Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad with Rising Storm

I’d keep the online matches off the treadmill, because this is a game where looking away at the wrong second can mean you’re suddenly watching the ground instead of running. The campaign is a much more reasonable place to start, though even that asks for steadier aiming than I’d want while jogging.

Gameplay

There’s a lot to like here if you want a shooter that makes every bit of cover feel important, and I think the slower, more deliberate pace gives it a personality that most multiplayer shooters don’t have. You move through battles in Stalingrad or the Pacific, try to get a clean shot, and often get reminded that the other side also brought a rifle. That can make a firefight feel tense without needing the game to constantly throw explosions at you.

The aiming and damage are unforgiving enough that I’d expect to spend plenty of time thinking about where I’m standing, and that’s interesting at a desk but not always ideal when you’re exercising. Suppression can make it hard to return fire when enemies are shooting near you, which does a good job of making you feel pinned down. It also means the game can turn into a stretch of trying to work out where a shot came from while your screen is busy being unpleasant. War is not known for its customer service.

The single player campaign gives you a more contained way into the game, and I’d start there rather than dropping straight into the multiplayer. The online battles are where the large scale fighting has room to breathe, but there’s a lot to learn about how cautiously you need to move, and dying before you understand what happened is a rough way to spend your exercise time. I don’t know that I’d find that kind of learning curve relaxing, even if the gunfights themselves are compelling.

Rising Storm adds the Pacific battles, and I like that the combined game gives you more than one setting to spend time in. The change in place and opponents helps keep the game from feeling like one long stretch of gray streets, though it doesn’t change the basic deal: you still need to aim carefully and pay attention to the battlefield. If you want action that keeps you busy, it has plenty. Just don’t expect every minute to be a clean little exchange of shots.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

A bike seems more workable to me than a treadmill, mostly because the careful aiming and looking around are already a lot to manage, and bouncing while you try to spot a distant enemy sounds like a chore I’d assign to somebody I don’t like. The game is built around precise shooting and quick reactions, so even a small wobble could make a tense moment harder. You might be able to settle into a slower pace, but I wouldn’t count on the game to wait for you.

I’d use the campaign, lower the difficulty if that option feels right, and avoid online matches while exercising. Multiplayer battles don’t pause for you to catch your breath or find a target, and other players are not going to hold their fire while you adjust your footing. That part seems fairly obvious once you say it out loud.

There are quieter moments as you move between fights, but I wouldn’t treat those as a safe chance to stop paying attention, because you can still get shot while you’re figuring out where to go. You’d want the game set up before starting, then keep your pace gentle enough that aiming isn’t a full body activity. I don’t know how much fun I’d have trying to make a fast correction while moving. Probably not much.

The game’s PC controls may be fine for you at a desk, but this is not the kind of shooter where loose inputs are part of the fun. I’d give it a try on a stationary bike before putting it on a treadmill, and I’d skip competitive multiplayer for workouts altogether. If your goal is to play while your legs keep moving, this asks for more attention than I’d want to give it.

Category Score: 1 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The listed minimums point to an older gaming PC, not a machine that needs a recent graphics card to get started. I’d check that you have the required space and a broadband connection first, since the game takes up a fair bit of storage and online play needs internet. The graphics card can probably stay out of the conversation for once.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

This is a thoughtful, tense shooter that I’d tell you to play at a desk, especially if careful team based battles sound appealing. For exercising, I’d save it for a very slow stationary bike session and stick to the campaign. On a treadmill, I’d pick something that doesn’t ask you to aim like you’re trying to thread a needle while standing on a moving belt.

Overall Score: 2 out of 3