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As Ding, the player heads up a small squad to take down terrorists who would attempt to cause a rift between Venezuela and the U.S., along with the other plot twists and turns that come from people trying to create international discord. This time, the player controls only a single squad, and even it can go down to a single man at times. The greater intimacy is just one of many changes. Noticeably different in this release is the absence of the planning phase and control over selecting the squad's gear. Before screaming sacrilege, let me just say that, while the changes do have their downside, they also help the game to conform to the console's style so much so that it ends up being beneficial. While there have been other console incarnations of past titles, not all have been that great - yes, I'm looking at you Rogue Spear for Dreamcast; but recently Ubi Soft proved they could pull off a good translation with the Xbox port of Ghost Recon. However, Rainbow Six 3 just isn't a port; it feels like the change was done, not to just make it more accessible to the console, but to work the game in a way that its positives were accentuated in regards to the market it was being released for. Still, there are moments when it would be of great help to assign a member a sniper rifle and tell them to perch on a hill to provide cover. It's fortunate, then, that the player is given so many other commands that they can compensate for whatever troubles they run into. With an intuitive command option, the player can order teammates to breach a room and either use a flashbank, grenade, smoke grenade, or to simply clear it. There is also the option to give them the same orders under Zulu command, which means they will hold until being told to proceed; this, like the basic orders, is equally easy to order. The missions called upon for the team to complete range from clearing areas, rescuing hostages, defusing bombs, and seeking out particular enemies. While the objectives are pretty standard fare, certain scripted events, like ambushes, keep things lively. Despite several of the levels being large, they tend to be broken up into smaller chunks, making it easier and quicker for a team to proceed with care. The layouts are also particularly good, with opportunities to double back behind enemies and simultaneously charge a room from different entrances. Always at the ready are your primary and secondary firearms, with plenty of ammo, along with a variety of grenades. Although the player can change their equipment before insertion, I found the recommended items to work out just fine. Fortunately, the other members are proficient with their weapons and handle themselves well. They need to be too, because the terrorists that populate the levels are, on the whole, pretty good opponents; they will seek shelter, utilize the ability to peak around corners (which players also have) to take potshots, and run away to get assistance from nearby friendlies. There were a few instances when an enemy wouldn't respond to gunfire, similar to past R6 titles. However, unlike the past titles, the player and the other members aren't necessarily in mortal danger if clipped by a bullet; now - depending on difficulty - damage appropriation has been tweaked so that the player doesn't have to move at a snail's pace, and I would also say this is because the player doesn't have another team to work with. The 'Superman Syndrome', where enemies could take an unreal amount of damage, has also been noticeable improved. Also different is that the player now sees the weapon. That may seem trivial, but I found that seeing recoil, clips being changed, and muzzle flashes made the experience more immersive. From snowy mountaintop villages to villas in South America, there are plenty of spots for the Rainbow team to deal out justice. The variety of locals, scripted sequences, and weapons really keeps the game enjoyable. The pace, significantly increased, hasn't been changed so much so that the methodic search-and-destroy pace is absent. The Live support is fantastic, much like that of Ghost Recon - as an aside, someone over at Microsoft needs to thank Ubi Soft for utilizing Live the way games should be, considering their handful of titles are the among the best Live titles on the market. Although, at times, I really missed the entire pre-planning process and the availability of other teams, I worked my way around those, and nearly forgot them entirely as the changes proved beneficial. However, one change I never really liked was the saving system. The game only allows 3 saves per level, but leaving a mission deletes all the saved spots for it; I don't mind limited saves, but I do mind having to start a mission over because I had to quickly save and leave. I would say something about the lack of a heartbeat sensor, but I would like to preserve some vestige of manhood. Aside from those minor complaints, the game really is a fantastic title. The adrenaline rush that results from storming a room filled with terrorists is as good as ever and, in many cases, even better.
Graphics: 8/10 Sound:
8.5/10 Control: 9/10
Overall:
9/10 [ top ] | |||
The
game that really started the tactical first-person shooter is now going strong
in 2003 with its third release; after several add-ons and expansions for the original
two, but this time something is a little different. Stripped down for the Xbox,
this lean and mean Rainbow Six eschews its own traditions of planning and
coordination, and embraces a more action-oriented style - which ends up being
just the right direction to take the series on console.
