Ghost Recon: Xbox Live Tactics 1
Ghost Recon players don't "frag" each other. That's a term thrown around by Unreal Championship and Quake junkies. Instead, Ghost Recon players simply "eliminate" opponents. It sounds more refined, like when someone says Memento is a "film" and Total Recall is a "movie." This subtle difference in terminology hints at a larger divergence in core gameplay. The simple truth is that Ghost Recon is a game rooted in reality requiring real-life tactics, not the indiscriminate blasting of a fantasy world–based shooter. Just because it's in the first-person perspective doesn't mean your well-honed Unreal Championship skills will directly carry over. To be a success in the online realm of Ghost Recon, you need to forget about the run and gun mentality and think like a real-life soldier. So sit up straight and salute your monitor, you're about to learn some invaluable skills to help you survive the online battlefield.
Guns Don't Kill People, Open Spaces Kill People
The easiest target to spot and bag is one moving across an open space. Your opponents are looking for any sign of movement, and with no trees, shrubs, or walls to obscure their vision, you'll stick out like a prize turkey. This isn't like running through a field of daisies a la Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls didn't have to dodge bullets and grenades. Use the terrain for cover and stay along the perimeter when moving about. It's best to run from a place of good cover to another place of good cover. Open fields should be your last resort, but when confronted with no other option, make sure your character is fully upright to cover that distance like Carl Lewis.
Night Vision Is Your Best Friend
Thank the heavens if the level host has chosen a nighttime setting. After you strap on the night vision goggles, it's as if enemies are draped with Christmas lights. Scan quickly for bright objects at first, and then determinewhether they're human—some levels limit the effectiveness of this technique, but you'll know where and when to use it. What may not be so obvious is that the night vision can also be used during the day for the same, albeit limited, effect. Can't find an enemy lurking in a dark alleyway? Flip on the night vision. Just don't look into the sun.
Pitch a Tent and Go Camping
The art of finding a good place to hide and wait for enemies to come strolling by is known as "camping." Many FPS fans from theQuake/Unreal school frown upon such tactics. ButGhost Recon is all about camping. Find a spot with some good cover that still affords a decent view of the action, preferably a spot that doesn't allow someone to sneak up behind you. This strategy is especially important for snipers who really can't afford to go toe-to-toe with some of the big guns. After you play the game a little, you'll find some really cool hiding spots. It's easy to give in to the urge to go run around and find someone to shoot, but in games like Last Man Standing, it's better to stay put and let them come to you. Again, Ghost Recon is notUnreal Championship. After you're out of your hiding spot it's open season on your butt. You won't have health packs or adrenaline to fix that bullet hole in your leg. You've got one life, soldier. Make it count.
Be Prepared
It's a phrase not just for the Boy Scouts anymore. Know what you are getting into. If the level is full of closed-in spaces, then you don't want to equip the sniper rifle. Yes, the sniper rifle is cool, but you'll probably want to grab a high-powered machine gun and maybe some grenades. Unless you have ice running through your veins, the adrenaline rush of coming face-to-face with an opponent can wreak havoc on your targeting skills. You'll probably miss the first shot in close combat, and the sniper rifle takes some time to reload between shots—your opponent's machine gun, on the other hand, does not.
Hose Them Down with Bullets
One of the first things you want to do is switch all automatic weapons to burst fire. You'll regret not checking this option when you get in a firefight and squeeze off one round to your opponent's three. More bullets means more chances to hit a target. Online matches usually don't last long enough to go through your ammo (unless you're reckless beyond belief and a really bad shot), so don't hesitate to open up on someone.
Be a Chameleon
Your camouflage isn't just designed to make a fashion statement with your comrades. Ideally, your combat fatigues will help you melt into the environment and make you an elusive target. Use that to your advantage. Keep low to the ground and near undergrowth to disguise your movements. And what about in urban settings? Take a cue from Splinter Cell and stick to the shadows. Just hope that your opponents aren't wise to that night vision trick.
Throw a Steak to Distract the Guard Dog
Sometimes you can get away with the oldest trick in the book. Create a distraction to get everyone looking at a certain point while you sneak away. This can be especially helpful when you feel trapped. Launch a grenade in the opposite direction that you want to run. I guarantee that after players in the area hear the explosion, they'll first dive for cover thinking they are under attack, then they'll look for the scorch marks in the environment to see how close the attack actually was. While this is happening run like the wind to a new spot, perhaps even sneak up behind the person you were distracting in the first place.
Know Your Role
Don't expect to be a pro immediately. Play Ghost Recon to figure out what you do well. Do you have quick reflexes? You might be better suited for the front line, engaging enemies directly. Players that are fast on the draw have a definite advantage on offense. Are you better at sneaking up on enemies? Consider becoming a sniper and picking off enemies from a safe distance. Remember that getting kills doesn't always equate to success in team scenarios—it's important for your team to know the location of an enemy, and spotters are just as valuable as snipers on the battlefield. Talk to your teammates and let them know where the enemies are lurking. Don't try to do it all yourself.
Go Treasure Hunting Offline
Play Ghost Recon offline. Not only will it boost your basic skills by familiarizing you with the controls, but it will also unlock nasty weapons you can use online. How cool is that?
