The Game
In 2006, the Xbox 360 and PC were graced with the latest installment of the Rainbow Six (R6) series, titled "Vegas." It wasn't until 2007 that PS3 owners got a taste of R6 Vegas, but eventually rave reviews stretched across the three gaming platforms. The original Rainbow Six game debuted on the PC in 1998. Since then, versions of the original game as well as its many follow-ups or sequels have been released on a number of different platforms, including the Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. After ten years of games in the series, R6 Vegas 2 stays true to the first person shooter genre in which it began, with its intense tactical combat.
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As with many great games, a follow up to R6 Vegas was inevitable and it has finally arrived. The story in R6 Vegas 2 begins five years prior to the events in the last game, thus serving as a prequel to its predecessor. Once more, the game takes place in the glamorous the city of Las Vegas. This time, the bulk of the areas you'll visit during the course of the campaign are considerably less glamorous, as the glitz of the bars and casinos have been replaced with the city's back streets, back rooms, and business centers. While this disheartened many fans of the series who anticipated an entirely new city for the setting of the game, they'll be glad to know that the avenue the game's developers have taken is not a disappointing one. In fact, the environments chosen for the game are a lot of fun to play in.
Many gamers seek rich story lines in the games they choose to play. However, military games are not known for having them. This trend continues in R6 Vegas 2 as the story element takes a back seat to its engaging combat. While cinematic cutscenes are used to portray story progression in most games, R6 Vegas 2 utilizes interactive sequences in between missions that inform you of your team's next objectives. During these sequences, you have the option to choose new weapons and body armor for use in the mission that follows. Once you're geared up, you'll be ready to take on the terrorists that saturate Sin City.
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JarredWalton - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
The simple answer is, we review a lot of hardware that is primarily of use to gamers. Not surprisingly, a large number of gamers read our site. This isn't the first gaming review we've done, and it almost certainly won't be the last.I know Eddie - he's an avid gamer, with PC, Xbox360, and PS3 consoles in his house - and asked him to try writing some game reviews for us. Since he was in the midst of playing R6V2, that seemed like a good place to start. If you haven't noticed, the pickings are a bit slim for new games right now - at least games worth a try.
We would have done the PC version if it were available; we will try to have Eddie do a follow-up with the PC version when it's available. Right now, at least we have a good idea of what the Xbox 360 version offers, so we will better be able to say how the PC version compares.
Maybe next we can have Gary discuss his feelings on C&C3: Kane's Wrath? :)
Hardin - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
The gameplay was pretty good, but I had to stop playing it because of the frame rate issues. They were happening much more frequently than most console games. If the 360 version has frame rates issues then I wonder how the pc version will turn out.thartist - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
It's odd how you intend to avoid personal opinions but end on a mere "SWEET!"I understand very clearly you intention, but the solution will be between the result you hit and those shitty 8.347 ratings out there.
Rating suggestion: Try the five stars rating which you could divide in halves too, try 1-10. That scale gives a good sense of higher and lower quality.
GOLDEN HINT: a significant evolution of the rating system has been the addition of a resume explanation on what's GOOD and what's BAD in the game, including technical problems. It adds that layer of un-bias and clearness to the reader. Implement it please.
(always below 50% is unbearably rotten. Simplify like that too, those games don't deserve attention.)
cmdrdredd - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
Yep, for which I will use IGN. Nice try, but you're way too late here and there's reviewers on other sites with a bigger track record so that you can base their opinion off of what they liked before. So say if they gave Splinter Cell a 8.2 and then Metal Gear Solid a 9.1 and both are similar game types by the same reviewer, it's easy to pick the better one of the two.cmdrdredd - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
Oh, and calling a game sweet tells me nothing. You can be paid by EA or UbiSoft or any other developer to post a positive review. Using the number system is far better to tell a game's worth.whatthehey - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
"Sweet" tells you nothing, eh? Sort of like "8.4, Impressive" tells you nothing, right? (That's what IGN says.) God forbid you read the remaining 6 pages, or even the conclusion. What I gather is that the game is good, and many FPS fans and particularly tactical FPS fans will enjoy it. Since I don't particularly care for the tactical shooter genre, I'll pass. I tried the original Rainbow Six a long time ago and didn't care for it.All that a number system would do is give all you pissers somewhere to complain about how Anandtech is wrong because they gave it an 8.2 instead of an 8.3 or 8.4. But then, you've got shit like Bully getting an 8.7 compared to this game's 8.4 at IGN; I can definitely state that I would rather try this game than Bully, aka "Let's sell lots of games through controversy!"
I wholeheartedly support the AT rating approach. Either a game is great and everyone should try it, it's good an most people will like it, it's decent and will appeal to fans of the genre... or it's not worth the DVD its printed on. Outside of the general evaluation, we're all going to have to read a bit to determine if a game is our cup of tea or not. OMG! Reading! On a website! HOW WILL WE EVER SURVIVE!? Congrats on proving you have the reading comprehension skills of a 4th grader.
Spivonious - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
Like the ratings system. I don't need a number, just a "Avoid", "Play the Demo First", or "Buy It".What I'm confused about is why a console game is reviewed on a computer site. Why not review the PC version once it's released?
gaakf - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
I played the original Rainbow Six: Vegas between breaks from Gears of War for a few months. I achieved a rank of Staff Sergeant/E-6. When I read that people returning to Vegas 2 would get EXP points depending on their rank in the first game, I thought that was really cool.So when I booted up Vegas 2 for the first time, I saw I was awarded Specialist/E-4 rank. That was nice.... until I saw that there was an achievement for getting Private First Class/E-3 rank.
Because I can not go down in rank, I can never unlock this achievement. How did Ubisoft miss something as blatantly obvious as this? The achievement should have unlocked once I was awarded rank. Stupid, just plain stupid.
bill3 - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
Game reviews on Anandtech? I like it.BTW, interestingly, I once came across a rumor that R6V at least on consoles DOESNT use UE3, but actually a souped up UE2. Apparantly if you looked at all the licenses on the box, UE2 and NOT UE3 was the only logo to be found. Might explain the game's alledged poor graphics.
ap90033 - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
Console? Dont care, what I want to know is how will the REAL version for PC be. Wonder if the graphics will be better since the XBox360/any console is weak.