Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow

"Ding Blign"

At first, I wasn't hugely excited by Ubisoft's new Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow. Of course I was a little bit excited, being a huge online FPS fan, and a huge fan of the original Rainbow Six 3 and Ding Chavez, but I didn't have high hopes for the single player campaign (which was a bit tedious for my taste last time), and I couldn't imagine what changes they could possibly make to the multiplayer. I guess I'm just a cynic when it comes to sequels.

But WOW. The single player modes (thats right modeS) are off the hook! Not only is the regular campaign playable cooperatively either split-screen or online (which makes the single player campaign waaaaay more fun), there's also a sick mode called Lone Rush where it's just you, and you tear your way through these elaborate levels rescuing hostages, smiting terrorists, and deactivating bombs against a minute timer. Playing this mode when you've just bought the game is fast, violent and addictive. But then, after you've been doing it for awhile it becomes a sweet state of controlled chaos.

And not only are there 14 new maps, but 4 of those are the most played maps from the original, and you can still play against people who own the original RB6-3 on these maps, although you'll be susceptible to the lean thing. BUT that's significant because you won't be the rest of the time, because the bug was fixed. Furthermore, you can access any of the downloadable maps that were released after RB6-3, and now there are two brand new game modes to enjoy as well.

In one, called Total Conquest Mode, there are three satellite dishes that act as victory points. As long as your team controls any of them, you'll rack up points. The team that controls the most of these points the longest wins. As a result, you'll not only be forced to utilize rushing skills, you'll also need to play defensively for the first time.

The other is a capture the flag mode, played with a cannister full of biological weaponry, and is more like a game of steal the bacon than capture the flag, since there's only one flag making for some intense battles around the cannister zone.

I'm really enjoying this game, and if you're a RB6 fan, or even an online shooter fan, or a tactics fan! you'll love this game too.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/12/04