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Rainbow Six: Vegas 2
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And unfortunately, the single player is pretty lackluster. The story was wholly unoriginal and looks like something one of the developers wrote using toilet paper. The plot isn't gripping in the slightest, and we end up feeling nothing for our characters except in the two situations where we have the choice to shoot a seemingly-helpless terrorist. Suffice to say, it's short length of about six hours was exquisite.

It also let us hear plenty of terrorist commentary, more often then notphilosophical on numerous subjects that make players more interested in listening in than blowing them up. Then again, the AI practically shuts off at times, not noticing Team Rainbow walking right in front of and past them in more instances than necessary. While this is forgivable, the very repetitive gameplay of clearing out room by room with no real change except for the occasional hostage situation becomes tedious after a short time.

AI not noticing Rainbow operatives this close means either they've taken lessons from Sam Fisher or that they've got bigger blind spots than a Hummer.

That short time allowed us to get to the meat of the game, multiplayer. Not that the campaign doesn't sport cooperative play, but instead of four players from the original Vegas, only two players can go through the campaign together. The second player is aptly named Knight, begging for more chess-oriented names to appear. Tragically, the AI is controlled by only one player, so while cooperatively going through the campaign can be a slow and tactical ordeal, it ends up with one player running and gunning, respawning all the while, with the other sending the friendly AI into rooms and taking out most of the bad guys. More often then not, they do a good job at it.

Turn it over to terrorist hunt and Vegas 2 isn't so boring anymore. Carrying the same age-old techniques, the Terrorist Hunt is all about teamwork, tactics and a quick trigger finger. Customization is key, and the venue for customizing a game to fit your skill level or needs is perfect.

Hectic shootouts in large open spaces like this are rare, but the most exciting as well.

We were disappointed by the decreased number of players in multiplayer, which went from 16 to 14 unless there's a dedicated server. Most games are pushing for more, and though we found the online experience much smoother overall, the expense of not even allowing 8-men teams is unacceptable.

With 12 maps and five different play modes, we expect to be playing Vegas 2 for the long run, just as we did Vegas and Rainbow Six 3 before it. However, it's single player mode makes us think that Ubisoft would have done a better job had Vegas 2 been a purely multiplayer game, with lots more maps. The minor upgrades like a simpler menu system and the addition of running aren't enough to make us leap out for joy though, because it's almost identical to the last one. Next time the Rainbow team goes out, we demand something new and exciting, or at least making it completely multiplayer.

Highs
Excellent multiplayer, sprint function is great, updated experience and menu systems, traditional Rainbow Six game that we've come to love.

Lows
Pitiful story, so-so single player, no 4-player co-op, shoddy AI at times, graphics haven't improved since the last game.

Final Verdict
Vegas 2 would have worked better if it cut out the single player entirely and added more to he multiplayer.

80%

Apr 11, 2008

Review by James Pikover.