The Xbox 360 Factor

Xbox 360™ has made its technical prowess felt with every release since launch, but there is something to be said about patience, and with the extra few months of development, Ubisoft has produced a graphical and technical masterpiece in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™. Let's look at several screenshots and examine just what fundamental changes we can expect to enjoy from the Xbox 360 version of Advanced Warfighter.

A typical scene.

First, this screenshot brings to bear the single most substantial presentation change from the original Xbox® version to the Xbox 360 version of GRAW—your viewing angle is from the third person on Xbox 360. This one alteration creates an entirely different experience, as the over-the-shoulder view injects greater life into the action and lets you view the intense and fluid movements of your soldier.

It's in the Details

Notice also the sheer detail of the soldier's uniform here in the foreground. You can almost see each individual stitch in the clothing. And, check out the warped lighting effect around the muzzle blast from the gun. The massive upgrade to textures and overall lighting is one thing, but it's these little details that truly bring the game to next-gen life.

A light explosion.

This shot typifies the sort of action you see in Advanced Warfighter. What's most impressive about the explosion, though, is the sheer intensity of it. It doesn't just look nice, it looks blazing hot and powerful enough to bowl you over.

The bits of physics-controlled debris shooting off into the air add to the effect as well. Also, notice the grain filter adding to the feeling of grit and realism. It's especially noticeable just above the explosion, and it adds a touch of almost documentary-like feel to the proceedings.

Far-reaching horizon.

Not only do you take helicopter rides, but you man the large-caliber machineguns onboard to tear through enemy ranks. You can get a taste of that in this screenshot. Note the sheer clarity of the buildings as they stretch off into the distance.

The full spread of Mexico City comes into play here and, from the air, you can gaze out over hundreds of brilliantly realized city buildings. Few games have ever offered such epic size and intricate scope to their environments.

As if it wasn't warm enough already.

This screen demonstrates the fine-combed detail on display throughout Advanced Warfighter. Take in the lighting on the soldier's helmet and back; the textured quality of the walls, street, and sidewalk; the red-hot blaze from the cars and the sooty-black smoke they spill out into the air; and the background of buildings sporting not just great detail but very unique architecture as well.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is primed not only to impress with its visuals, but to blow away our preconceptions of what is possible. It just looks and feels that good. This isn't just next-gen, it's next-gen like we dreamed it would be.

Article by Ryan Treit

• The Ghost Recon home page.