Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon™: Island Thunder™ is somewhere between an expansion pack and a full-blown sequel. Ubi Soft took the best elements of previous Ghost Recon expansion packs for the PC and polled gamers to determine the new title's content. Then, they stirred in some improved Xbox Live functionality to make Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder an exciting, squad-based action title that both stands on its own and expands the Tom Clancy universe. This unique collection of extras, enhancements, and upgrades can only be found on the Xbox.
The Ghosts in action.
Xbox owners do not need the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon to enjoy this latest iteration of the franchise.Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder continues the alternate future from the first game, in which the Soviet Union is still intact and an active threat. You control a squad of highly trained U.S. commandos, called Ghosts, as they meet head-on the threat of international communism and lawlessness. This time around, the Ghosts are going into Cuba, which is in chaos since the death of dictator Fidel Castro. In the vacuum left by Fidel's absence, local warlords, drug kingpins, and communist agitators are trying to grab as much power as they can. The U.S. has decided to take an active role in protecting the democratic process, which is where the Ghosts come in. You and your team patrol the entire island and the surrounding waterways, rooting out local militias and defending polling places, so that the Cuban people can select their own leaders for the first time in half a century. And, you must do all this while keeping a lid on the political situation that threatens to turn Cuba into another international showdown between capitalism and communism, a la the war in Vietnam.
Like its predecessor, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder has the same award-winning online multiplayer features that earned the franchise a "Game of the Year" award in 2001. While the graphics and sound are largely the same (hey, it hasn't even been a year since Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon was released, so there hasn't been much time to improve on an already strong package), the new game includes a new selection of maps, new gameplay modes, and the promise of downloadable content.
All the multiplayer fun of its predecessor.
The Ghost Recon series is justifiably famous for its excellent online multiplayer elements, and Xbox Live users will now be able to compete against each other in single or team modes like Firefight, Recon, Siege, Domination, Last Man Standing, and Sharpshooter. You can tailor many of the multiplayer options to your liking and use the Xbox Live Communicator to talk to your squad mates in real time. Tactical decisions must be made and shared with your entire squad, and each member must do his job in seamless concert with the rest. The tense, taut gameplay that madeTom Clancy's Ghost Recon a monster hit among squad-based shooter fans continues, making Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder bigger, better, and faster than before.
These contests take place on 20 maps that were assembled from the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon as well as the PC expansion packs: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Desert Siegeand Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder. Now you can lead your commandos through their paces in the Mountain Stronghold, Hunting Lodge, or Prison, depending on where you want to go and what you want to blow up. The lush wilds of Cuba are a far cry from the deserts of North Africa, with ripe green jungles and sweltering, stormy skies. Your previous Ghost experience will be useful, but there's still a lot you'll have to learn if you want to master the new terrain.
The not-so-beautiful side of Cuba.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder is a great follow-up to the original game, with new content and improved online gameplay, expanding upon the Tom Clancy gaming experience. It's its own unique adventure that tests your tactical abilities, and one of the best ways to enjoy the action is on XboxLive.
