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Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Review

by Steve Wysowski March 17th 2008 6:33 PM EDT13 Comments

When the original Rainbow Six Vegas came out, how could any man with at least an ounce of testosterone not be excited? I mean it's Vegas (the best place in the universe)...with guns. There is nearly no way that can end up badly. While the game's setting winded up being one of the factors that made the original game so damn appealing, the original Vegas game wasn't greatbecause of its setting itself. Rather, it was the excellent gameplay that came with it. From the game's excellent cover system, to its root in tactical warfare, the original game made a war-filled Vegas come to life.

But there is still alot of things to be done in the entertainment capital of the world, and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is here to do them. You're going to get new maps, new guns, and a new campaign (with a fresh story) to play with. Not only that, but Vegas 2 gives the game a new coat of paint, shutting up graphic nitpickers who used that complaint to deride the original game. For those who fell in love with 2006's Vegas will no doubt fall in love with 2008's, and this game can keep some gamers busy for months to come. But still, it lacks the surprise factor the original had, and Vegas 2 winds up feeling more like Vegas 1.5 than a full-fledged sequel.

I want to get to the multiplayer first before the single player, because the multiplayer part of the game is clearly the focus with Vegas 2. For Rainbow Six die-hards, this game will keep you at home. As far as actual control goes, there is hardly any difference between the two games, and if it weren't for the new gloss of detail added, it would be nearly impossible to decipher the two to a newcomer to the series.

However, the actual multiplayer's pace has changed quite a bit. Picture the original Vegas on pseudo-speed. With the new sprinting mechanic (which is the only true gameplay addition), the game's multiplayer tactics are changed entirely. You'll find the game encourages players to be more aggressive than most shooters, which may be a death sentence to experienced campers. but it's music to my ears. The game has a faster pace, matches go by quicker, and adrenaline is running a storm.

The game's ranking system is pretty much the same as before, and anyone who played the original Vegas or even to a lesser extent, Call of Duty 4, knows what to expect. You'll unlock weapons, armor, and gadgets as you rank up, resulting in a very rewarding experience. The games new maps are also pretty interesting as well, offering a great mix of backlots and Vegas themed casinos.

However, the multiplayer isn't perfect or mistake ridden. Some maps seem just too big, resulting in a long learning curve. It took me about three days of consistent playing to learn the ins and outs of some of the game's larger maps, which was a pretty large pain. Also, while sprinting does make the game a bit more fun, it does lose that tactical edge the series has become known for. The sprinting mechanic doesn't blend that well with the cover system, and often, the odd blend of "run-and-gun" and "stop-and-pop" gameplay affected my play with the game. Still, those who are looking for a new multiplayer experience to detract themselves from Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 should look no further than Vegas 2.

As far as the single player goes, Vegas 2 is improved over the original in numerous ways. For starters, the game's story is one of the vocal parts of the game, something that isn't seen alot in Tom Clancy games. The story is a welcomed addition, and although it doesn't really follow a strict timeline, its leaps and jumps sucked me in more than pushed me away. Its not afraid to take risks, and changes the game's pace sharply at unexpected points.

Gameplay on the single player front is nearly the same to the game's multiplayer, except for some new squad based controls. The single player is vastly more tactical than the multiplayer side of the game, and that is something as a Rainbow veteran I appreciated. AI everywhere has been improved, so expect alot of intelligent enemies and teammates. But the last game had smart AI as well, and if it weren't for the new story, there wouldn't be much seperating this campaign from the last.

But that in the end can summarize all of Rainbow Six Vegas 2. It isn't that new of an experience, but it doesn't try to be that. It capitilizes on the excellent formula the original game had, and refines things quite a bit. For those starving for a new shooter, Vegas 2 is highly reccomended over any of the games coming out in the next few months (or shooters like Army of Two that have come out recently). As for those satisfied with Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 at the moment, also check out Vegas. It's not the freshest experience ever, but its still a great, refined shooter.

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