Last year’s Rainbow Six: Vegas was a great entry to the franchise and a stellar
debut for the series on the Xbox 360. It had all of the pieces for compelling
action gameplay, from great story elements to fantastic gameplay. Now the sequel
is gearing up for release, and the results don’t stray too far from the
original’s formula. However, that’s not a bad thing, as the game instead chooses
to focus on the story elements and finishing off the arc featured in its
predecessor while adding a few nice tweaks here and there to the gameplay. The
end result is a game that fans of the original story need to play through,
completing the Vegas chapter of the long-running Rainbow Six franchise.
Not to give anything away, Vegas 2 will address the main plot elements featured
in its predecessor, including the events leading up to the terrorist attack on
Vegas as well as the stories occurring within the team. It all leads up to some
truly climactic moments as the Vegas saga wraps up.
The gameplay in Vegas 2 is not very different from its predecessor, and the
majority of the gameplay mechanics are exactly the same. There are a few new key
additions however. The main new control element is the ability to sprint for
short distances. While this move doesn’t last as long as it does in other
shooters like Call of Duty 4, it still is pretty helpful when caught in a
firefight away from cover.
Additionally, the ACES system allows you to level up your character in the
single-player mode by completing certain objectives, like getting a certain
amount of headshots or taking out a character at close range. Gaining XP through
these actions will let you buy new gear and weapons.
However, the majority of the game plays much like the original. The interface is
the same, and giving orders to your squad is done very easily via a
single-button press. Aside from the sprint button, combat feels almost exactly
the same.
Graphically, the game looks as good as it did last year, which is not too shabby
since it runs on the Unreal Engine 3. The varied environments look fantastic,
thanks to some excellent lighting effects, and the character models are very
nicely done.
The sound effects are also pretty impressive in the game. The weapon sounds are
crisp and clear, and the voice work is well done. The game’s score works very
well for the theme and sounds like it could’ve been lifted from a movie with the
same subject matter.
The team at Ubisoft Montreal has stated that Vegas 2 will be the series’ last
foray into Sin City, but the great story elements and stellar gameplay ensure
that it will go out with a bang. If you’re at all a fan of tactical shooters,
then you should definitely give Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 a look.
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Gameplay: 9.0
The gameplay elements aren’t too hugely different from last year’s game, but
still hold up quite nicely, and the new moves are implemented well and important
to the gameplay.
Graphics: 9.0
As an Unreal Engine 3 game, Vegas 2 doesn’t look too shabby. The environments
are well-rendered and feature some amazing lighting effects, and the character
models look very good.
Sound: 9.0
Great voice acting, sharp effects, and a great score line this one out.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 9.0
While the gameplay isn’t too terribly different from the original Vegas, the
story elements wrap up the saga very well, making it a compelling mission to
undertake.
Multiplayer: 9.0
The multiplayer elements include some new competitive modes, co-op and a
leveling system that carries over to the single-player mode.
Overall: 9.0
Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 doesn’t strive to reinvent the franchise, and works mostly
as a means of finishing off the story that began in the first game. However,
there are plenty of new features and game modes to keep series fans interested.
