Sometimes it can
be a frustrating thing to be a GameCube owner. Not only do we get the short end
of the stick when it comes to online multiplayer fun but also the same game
other consoles get don’t translated as well on our beloved Cube. Take the
Rainbow Six games, for example. It was great to see Rainbow Six 3 on
the GameCube but when it came to the controls, graphics and other notable
features, it just fell flat. Well, get ready to get happy, Nintendo fans,
because Rainbow Six: Lockdown is Rainbow done right.
Once again the
world is in danger by well-organized and dangerous terrorist group and once
again the multinational specialists of Team Rainbow are ready to fight them.
This time, though, the terrorists manage to pull a fast one by staging a fake
coup in South Africa while secretly raiding a bio-chemical lab that is illegally
manufacturing a virus known as Legion. With the virus in their possession the
terrorist plot is not revealed and with various possible targets, NATO doesn’t
intend on just sitting there waiting for them to strike. As squad leader Domingo
“Ding” Chavez you lead your squad on a mission to track the group and put an end
to their plan.
Once again Ding
is back with his usual cohorts like Eddie Price, Louis Loiselle and their great
sniper buddy Dieter Weber, but this time there are other additions to the team.
Aside from a hot shot Israeli operative and a Swedish one there are a few others
but the new team members don’t really add a whole lot except for good dialogue.
The old crew will intermingle with the new team on a personal level – something
the first game doesn’t do – and it fleshes out Team Rainbow enough to make you
care about them. I dare you not to smile as Louis tries to sweet talk the ladies
on the squad and gets shot down by them (not literally shot down, but you know
what I mean).
The mission
structure is the same as Rainbow Six 3 so expect interruptions while
completing one objective to get a second and third objective. The game is still
third-person and you’ll still be able to select your weapons before taking on a
mission. You’ll still need to use tactics while approaching each situation so
you’ll need to order your team to breach and clear rooms and even to scout ahead
a little. Basically it’s a lot like the first game … that is until you’re
introduced to the sniper mode.
That’s right,
you’ll find yourself taking up the role of Weber, the group’s talented sniper.
These aren’t long very long bits in the game. In fact, they make up a short
segment that has you clearing a path for your teammates. It takes a little
practice mainly because if you mess up one too many times a teammate is most
likely to die in a hail of gunfire or an RPG attack. It also helps bring some
variety to the game and that certainly is a welcomed feature.
One of the many
gripes I had with Rainbow Six 3 were the controls. Lockdown still
feels like a loose first-person shooter but now at least the controls are
manageable and easy to get into. You can change the control scheme to fit your
style but the default controls just manage to make for easy access to night
vision, a few commands and reloading weapons. There’s a new motion sensor that
allows you to peek into other rooms without rushing into uncertain doom.
Speaking of gripes, the enemy AI is still dumb as ever. Bad guys will often rush
at you but never rush out on time when a frag grenade is tossed at their feet.
While some are great at returning fire some enemies will forget cover altogether
and expose themselves.
On the graphics
front Lockdown looks pretty darn good with just a few exceptions. The
environments look good in places but oftentimes there are some pretty
dull-looking interiors. Still there’s enough details that give each locale its
own unique look and that’s good enough. There’s some good effects too,
particularly when it comes to the smoke grenades and lighting. There’s a new
visual trick that is seen when you’ve really been injured and it comes in the
form of a shattered window view with bullet holes. It’s not the best way to
convey massive injuries but at least it looks good. The enemy faces still don’t
look right.
It’s not a Tom
Clancy game without the great sound and this one has plenty of that. There’s not
only great sound effects but the music between missions is pretty good as well.
You’ll hear bullets echo in hallways and if somebody tosses a frag grenade
you’ll hear it hit the ground before it blows. There’s also some good voice
acting. This is some great stuff.
Rainbow Six:
Lockdown for
the GameCube is a step closer to greatness and one of the reasons you should buy
this one if you’re looking for the best Rainbow game on the Cube. Sadly we won’t
be experiencing the amazing online multiplayer portion but the single-player
campaign will not let you down.
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Gameplay: 8.2
Unlike
Rainbows Six 3 on the GameCube, Lockdown plays just as good as the
Xbox version and that’s quite an achievement. The game’s single-player campaign
mode is longer than the first game and the mission variety, thanks to the sniper
missions, give the game an interesting new twist. Why are the enemies twice as
dumb now?
Graphics: 8.0
The game looks
great with some nicely rendered environments and detailed character models that
drop realistically when shot dead. There’s some great effects, particularly when
it comes to lighting and damage done to you. Overall this is a great-looking
GameCube game.
Sound: 8.5
Leave it to
the Tom Clancy line to do sound effects and environmental sound in great detail.
You’ll hear your surroundings and they will mess with your senses. The bullets
sound loud and you’ll know when you miss because you’ll hear your bullet pierce
a wall.
Difficulty:
Medium
The early
missions are the usual getting-to-know you variety but you’ll quickly be
introduced to Weber’s sniper parts that are quite challenging to the point that
you’ll be starting over often. The bad news is that while the mission variety is
nice, the enemy AI makes the experience feel like Mickey’s Shooting Gallery. I
swear these terrorists are either brave or think bullet wounds feel ticklish.
Concept: 7.5
There’s plenty
of single-player fun like Lone Rush and Infiltrator and you can always play
co-op with a friend when you want to go through the more tougher missions a lot
easier. The sniper mode parts are decent and fun while they last. No online mode
is still a pain GameCube gamers will have to live with.
Multiplayer:
7.0
Two player
co-op is just what the doctor ordered. It’s mainly split-screen fun for two but
the lack of the online play Xbox bunch is currently enjoying … right now … well,
it’s enough to make a gamer cry.
Overall: 7.8
Now this is
how Rainbow Six is done on the GameCube! With a lengthy yet entertaining
campaign mode, Rainbow Six: Lockdown manages to pull off the best
Rainbow Six game on the GameCube. It strays a bit from it’s original roots
(which is both a good and bad thing) but it’s still able to be just as fun as
its predecessor.
