by Robert Workman on Monday, March 17, 2008
Ubisoft clearly follows the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" rule with Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2. The sequel picks up after the events following Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas, as you return to Sin City to battle terrorists while saving innocent hostages and working with members of your military team. What it lacks in originality, however, it more than makes up for in over-the-top, addictive action.
Kinetic gameplay is what makes Rainbow Six Vegas click. It's a few steps above your routine first-person shooter. You could run into a room and shoot everything in sight yourself, but to really get ahead, you'll want to call upon your back-up team. They disarm bombs, take down doors and follow your commands when it comes to movement and assault tactics. You issue commands by hitting directions on the D-pad. It takes a little effort, but once you figure out the functions of your squad, they're helpful. You also have other tools, including night vision and the snake cam, which lets you view (and tag) enemies on the other side of a door.
As for the shooting action, it's excellent. Your soldier moves with precision and grace, but can still take a heap of damage if you leave him standing out in the open. The cover system is back, and works just as well as it does in the first game. The camera shifts fluidly between first and third-person camera perspectives, so you can keep an eye on the situation while staying behind cover and shooting blind shots. There aren't that many new weapons, but the ones you find (sniper rifle, shotgun) fulfill their purpose. The artificial intelligence is sharp, making the game harder than expected. Fortunately, Ubisoft provides a casual difficulty, making the game easier to withstand. (The pros, though, will definitely want to crank it up.)
An experience system keeps things moving along. As you become accustomed to certain skills with your soldier, you'll gain expertise in certain categories, making them that much stronger in the long run. Over the course of the game, you'll earn experience points that pay off when it comes to your skills. It's a level down from what Call of Duty 4 provides, but it's awesome, especially with multiplayer (more on that in a second.) There are also earnable rewards assigned to your soldier, which read off like a personal roster of your accomplishments.
Aside from a new sprinting ability and a customization system where you select various pieces of armor and equipment, there are few other changes to the gameplay. However, that's not a bad thing – the game's superb balance and abundant energy make up for its lack in innovation.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – in a body bag, anyway.
This sequel looks just as good as the original, which isn't a surprise. Ubisoft Montreal put a lot of work into replicating Vegas, right down to the neon signs, the familiar buildings (you'll spot a Stratosphere clone standing in the distance) and the crowded streets. The action rarely stops, moving at a rapid pace even as the screen fills with enemies. The animation is splendid, right down to the final movements of enemies you eliminate. (One even kicks up his leg in a sporadic frenzy.) In addition, picture-in-picture camera perspectives added to the interface are also quite useful.
Audio consists of lots of soldier chatter, as you whisper commands and hear feedback from both your team and the terrorists. Although it occasionally (and awkwardly) overlaps, it's good. The ambient effects are also cool, especially the lounge music and slot machines in the nightclub.
Rainbow Six Vegas 2's single player campaign lasts a few hours, and you can hop into the Terrorist Hunt mode for a few quick kills. However, the game's long-term weight comes within its multiplayer. You can go up against several opponents through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, with up to 14 players per match. There are various modes to mess around with, with different tasks assigned to each one. If you're up for straightforward Deathmatch or Team Deathmatch, they're here as well. You can also work alongside up to three friends in Terrorist Hunt Co-Op, or go at it with one fellow gamer in Co-Op Story. The lack of four-player support in this mode mildly stings, but two still beats the odds on one.
Even though there's very little change, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 maintains a steady balance of tactical command and shooting; the presentation lives up to Ubisoft Montreal's standard; and the single and multiplayer options will keep you busy. Odds are that you'll find this game a surefire winner, just like the original.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Xbox 360 Game Guide
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 PlayStation 3 Game Guide
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
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