You have to hand
it to Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy series of games, they are so good that you can’t help
but expect a masterpiece of techno-thriller action whether you’re hunting down
terrorists as Ghosts, a lone stealthy company man named Sam or the unfortunately
named Rainbow crew. And much like the Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell series,
Rainbow Six has given gamers many a sleepless night thanks to the innovative and
wildly entertaining Xbox Live multiplayer games. Rainbow Six: Lockdown is the
third game for the Xbox and while it might look familiar there are changes both
good and bad.
You’ll continue
to face off against terrorist threats as Ding Chavez but joining his usual small
crew are new members of the Rainbow team. While on a mission in Pretoria, South
Africa to rescue itsPresident Mbelu from a band of terrorists that have taken
him hostage, the Rainbow team comes upon a much bigger terrorist threat. It
seems that a team calling themselves the GLF (Global Liberation Front) has
stormed the main research facility of a major company that just so happens to be
illegally manufacturing a new bio-weapon called Legion. So it is once again up
to the Rainbow team to put an end to the threat but this isn’t going to be an
easy mission since Legion just so happens to be a virus that could wipe out
millions.
Luckily, though,
Ding Chavez has 10 new operatives to work with and the new additions themselves
have specialties that fit each mission scenario. For example, Dieter Weber is
back and his role as sniper becomes crucial (painfully so, but we will get into
this a bit later) in one scenario while newcomer Annika Löfquist is an
electronics expert helpful later in the game. The best new feature though has to
be more personality for each character and the personal banter between your
operatives, which is something that Rainbow Six 3 and Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow
lacked. You will actually hear ladies’ man Loiselle hit on fellow assault
teammate Ayana who, due to her mean temper, shoots him down coldly. It’s a
rather nice touch, actually, and gives each character personality.
The mission
structure is familiar fare for returning fans of the series and, while nothing
really changed on this front, the missions are still fun to play through more
than once. You will still have to issue commands to your teammates and it’s
always wise to take advantage of their help or ability to clear rooms on your
orders. You still have the option to have your operatives hold while you do the
scouting but be warned, not issuing orders results in an almost non-stop cycle
of requests for orders. You’ll constantly be bothered with “Awaiting orders,
sir” or “Waiting” and this becomes truly annoying when you’re busy making short
work of the enemies. There are also moments in the game where you play as Weber
such as the second mission where you’ll fire your sniper rifle at enemies
attempting to bring Chavez down. It’s a good idea that just doesn’t have the
right effect since the sniper rifle can be a bit too stiff and jerky. What could
have been a fun break from the usual action just turns out to be something of a
chore.
As far as the
action is concerned there is plenty to do in each mission and there are many
enemies that actually do a good job of surprising you with good cover fire or
head-on assaults. On the other hand, though, the enemy AI can also be quite dumb
as well, which is one the many new defects that weren’t present in the first two
games. It’s a shame to see that the enemies no longer will attempt to go for
cover or attempt to flank you like in Black Arrow. In fact, the enemies in the
game take cover behind walls or desks with half their bodies exposed. One enemy
even hid behind a trash basket! Occasionally your computer-controlled teammates
are prone to the same lack of intelligence by often tossing grenades against
walls only to have the grenade bounce back and kill everyone in your squad.
There are some
changes for the good, though, like the Heartbeat Sensor that allows you to see
right through walls in order to see how many enemies are behind a door. When
you’re not playing through the game’s main campaign mode there is Lone Rush that
allows you to move through each level without your teammates and a Sniper Game,
which allows you to play through the seven sniper parts again. The Rainbow Six
games are also known for their great multiplayer option such as System Link and
Xbox Live. Online the game brings character setup options that allow you to
create an avatar complete with different appearances, specialty and RPG-like
upgradeable stats. There are clans and the online game is filled with a number
of options (kick out players that kill fellow teammates) that makes the
multiplayer portion the main reason you should be buying this game.
Another blemish
on the series comes in the form of the Lockdown’s graphics. While not quite
atrocious, much of the environmental and character detail has been diminished
considerably. The flat textures of building and the dull lifeless interiors are
unlike the series. The enemies all seem to lack distinctive facial features but
at least the rag-doll effects are back. The most unfortunate blemish, though,
happens to be the character movements. Your squad seems to move more stiffly as
does the enemy and there are times when it seems as though your team is on
roller skates. The usual Rainbow Six effects are back and they are still done
nicely, particularly the new Heartbeat Sensor.
The sound and
score are pure Rainbow Six and that’s still a very good thing. You’ll hear
enough environmental sounds to throw you off, especially when you’re moving your
team through corridors where you’ll expect something to jump out at you. The
gunfire and explosives still have that realistic ring to them and you’ll even
hear enemies cry out when you hit them from afar. The music is the usual
militaristic anthems of past games and it still works nicely during cutscenes,
mission briefings and mission endings.
While there is a
great amount things to like about Rainbow Six: Lockdown, it isn’t the best game
in the series. Speaking as a devoted fan of the series I have come to expect
changes for the better and not a step in a backwards direction as this game
clearly has taken. Yet as a fan there is much to really like about this game and
there are moments where you’ll want to go back and revisit a mission here and
there. Also the game remains to keep the Xbox Live action hotter than ever and
thus makes this game a worthwhile one to buy or at least rent over the weekend.
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Gameplay: 8.0
Losing a bit
of its charming strategic-tactical shooter feel, Lockdown still has some
impressive tension-building moments that is true to the series. There’s more
personality to the characters this time around and a better variety of weapons
and gear but the sniper missions just aren’t very fun.
Graphics: 7.2
After two
good-looking Rainbow Six 3 games you’d think the third, much like Splinter Cell:
Chaos Theory, would be even easier on the eyes. Why the environments look so
dull and why the characters move like their legs were actually stilts is beyond
me?
Sound: 8.5
As far as the
sounds are concerned there’s more great environmental sound effects, decent
voice acting and a pretty good score. The sound effects of explosives going off
and gunfire is once again magnificent although hearing the impatient queries of
your teammates that let you know they’re waiting for an order (any order) gets
irritating pretty quickly.
Difficulty:
Medium
The sniper
missions are the most challenging since you have to be quick with the trigger or
you lose a teammate. While some areas can be passed through quickly without
obtaining major injuries there are areas in the later missions that require good
tactics. Also, enemies tend to take more injuries that time around.
Concept: 8.0
A much more
prettier presentation than both Rainbow Six 3 games put together, this one has
better mission briefings, a nicer assortment of weapons and a gadget that allows
you to see through solid matter in order to see if an enemy is nearby. Again,
online multiplayer and System Link is supported and it is what will have gamers
coming back for more and more.
Multiplayer:
9.0
This, again,
is what Xbox Live gaming dreams are made of and with the new additions it just
serves to give us more of everything we could possible want in a multiplayer
game. You can create your own character (with distinct facial features) and
build his or her stats much like you do in most RPGs. Clans are supported and
there are a great number of maps and game modes to try out. In short, this is
Xbox Live gaming at its finest.
Overall: 8.0
A slight step
back from the last two games, Rainbow Six: Lockdown might not be the best the
series has to offer but there is still a good deal to love about it as well.
While we wish the graphics, enemy AI and sniper bits were better, the online
multiplayer is great and there are some great missions later on in the game.
