Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2

"Essentially a revamped R6V1, but still a solid game nevertheless."

First off I want to say with all the highly opinionated reviews out there, I am going to try to be as subjective as I can. I've been playing Rainbow Six games since the days of R6: Rogue Spear and have since played and beat every game with Rainbow name in its title (as well as read the novel). I like to think I know a little about the series and what makes a good R6 game.

Note: This review is based on Xbox 360 version. Most of the information should be applicable to the PS3 version but some will not.

Story / Campaign: The single player campaign mode doesn't really stand out in any particular way but does not disappoint either. The story takes place before and during the events of R6V1 and helps tie up some loose ends from the first game as well as explain some of the events such as the surprise ending of the original. The story isn't exactly at the same quality of a best selling novel but it keeps you paying attention especially if you know the story from R6V1. The campaign is not very long either. With only 7 levels / locations, it can be completed quickly on the lowest difficulty. At higher difficulties, it can be very difficult and good strategy is a must. As a plus, the locales in this game are more diverse than the constant casino after casino in the first game and the level designs seem to take a page from the original PC versions of R6 with multiple entry point and multi level rooms. The new levels allow for more strategy and planning and are can be fun to replay several times just trying out new strategies.

Sound and Graphics: Again, nothing really impressive here either. The sounds are taken right from R6V1 (which isn't really a bad thing but the casino sounds can get a little repetitive and annoying). The graphics seem to have received a slight overhaul but nothing drastic. Things seem a little clearer and sharper than the original but fails to compare to some of the other big name games that out right now. With an high definition set up, this game's graphics can be compete with some of the other titles.

Gameplay: This is simple. If you enjoyed how R6V1 was played, you will enjoy this. And vice versa if you didn't. Do not go into this game with a "Halo" mindset. Being a tactical shooter, this game requires you to sometimes out think the enemy as opposed to out gun him - this doesn't mean that sometimes the best strategy isn't to just throw a couple of frags into a room. The only real additions besides a few new guns are the sprint feature (which appeared in all the original R6 titles and is really helpful and you'll find yourself using this a lot) and a new leveling-up system which crosses over to and from single and multiplayer. The new system, called A.C.E.S., makes you more conscious about how you attack your enemies because different approaches can yield different rewards. A few annoying issues return such as the cover system sometimes getting "screwy" and a sometimes questionable hit detection system.

Multiplayer: This is where this game really stands out. With seemingly endless hours of playability, it is just as fun and addicting as the first trip to Vegas. You will spend hours trying to find the best weapon/gadget combo for your style only to start over when a new weapon you like better is unlocked (this is a good thing, not bad). With a fast internet connection and a host with the same, there is little lag to be noticed. Obviously not having one of the two can change this drastically and cause some slowdown. There are a few new game modes and maps that are combined with favorites from R6V1 that really make this game a lot of fun. (Personal note: I wish there would have been more new maps as opposed to remakes of originals) One disappointing observation is that Ubi Soft failed to fix some known bugs and issues that were present in the previous game and are still noticeable in this one.

Overall: If you liked RSV1 and are looking for another similar game, definitely buy this game sooner rather than later but know before hand that you are getting what is essentially a glorified expansion pack. If you are looking for something completely new or different, you might want to hold out on this for a while or try renting it first. The same goes for people who don't play online. With no access to worldwide multiplayer, you may want to also consider renting this game because that truly is this game's defining feature. This game is good but since it essentially is the a remake of RSV1, my opinion of the game drops a little. My score, 7 out of 10.

I hope this helps

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/24/08

Game Release: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (US, 03/18/08)