LAS VEGAS - Sin City will never be the same for anyone who picks up Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas. Ubisoft's Montreal Studio has packed a lot of multiplayer options into this excellent tactical shooter for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The modes, graphics and experiences for both next generation experiences will be the same.

The one exception is the Xbox 360 Vision camera. Xbox 360 owners who buy this peripheral will be able to scan their face into the game. Using persistent elite creation, Rainbow Six takes your face and crafts it into a 3D head that is completely recognizable as yourself. Barring the release of a PS3 EyeToy device, this option will be exclusive to Xbox 350.

But PS3 gamers will be able to create a custom soldier for online play. Both next generation offerings allow players to take either their own face or a custom-made face and add layers and layers of detail to it like scars, face paint, facial hair, goggles, and helmets.

The face is just the beginning of customization, as your avatar's body can be built from the ground up and then layered with uniforms, armor (for individual body parts) and original camouflage. Equipment can be placed on top of other equipment to create heavily-armed soldiers that appear battle-worn. This allows players to create teams that are armed like S.W.A.T. members, S.A.S., mercenaries and a myriad of other military types.

There are millions of combinations, which makes the chance of running into another player online that looks like you very rare. The detail goes right down to the type of camouflage on each individual piece of armor and the ability to heavily arm your shooting shoulder for extra protection.

As a player moves up in rank, new equipment is unlocked. Gamers can also unlock and create their own camouflage and colors for their own tactical teams.

The entire single-player game is open for online cooperative play for up to four players. That means an extra man or woman can jump into the fray, as the single-player game introduces three-man teams. That extra gun will come in handy as the casinos of Vegas are explored in this mode. Players can assume the role of any of the three main characters from the single-player story or create their own soldier for this mode.

Up to 16 players will be able to engage in battles on Xbox Live or PlayStation Network Platform. There will be six adversarial modes with an emphasis on team-based play. Other modes include Retrieval, Survival, Sharpshooter and team-based versions of each, plus other unannounced modes. There are 10 multiplayer maps, including the most popular classic map from Rainbow Six 3, Streets, and new maps set in Vegas that utilize elements from the single-player game.

Every online game is completely customizable, which means players can choose to play with or without respawns. Ubisoft said the online playing field remains balanced for all players regardless of rank. Matchmaking will ensure that newbies take on only newbies and more skilled players only battle equivalent foes.

Attack and Defend is a new team-based online game mode that focuses on missions. Players will have to achieve objectives like defusing a bomb, rescuing hostages and extracting items while the other team tries to stop them. All of the new gameplay features like repelling and taking cover have been blended into multiplayer.

With one team starting on the roof of the casino and the other team inside, Attack and Defend offers a different game experience each time. Players can repel along the outside of the casino or sneak in through the elevator shaft. This mode was custom-made to take advantage of the new gameplay options.

Since this is a Rainbow Six game, tactics and team communication are the keys to success. This is not a run-and-gun online gaming experience. Taking cover allows players to find an area and take out enemies with any weapon.

Ubisoft had two playable maps available at its Las Vegas press event. The casino level offered slot machines on the floor and behind-the-scenes locales like a safe. The classic Streets level was also playable with its tight-nit, dark spaces and plenty of sniper locales.

This game looks like yet another winner for the Tom Clancy family of games. Ubisoft will support Rainbow Six: Vegas with additional downloadable content moving forward, taking advantage of every aspect of the next generation consoles.