This is part two of my "reflecting on the past eight years" blog series, where for most of the rest of the time I'll be reviewing some of the generation's best titles.
The seventh and most recent entry into the book turned-video-game franchise, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 strays away from the generic shooter and creates one of the most fun experiences out there. What makes this game so fun you ask?
Russian's? No... Taliban? No... North Koreans? Not that I can tell...
One of the things that makes this game so great is it's setting. Like it's predecessor, (Rainbow Six: Vegas) you aren't some Tier One task force sent into Russia or Nameless Middle Eastern country #73, but a special forces team operating in, -you guessed it- Las Vegas. The game never really gives us much info on who we fight, as they're mostly just referred to as terrorists. The game, labeled "part sequel, part prequel" means that the story Vegas 2 begins before that of the original, and ends directly after. Ubisoft ditched the idea of a set protagonist, in favor of a player created avatar. That means you can choose the race, gender, age, look, voice, armor, weapons, clothing, and camouflage of your character. The only thing Ubisoft kept was the code name Bishop -and better for it-.
I only have a few complaints about the single player besides it's length. One of them is that many of the environments get old and recycled, (as this takes place almost always in Las Vegas) and all of the advertisements get in the way. No, not like in Temple Run where that pause your game, but you can't finish the story without seeing at least 30 Comcast or MLG signs. The campaign won't last long, -about five to seven hours- and is playable alone or in three player co-op.
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Many, many, many, many, MANY deaths await, bring friends...
After you've finished the campaign, you get to the bulk of the game. The remaining two options are Terrorist Hunt and multiplayer. Multiplayer is pretty standard, with team deathmatch and several other forgettable modes, but is still decent fun for a while. Terrorist Hunt is pretty self explanatory, where players are tasked with brining down a set amount of AI enemies in one of the maps. It may sound easy, but if you aren't prepared, or you don't work together in the four player co-op, you. Will. Die. An enemy can bring down an entire squad in five or six rounds, ending the game instantly. If at least one team member is able to somehow manage to survive the fight, your teammates will be revived. It's almost required to have a mic in this mode, as cooperation is key to success.
And that's what's so fun about this game, is that you are always out numbered, but never out gunned. They may all have shotguns and AK-47s, but you have -if you work together- the coordination to bring down 20-50 terrorists with few casualties. Now, that's not saying you have few weapons...
C-4, MP5, Flashbangs, oh my...
There are about as many weapons as you would find in a typical shooter, around 30 or 40. Okay, that's a lot, but most of the weapons jump around and are terrible, so it's best to stick with your starting weapons, and maybe some of the later ones. What really makes your arsenal is the gadgets and explosives. Breaching charges do exactly that, stun grenades and smoke bombs help clear heavily populated rooms, and remote sensors help out when infiltrating complex buildings. You also have the option to put on or remove your sound suppressor at any time, allowing you to make a stealthy entry.
The gameplay feels very sluggish, and weapons are slow to reload or pump, so you won't be running and gunning through a map. Instead, players will have to plan out their attacks, room by room. Because if you miss even a single enemy in a room off a hallway, they will ruin your match.
This game is unlike most shooters, requiring thought, planning, strategy, and cooperation not found in today's shooters. You will die, many, many times, but the satisfying feeling you get when you complete a mission is unlike any I've felt playing a game. The most fun to be had in this game is after you've left Bishop and his team behind.
This game gets a 9.5/10 from me.
Oh, and enter "comcastevent" (I believe) in the redeem code menu for a free map pack.
*note: this was my first review, so forgive me if it's a little rough.