Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield

"Perfection"

Rainbow Six is a title that is highly respected to everyone who has heard of the Tactical Shooter genre. There has always been a difficult, yet realistic feel to each game in the series. The bases for the games have been to make a plan for your upcomming mission, and carry out the mission the way the plan says. It has been easy, it has been frustrating, but it has always been fun. So is Rainbow Six: Raven Shield

Graphics: 10/10

By far the greatest asset in this game, is the visual quality that is presented. Remember how in most Tom Clancy games where you have not been able to see your gun on screen? You just had a crossair? Well this is one of the new features to the newest game in the series. Being able to see your weapon on-screen is very cool. Weapon animations are perfect, with few exceptions to re-loading your weapon. But it fits, and pulls it off perfectly. The character graphics are exquisite to say the least, and shadows are casted correctly. Folds in clothes, footprints in snowy terrain or after walking in a puddle, the only real problem is that when someone talks, their mouth doesnt move. But what is really cool, and at the same time just plain strange, is the ragdoll death system. If you kill someone, they crumple to the ground in whatever position. No two deaths are the same. But at times, they do the splits, or fold themselves in half. Of course everyone knows your bones turn to jelly the instant you die. But the clipping is excellent, meaning if that they die agaisnt a wall, they lean against it, and not fall into it.

Plot: 7/10

This game actually has some story backround to it. Neo-Fascist groups rising up all over the world, and Rainbow is sent in to... basicly destroy them.

Sound: 10/10

Gunshots sound like gunshots, each sound from each gun is different from each other gun. Meaning you could tell whos firing what at you. What sounds the best though, is when you and your soldiers are moving. Footsteps sound different on each surface, folds and cloth rubbing against cloth are heard, and explosions are loud and deep. Music is absent from the action parts of the game, unless someone dies, mission fails, or victory.

Controls: 10/10

Fully customizable. 'Nuff said.

Weapons/Difficulty: 10/10

Rainbow Six: Raven Shield is a game that has excellent gameplay, and can be easy and difficult. One shot could kill you, a hostage could be shot when you least expect it, and you can run out of ammo at the precise moment where you need lots of it (FAMAS, for example... yes, Solid Snakes ideal assault weapon is present). The weapon selections are ranged really well, from pistols, sub machine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, snipers, and additions to those weapons.

Final Summary
I consider this game to be one of the greatest tactical shooters in the genre currently. Graphics, sound, plot, controls, weaponry, and difficulty are all perfect in the game. Just watch out for some of those ragdoll effects.
If your unsure of this game, download the demo. Its free, and has multiplayer. I downloaded the demo, and bought the game 3 days after it came out.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/23/03, Updated 03/23/03