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Needs lots of Work before retail

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 19
Date: March 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

After reading a few of these very optimistic reviews, I thought it was necessary to give a more balanced view of the upcoming game from a less biased source.

Rainbow Six (RvS) has been hailed by many, like Global Operations (GO) several months before, as the next Counter Strike (CS) killer, the game that will draw so many bleary eyed kids away from their aging online experience in CS. Well, RvS has got the good, the bad, and the buggy.

Bugs - The MP demo was release months ago, when the original game was suppoed to ship. The game has been delayed mulitple times, and it's launch pushed back 4-5 months total now. When the demo was released it was an alpha release at best. The bugs in the game are everywhere, gun bugs, ladder bugs, sight/scope bugs, most found it difficult to log on or even play for more than 5 mins without one of the games thousand bugs deriding their fun. A patch or two later, we now have a slightly tolerable beta on our hands. Basically, the MP demo for RvS is one of the worst, buggiest, sloppiest demos i ever played.

Graphics - Built on the new Unreal engine, at first the graphics look very nice. Take a look around more though and you will see bland interiors/exteriors, repetitive patterns and skins, etc. Take a look at the detail and graphics of Americas Army (AA), RvS doesnt even compare to the beauty of AA, and they are both on the same engine.

SP vs. MP - If you are going to buy this game, get it for SP (Single Player), not MP (Multiplayer). SP will probably be where this game shines if it does, the MP experience is pretty lame. Only 6 total MP maps, just plain lame for a MP game. No MP game should go gold without 12 maps min. 3 maps are already out for the demo, so that means you're 50 bucks will buy 3 new maps. Yuk. Not my idea of a long lasting game or a good deal.

Weapons - The good thing about RvS is the wonderful selection of weapons. When you see dozens of ARs, SMGs, Snipers rifles, you will be psyched. Well, they take the fun out of this too. First is the horrible perspective on the weapons. They look odd, ugly, poorly detailed. Look at a game like GO, the weapons models done over a year ago blow RvS models away. Also, some of the guns in the game so outbalance any other, you wont choose any other weapon but the G36. Basically, almost every player online now uses nothing but the G36, it so dominates all other guns it makes them all useless.

Gameplay - This is the last area where RvS just falls apart. RvS cant decide whether its a CS clone, or an arcade shooter. There is a one-shot-one-kill mentality, but everyone runs around at full speed with weapons in full burst. So you die in the first 30 secs, you sit there for 10 mins waiting for the next round. RvS wants to be a stealthy tactical game, it is not. Its a run and gun shooter pretty much, so expect it when you play online.

Overall, at this point RvS gets a 5 out of 10, and that is being kind. Maybe with tons of work, somehow the retail release will push it up to a 7 out of 10. The MP is lousy, stay away, just play the demo, dont waste money on a game that wont offer anything more in retail. If you just want SP, then this may be fun for you.

Best Realism, Best game period.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: November 19, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing the Rainbow Six series of games since they first came out. And I love EACH ONE. But this one is by far the best since the Original. The Graphics are AMAZING thanks to the Unreal Engine. I got the Multiplayer demo, and I must say im HOOKED. A real adrenaline rush. Nothing like having bullets whiz by your head, hearing the sound of the crack's when the bullets hit the wall. Teamwork is essential to winning.

Best game period.

Forgive me...but...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: March 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I know, I may be one of the only people to actually go agaisnt the tide here and give this game 3 stars, but it just feels like it's a year behind everything else. I own and have reviewed over 30 first person shooters, and I play them all on a 2.8ghz, Geforce 4 Ti 4600, 21 inch trinitron monitor and Klipsch 5.1 surround sound...so I feel I have a good idea of what every game I own can do.

First, the positives. The graphics are nice, yet a bit choppy at times. The sound and realism is where this game falls short. It's more "cartoonish" than other shooters out there. The sound is TREMENDOUSLY unimpressive. The "planning stage" and waypoints take alot of time, and can bore you. The weapons are ok, but you get most of them right when you start. I'm yet to locate a health meter, or a quick save if there even is such a thing. This is VERY similar to the first Rainbow series. If you were a fan of that, which I am not, then you may love this game. I would look at this more as a strategy game than a first person shooter. It's not that this game is terrible, it depends on what your looking for.

On that note, I think recent shooters like Soldier of Fortune II, Jedi Knight II, and Medal of Honor Allied Assault are head and shoulders above Raven Shield. Black Hawk Down is more of a realistic run and gun as opposed to this slow paced cartoonish Raven Shield. I waited 8 months for this to FINALLY hit shelves, and I get a HUGE "Hitman 2" feeling when I play this...if you have played that game you know what I'm talking about. Next time I'll play the demo first.

Take care all.

If you buy one game this year...make it Raven Shield

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've been a big fan of Rainbow Six ever since reading the book. Raven Shield had lot to live up to based on the amazing quality of the first two titles in the series. It has met all expectations and exceeded them. The unreal engine makes all the difference in this game. Sounds, sights, lighting, and weapon details are phenominal.

True, there's not a lot different to the basics of the game. As in the first title, you pick you team, equip them, plan your mission, and then execute. The difference is in how much the realism and detail has been increased. For example, you now have the ability to cuff tangos who give up the fight. Weapons can be given different modificatios. Weapon inventory is enhanced. And even though it may be petty...this is just a pretty game to watch. When I play a game I want to be immersed in it. I want to forget reality for a time and take on the role of someone else. Raven Shield delivers. Turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and you will become a counter-terrorist operative such as the world has never seen.

Gotta love it!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I own all the Rainbow Six games and all mission packs. Red Storm does a magnificent job with their games. I think Raven Shield is a very good update from Rogue Spear. The weapon choice is great, while allowing you to put a silencer, large ammunition cartridge, or a scope on almost any gun. The AI is very good in this game, which is a major update from Rogue Spear. The men don't get caught on corners and follow your every order. The graphics in this game are also amazing. I thought the graphics in Ghost Recon were outstanding, but Raven Shield topped them.

This is one game I know I will play for years. Thank you Red Storm.

Great game.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I had pplayed the original Rainbow Six for N64, and loved it. I
also purchased Ghost recon for PC and got to used to planning on the fly. Its sort of nice to be able to sowly move other teams in without switching.
Not to down the gameplay, though. The graphic detail is amazing. Movement is great. The "fluid posture" system is great, too- you can make slight movements in the angle of your posture. Everything is so realistic- almost too realistic. I guess that's my only complaint is the redunancy of the mission objectives. But playing and planning are both fun, although it's hard to practicaly plan, but it comes with experience, I guess. (Just got the game)(HQ plans already on the game can be pretty weird). There are a lot of weapons to choose from, all with very good detail. Same great Rainbow Team, with a new plot (although its neo- fascist, seems game makers are afraid to indulge in current affairs).
Great, great game. I guess I over anticipated it a bit, but I guess it gets four stars (very close to five), for a few things I've mentioned (there are a lot more controls than on Ghost Recon, also).
But anyways, if you're an R6 fan, you definately should get this. Well worth the money.

Surpasses my love of Counter-Strike

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Yes, i know, the games aren't very much alike, but a FPS is a FPS, and Raven Shield surpasses the experience of Counter-Strike. From the single player perspective, I'm not one to talk, check out another review. But what I am able to talk about is the multiplayer. Cooperative Terrorist Hunt and Missions online, pure bliss. it's amazing how the computer Terrorists manage to be in a different place most of the time, or react differently, preventing repetition. Controls are very easy to get used to, making it easy to be in the top 3 on your first day of playing. The guns and extra weapons are increbily real, and the fluid motion of opening doors with the mouse wheel is very realistic, being able to slightly open a door and take out the terrorist guarding the area. The only problem is that the computer AI doesn't notice a firefight in the next room, and doesn't get ready to shoot when smoke from a smoke grenade is flooding a door. Overall though, A FANTASTIC GAME.

Mulitplayer is the basis of this game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I cant stress that enough. The single player campaign is just filler for what is offered when you play online. I havent even played 5 whole missions in single player even though i have owned this game for months. The sinlge player game is fun, but can be tedious when trying to coordinate a mission plan that wont kill your team AI. They tend to get themselves shot when you arent managing them directly.
The multiplayer part of this game is so addictive, its insane. THis is some of the best cooperative play I have ever experienced. Of course a deathmatch or team-deathmatch style is offered, cooperative is my favorite. There are other game types as well, including hostage resues, bomb disarmings, and escorts where the other team has to prevent a pilots escape and sometimes YOU are the pilot. All in all, taking out terrorists with online pals is the most rewarding. The game has an excellent interface that automatically downloads new maps, textures, and sounds when you join a new server that is playing a new map. Its so easy to use.
If youre not into multiplayer or have a bad internet connection, perhaps this title isnt for you. If you think you will really enjoy the single player game or have tried the multiplayer demo and loved it, get this game. Take out some tangos with some friends online. Dont have any friends online? You end up making pals when you join the same couple servers every day and keep seeing the same people. Its very social and ther are rarely any creeps playing cooperatively.

I would have given a 4 and a half because the single player isnt quite as engrossing as the mulitplayer.

A game that KICKS ASS ... even on a basic level!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Before you start getting deep into this game, I'd recommend (besides downloading the latest patch from UBI Soft) spending as much time in the training area as possible, because you're going to need every bit of it. Not that the game is hard. It'd be embarassing, though, if you got killed off because you pressed the wrong button. In any case, Raven Shield is (contrary to what the reviewer has written) one of the most realistic combat simulations I've ever come across. Unlike other so-called simulations, you don't just blow the crap out of everything. This game forces you to use your brain. It also doesn't give you a break when playing on the easy level. In short, you have to know what you're doing, and how to do it, or you're toast. With enough training, though, everything else should fall into place. I definately got my money's worth when I purchased this game!! You'll probably find yourself playing Raven Shield for hours & hours at a time. I did. It never gets boring!!

flaws make this game average

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

For people with technical problems, my PC is a P4 1.6GHZ with Windows 2000, a Radeon 9000, 768mb of RAM, 60GB Hard Drive, and a 24bit Audigy 2zs sound card. I have completed the game and no problems arose whatsoever. My PC is not top of the line by a long shot and I still did not experience any fps drops and almost everything was set on the highest or second highest setting.

Technically the game looks and sounds great, though I did see some things that bothered me (like mirrors that did not reflect you) but by and large everything looked and sounded great, this is not the problem with this game.

The game engine was pretty good, in large fire fights I did not detect any fps drops and as I have mentioned my PC is not top of the line.

The large choice of attire, weapons, and accessories is unparallel to me (at least compared with Ghost Recon).

You can actually see your weapons (a feature Ghost Recon left out).

New features such as sneaking and the ability to slowly open doors is a good addition.

The ability to issue primitive commands (for ex. Open door, throw frag grenade, and then clear) makes the game play more fun and seemingly more professional.

But there were some serious problems:

You cannot save! This magnified some other problems that I will mention later. Most games allow you to save, making me repeat a mission several times from beginning to end can become tiresome.

The AI is sometimes off. Especially your teammates who fail to provide adequate cover or happen to stray and get killed. This was made far more annoying by not having the ability to save, a small mistake by them literally made me want to kill my whole stupid team.

The missions became repetitive. Three maps were repeated (so in fact there are only 12 maps) but by in large it was the type of mission which basically boiled down to neutralize all terrorists and maybe rescue a hostage on the side. There was one mission which broke the trend, but sadly it was the only mission. This was made more annoying by not being able to save!

The physics often did not seem real though sometimes were breathtaking, but on a average were either ordinary or extremely unnatural.

Planning is not as flexible as Ghost Recon which allows you to change the waypoints during the mission.

The map was a bit awkward to use during the mission (it did not let you view the hole map at once).

You can not pick up fallen weapons (why not?).

The environment by and large cannot be interacted with (lights cannot be switched off or shot out).

All in all the game was average, especially with an enclosed multiplayer, at this 20 dollars you might want to try it out and see if you like it.

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