b weapon (mine) of choice. Much like the auto-shottys in other FPS games, accuracy really isn't a concern close up and nothing beats them in flushing out bunkers and buildings. What I do like is the fact that if you use too much flame in an enclosed area, there's a very good chance that you'll set yourself ablaze. You do have to think about what you're doing in using it.
Lastly, there's a squad commander and commander option available too. I haven't tried either role yet, but if it's anything like Battlefield 2142 (from where I suspect they have got the idea of this addition from) - then I will be majorly, impressed. Such roles defined BF2142 over the regular FPS games and have been sorely missed imo.
Regardless, I'm glad I bought it so far. At £14.99 for the Deluxe Edition (if you already own RO2) - it's well worth it.
D.