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Superb strategy game for the patient gamer

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 18
Date: October 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you're a fan of the Ghost Recon series of games, the Island Thunder set brings your platoon-based gaming to a hostile Cuba of the future.

There's the great graphics, where each of your friends and enemies look like real people, with proper movements and actions. Your environment is misty, rainy, soggy, with detailed trees and grass. You really feel like you're crawling up the road, watching for that enemy tower.

The sound is also quite good. None of the rock-thumping rambo music here - you listen carefully for where your enemies could be hiding, and watch for signs that an ambush is being laid.

Multiplayer is where this game shines best, though. An assortment of maps, campaign types and of course a wide variety of players means that the game will stay interesting long after you exhaust the built in missions. Downloadable new maps mean that the game can be fun pretty much forever!

A warning to arcade-style button mashers - this isn't a game like Doom where you just hop in and blast away. If you try that, you'll be slain quickly and pretty disappointed. You have to learn how to work with your troops, how to approach silently, how to work out a strategy to take advantage of your strengths. This is a game that involves a lot of patience and coordination. In this game it's not the person with the fastest fingers who wins - it's the person who pays the most attention to what is going on, and plans accordingly.

Great game if you liked the first.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 23 / 35
Date: April 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Ghost Recon: Island Thunder is an expansion pack to the Xbox game, Ghost Recon. Like the original, you are part of a squad of four US "Ghosts". The graphics, which were excellent, have much stayed the same. This game plays like the orginal, in which you can try to use stealth, or a guns-blazing approach, although stealth is preferred. It does not require the original game to play.

Like the first one, Ghost Recon: Island Thunder will support online play, via Xbox Live. There will be a lot more multiplayer maps. If you liked the first one, I suggest buying this. Also, if you liked SOCOM on PS2, you will also like this.

great game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 13 / 16
Date: September 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

By now, Live subscribers have realized that they can't escape the military prowess of Ghost Recon-so far, it's been a perfect shot of multiplayer bliss. For even more Ghost action, Island Thunder is an excellent follow-up that both hardcore players and newbies to the game can set their sights on. Island Thunder is much more than just an expansion pack. Like the PC version, the game contains eight new maps that take place in a near-future Cuba, and once unlocked, a handful of new specialists are at your control. But additional Live features overshadow even these expected extras. The most apparent are the in-game dynamic stats that continually track your gameplay. You can also play in more maps, which include several Desert Siege and original Ghost Recon levels. More weapon kits are available for each soldier, too, enabling for greater diversity in player tactics. A complete training stage is included to familiarize new recruits to the intuitive control scheme. All of Ghost Recon's sharp sights and sounds continue to stand out in Island Thunder. Again, the graphics are clearly improved upon from those in the PC version-soldiers look cleaner, and even explosions detonate much more realistically. Booming firepower from fellow gunners in an all-natural environment filled with bustling leaves and thunderous falling rain completes a great soundtrack. The best part of Island Thunder is its price tag. At $10 less than a regularly priced Xbox game, this shooter is a bargain. Though it may seem to be a simple add-on, Island Thunder has enough features to make it feel like a brand-new game.

Dynamic!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

There are 18 missions to complete on the new dossier in this game as opposed to 50 on the original Ghost Recon. You still have the option to lead two 3-men platoons and customize the skills and weaponry of each platoon member. Lighting effects, sound effects, and overall graphic clarity is superb in this game! Run through a thick jungle with your platoon on your heels through driving rain while flashes of lighting light up shadows in the mist while deep rolling thunder pounds through the canopy; Ocean waves lap at your boots as the whizzing sounds of 50 caliber machine gun fire engulfs your eardrums while you attempt to gain control of an island beach front; Throw on your night vision goggles and creep through the darkness as a sniper taking unsuspecting enemy personell as you make your way to the extraction zone. There's much more! The scenarios you are placed in are highly imaginative and a lot of fun. You can strategize all day with this game. There are only 2 minor criticisms I have of this game: One, sometimes when you use grenade launchers or anti-tank missiles, it freezes the game. This happens with the original Ghost Recon as well. Though it is an infrequent occurence, it can be very annoying when you're almost done with a mission only to have to restart your Xbox and start the mission anew (the good thing is that the game saves your progress after each completed mission). My second criticism with this game (a minor one) is that whoever is on your platoon (Alpha or Bravo) will follow you wherever when they aren't holding position. Often when you are trying to sneak up on an ememy the guys in your platoon will just start shooting at him/her thus giving away your position. This can be devastating if they give your position away too soon (example: you are waiting for a vehicle column to be fully exposed or all enemy personell to come out in the open). Also, at times you may throw a grenade and then run away but your men will lag behind before following you thus being killed by the explosion. On the topic of grenades: in order to throw your grenade farther, you have to hold the button down longer before releasing... be sure to start holding the button down BEFORE you expose yourself to possible gunfire!! You don't want to be standing out there with a grenade in your hand holding the button down at length to chuck it far and get shot (thus dropping your grenade and killing yourself and everyone in your platoon!).

These problems are minor and in reality, add another level of critical thinking to the game (except for the screen freezing problem). I still love this game and can't wait for the next one to come out!

More of a great game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 24
Date: May 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This expansion includes 12 different multiplayer modes, 8 new maps, and, of course, will include downloadable content from Xbox Live. If you haven't purchased the first Ghost Recon, get that and this one right now.

More Goodies!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: August 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I just bought the game yesterday and I have to say they really did a good job. I haven't gotten far into the campaign yet, but I think they've definately made it more of a challenge. Also, for those of you who like to unlock everything, this time there are only 18 items listed in the dossier (compared to the 50 that was in Ghost Recon). For the multiplayer aspect they've added a lot more weapons, especially a much better silenced sniper rifle that can actually drop enemy's without having to be a headshot. I haven't tried it online, but I'm seriously thinking about getting XBox Live after playing this game... it would be awesome online. One down side is that it is just like Ghost Recon in that if you want to play against friends using link play, it's only one player per XBox/TV!

Amazing Improvements

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: August 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you enjoyed playing Ghost Recon you will find Island Thunder to be an even better game. The new weapons maps are just a small part of the expansion. The graphics have improved dramatically, the game is visually more crisp with more colors (unlike the usual green tint that overshadowed the original Ghost Recon), and the sounds have also improved (both voices and environment).
The environment completely comes alive, the clouds move and darkens the terrain when they cover the sun, the rain and lightning is extremely realistic (both visually and sound), and the terrain offers so many hidding places (great for snipers).
The AI has also improved, making the game that much more challenging (as if the realism of 1 shot kill wasn't challenging enough already).
The new maps are HUGE and extremely detailed. The new weapons are very impressive and accurate.
The multiplayer split screen mode offers a new game type, Defend (those of you who have played Ghost Recon on Xbox Live ought to be familiar with it).
With all these new improvements, this game makes the original Ghost Recon seem like a Nintendo 64 game. I don't see why anyone would go back to playing the original Ghost Recon (for the exception of a particular map that is not on Island Thunder) after playing Island Thunder.

Best Squad Based Game Out for Any System

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Ok first off id like to say that this game is totally awesome. The beginning intro is beutiful. More graat missions, more killer weather effects and a pile of exellent new multiplayer maps. And yes it is compatible for X-Box live. It also is the first game to have voice activated commands so all you is get the X-box live head set and you can issue commands to your Ghosts offline or online!!! System link supports 1-16 players. The grahpics haven't really changed from the first one but its very cool to see gear dangling off the ghosts as they run. The story line is always the best when taken from a Tom Clancy Book. Don't buy this game if your not prepared to spend hours just strategising where to hit the enemy from or just where to go! The enemy AI is the best i have every seen in a game. Usually if u shoot an enemy and it misses they won't do anything but just stand there. In GRIT {Ghost Recon Island Thunder) They will hear it a run for cover behind buildings and trees. Very hard game if you like to complete the missions with no causalties. The only cons i have seen in the game are these when you shoot a guy he dies before the bullet reaches him and plants seem to get 2D when close to them. But overall its the best Squad based army game. So even if you don't have the first Ghost Recon go buy it. Well worth the money for the time and effort your gonna be puting in for this game.

NOT a true squad-based title

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Ghost Recon Island Thunder is not the squad-based, tactical shooter you would expect it to be. It's not a bad game as long as you're not buying it for the squad tactics. It's not a run and gun game. It's realistic in many ways, such as the absence of medkits that will heal you instantly. A well placed head or torso shot can kill you. What disappointed me is the lack of control you have over your squad in the campaign mode, and the complete absence of it in multi-player versus mode. In the single player campaign mode, you are in charge of 6 soldiers. One would think that just like in any standard squad-shooter, GRIT would allow you to directly control one of the six while being able to give specific commands to the rest of the squad. But in reality the six soldiers are divided into 2 teams of 3, called Alpha and Bravo. You can directly control any of the six, but you CANNOT control the two other soldiers in your team. Say, you're in Alpha. You cannot order anyone in alpha to stay, follow, or go somewhere specific. They will always follow you wherever you go. If you stand, they stand. If you go prone, so will they. You do have the ability to command Bravo. You can tell them to go anywhere in the map in however way you want them to. You can even assign the level of their aggression. But sadly, you CANNOT give individual commands. You can only order the 3. So in reality, this is a two-man squad shooter, giving you direct control of one man (Alpha) while giving you command over the other (Bravo). While the limited squad control isn't too terrible in the single-player campaign mode, it's a total disgrace in the multi-player mode. In generic squad-based, 4-man-squad games such as Brute Force or Conflict Desert Storm you can have any member of your team either follow, stand their ground, or go somewhere specific. You can assign a sniper to stand back while you have one guard the gate you're about to go through just in case someone tries to run after you. You can then have the other member follow you as you move forward. In that set up, you have a sniper covering your back, a hidden teammate to blind side on rushing enemies, and a buddy right on your tail for extra firepower and added protection. In GRIT, the only option you have is no option. Your 2 teammates will mimic everything that you do. You cannot spread them out, so if someone finds you and uses a grenade, you're all dead. As a solo affair with no teammates GRIT is as realistic as you can get. But to advertise it as a squad-based game is simply a lie. On the minor points, the interface of GRIT is an absolute nightmare. It's as confusing as they come. I will not even begin to try to explain it, as thinking about it alone is confusing enough. And speaking of more confusion, the radar system in GRIT for tracking down enemies is a distraction at best. At its worst, the radar in GRIT will just get you lost and frustrated. It's supposed to tell you the general direction of where your enemy could be. But it points you to the HEMISPHERE your enemy could be hiding in. In some situations, you could almost do a complete 180 and the radar's pointer still won't change. Also, call me an idiot, but in the campaign mode there was a part that made me spent 20 minutes running around looking for the enemy, only to find out that the radar has been detecting a stationary enemy jeep with two dead machine gunners on them! That was bad.
Overall, the in-game presentation of GRIT is impressive enough for anyone to at least keep on giving it a try, often times questioning themselves if there's something wrong with them because they can't quite get into the game. But the absence of control over your squads and other minor logic flaws interfere with what could've been the game of the eyar.

Excellent Follow Up to the first Ghost Recon for XBL

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Graphics are much better, enhancements to the interface are plentiful. Plethora of new guns to choose from. Only major drawback is that it seems to encounter a lot of connection problems - no more than the first version, but I was really hoping they'd improve in that area.

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