Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 Review
System: X360, PS3, PC, PSP
Dev: Red Storm / Ubisoft Paris
Pub: Ubisoft
Release: March 7, 2007
Players: 1-16 (online)
ESRB Rating: Teen
Review by James Ruffin
Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best
Now, as far as game controller layout is concerned there has been little changed. You can still hold your breath while sniping, switch your weapon's rate of fire on the fly, and give commands to your troupe quickly and easily with the same buttons. Capt. Mitchell and his Ghosts take cover in almost the exactly the same way, except that in GRAW 2 they do so faster. But the biggest, coolest control related issue is the new CrossCom 2.0 system. Adding a level of depth and control to the battlefield that is unsurpassed in the gaming world, the CrossCom does everything it did in GRAW 1 and more.
Support teams (all of them, not just the humans) in GRAW 2 afford the player the luxury of first person perspectives, allowing players to see through the eyes of their team members and make commands while doing so. So if one of your guys is peering around a corner, you can see what he sees and issue commands based on the environment that would otherwise not be visible to you.
Switching between the teams has also been made easier; you needn't open the tactical map every time - just hold the right bumper on the Xbox 360 controller and instantly enjoy the view from any selected support team. This level of fluid, much appreciated control makes GRAW 2 much more immersive and gives the player a higher level of functionality than its predecessor, not to mention the fact that it helps eliminate the stupid friendly fire mistakes that friendly AI makes. And the added vehicular support (GRAW 2's single player campaign is much more vehicle-intensive) makes GRAW 2 feel much more like a war game than a game consisting of merely a series of firefights.
Still undecided? Well if so, my apologies. I found GRAW 2 to be wildly entertaining. I love the fact that the physics engine in the game applies not just to the player, but to the entire game environment. I felt like sitting back with a bucket of popcorn to enjoy the big, big, beautiful explosions in all their earth shaking, shrapnel flinging glory. The new in-game character viewpoints are diverse and highly functional and the increased vehicle and human AI support contributes to the realism and all out war experience. Yes, the campaign mode is faulted for its brevity but co-op and MP modes make up for it with their challenging and deeply customizable styles. This is a very strong, visually impressive game. My hat is off to the people of Ubisoft. I'm excited for GRAW 3 already.
By
James Ruffin
CCC Freelance Writer
Features:
Groundbreaking Visual Experience: The original Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter set the visual standard for next-gen consoles; Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 will take that achievement to a whole new level. The war zone comes to life as you navigate through trash-strewn streets and pick off enemies from behind bomb-scarred structures. The cutting-edge physics and particle systems will show you some of the most intense and realistic explosions, smoke, and environment destruction ever seen in a video game. Dynamic lighting and shadows will morph as real-time day/night cycles and a constantly changing weather system require you to adjust to the changing conditions on the fly.
All-New Battlegrounds: For the first time ever, the Ghosts will defend U.S. soil from a cross-border attack, taking the fight to all-new locations. The Ghosts will battle enemies in mountain terrains, barren deserts, and even on their home turf in El Paso, Texas. Each environment presents its own benefits and challenges and will call for fresh tactical approaches.
Vastly Improved AI: AI is more challenging than ever. Watch your back as rebels send their own team members to flank your position or gain vantage points by utilizing vertical gameplay to pick you off from the rooftops above. But don't worry - your team's got your back. Improved squad-mate AI will now feed you more of the information you need with descriptive commands like "enemy spotted behind red truck ahead."
Improved Cross-Com: The revolutionary Cross-Com feature has been upgraded for Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2. The new Cross-Com 2.0 will give the player more information than ever before. Not only will you be able to see what your friendly forces see in the top left display, but the click of a button will expand that to full-screen view for a clearer and more precise picture. This will give you a more comprehensive view of the entire battlefield. The new Full Command View will allow unprecedented precision in developing and issuing tactical plans on the battlefield.
Your Team Just Got Bigger:
Command lethal air strikes with jet fighters, gain mobile cover for otherwise impassable situations and replenish armaments on the battlefield using an unmanned artillery MULE, and immediately heal the entire team, including the squad leader Scott Mitchell, with an all-new medic class of soldier.
Multiplayer Returns: The game that dominated the Xbox Live online entertainment network is back and it's bigger and better than ever before.
Screen Resolution: 1080i (Standard HD)
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Rating
out of 5
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Rating Description
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5.0
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Graphics
From the massive explosions to the smoke trails left by fired bullets to the fluid, detailed characters the game's graphics are simply a treat. |
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5.0
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Control
Very, very little room has been left for improvement. |
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4.0
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Music
/ Sound FX / Voice Acting
Superb sound effects accompanied with symphonic music, albeit a bit redundant from GRAW 1. Hackneyed and exaggerated, but comical military-speak just added to the entertainment value for me. |
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4.0
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Play
Value
Campaign mode is a bit too brief, but co-op and MP modes make up for it. |
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4.5
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Overall
Rating -
Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above
for a final score breakdown. |
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Media
