Next-Gen Rainbow Arrives
The Rainbow Six brand could only have more cache if Halo® was contained in the title, so its next-gen path to Xbox 360™ has been watched very closely, and with great anticipation. Now that it's finally arrived and we had the opportunity to log a few hours in the single-player campaign, we can reveal the details behind what you can expect from this sure-to-be blockbuster.
Too bad you're not here on vacation.
This preview will focus exclusively on the single player campaign in Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® Vegas, but keep an eye out for an equally comprehensive look at the multiplayer game in the near future.
In Concept
For those unfamiliar with the series, a quick word of introduction is in order. Rainbow Six Vegas, like its predecessors, is a tactical first person shooter, grounded in the reality that made Tom Clancy's novels famous.
In Rainbow Six games, you take on the role of a squad leader in the elite Rainbow Six anti-terrorism unit. With the game's focus on authenticity, the standard run and gun FPS philosophy won't work here, and while your twitch reflexes may come in handy, you'll need a lot more than that to succeed.
Doing work in Sin City.
Rainbow Six Vegas is also a squad based shooter, so you won't just be worrying about your own skin, but that of your teammates as well. Of course, that also means you have the luxury of having your teammates carry out your orders and watching your back.
What's New?
So what's changed since the last Rainbow Six? The short answer is plenty. From the new reliance on cover to the judicious use of a third person perspective, it is clear that the developers haven't been resting on their laurels. They've also added a cross-com like that in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™, the ability to rappel, and a new health system. Here's a look at some of the additions in more detail:
Cover
Gears of War® isn't the only new game to focus on the strategic use of cover. Hold down the left trigger when near a wall or any other cover, and you will switch to the third person perspective with your back against the cover. Then you can move against the wall while standing or crouched, and even peek out for a protected view.
Take advantage of being unseen.
You can fire from cover, of course, but you have two ways of going about it. You can choose to aim carefully by pressing the left trigger while leaning out from cover. You will be slightly exposed, but you will be able to aim with accuracy. You can also fire blindly by leaning out from cover without pressing the left trigger, which is great for laying down covering fire.
Third Person View
The game doesn't just switch to third person view when you take cover. The camera changes perspective when you use a fast rope or rappel as well, making it easier for you to stay oriented, and easier for you to spot enemies as well.
Rappelling
This new feature has been widely publicized, and rightly so. The ability to rappel down the side of a skyscraper is both exciting and tactically important. In a single stroke, you can now get the drop on an entire gang of terrorists, while simultaneously experiencing the thrill of crashing through a plate glass window with guns blazing. It is a dynamic and exhilarating addition to the Rainbow Six series.
America 's playground is under attack. What will you do?
Cross-Com
The same communicator window used in GRAW appears here in Rainbow Six Vegas, which is fitting, considering both games are from Ubi's Tom Clancy franchise. Like rappelling, the addition of the cross-com is both strategically viable and cinematically impressive.
A Little More Action
Though it is a subtle shift, there is little doubt that Rainbow Six Vegas offers less time for contemplation and more for good old-fashioned shootouts. It's not enough to sully the realism, but it is just enough to keep you on your toes.
Rainbow Six Vegas is set to explode onto the scene November 20 with an arsenal of notable improvements, and graphics rivaled only by Gears of War®. This is not a title you can afford to miss this holiday season!
Article by Ryan Treit
