Ghosts
back into battle
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GHOSTS
IN THE MACHINE: Die-hard fans may be a bit disappointed
by some of the changes Ubisoft made to playing
the game.
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Ghost
recon 2 PlayStation 2
GameCube, Xbox, PC
The game:
The Ghosts are back, but this time the action is set
in North Korea. It’s a war torn country that is extremely
unstable and only the team from North Carolina can do
the job.
If you plan to play this title on PS2 then it will be
set four years earlier as the Ghosts are dispatched
to deal with a rogue North Korean regime threatening
the world, as Ubisoft has made two separate Ghost Recon
2 games.
The story in each version is entirely self-contained
so you won’t have to buy both versions.
There are plenty of real-world weapons, as well as some
next-generation gear such as the XM8 rifle with a 6x
scope, a built-in target designator, an air-burst grenade
launcher and a radio to call in air strikes which is
very handy when you’re well hidden.
This sequel has also added the real-world feature of
picking up enemy weapons, so there’s no longer an excuse
for running out of ammunition.
The
play:
The play: The single-player campaign consists of 12
missions, and when you’re done you can look forward
to the game’s multiplayer component.
The multiplayer and Xbox Live component is where the
game excels and with up to 16 players per game you can
ensure lots of fun.
The action looks good, the attention to environment
detail is good and there’s plenty more bad guys waiting,
or just plain sprinting across the countryside looking
for you – up to 84 per firefight mission.
In addition to the regular campaign, the “lone wolf”
mode allows you to replay completed missions with just
one guy.
The
experience:
Depending on their tolerance for change, fans of the
first Ghost Recon may be sorely disappointed by the
sequel, as fundamental changes have occurred such as
the perspective.
It is now a third person that allows a wider line of
sight, however, you can revert to the classic weaponless
first-person view at any time. When hosting multiplayer
matches, you can even require everyone to play in first
person.
The bigger change is to your squad. Previously you were
in charge of two teams of three, now you only have a
team of four and you can no longer control a single
member - if your character dies then it’s game over.
You can, however, give them general orders such as flank
left, flank right, advance, hold position, regroup,
and suppress. You can also give them context- sensitive
orders when the aiming reticle is over a relevant object.
For instance, when your gun is pointed at an enemy vehicle,
a single button press will order your squad to destroy
it. All orders are given to the entire squad rather
than to a single soldier.
When a situation comes up that only requires the attention
of one person, the game will then determine what team
member is best positioned and equipped to deal with
it.
People who will probably enjoy the sequel: anyone who
didn’t play the original, anyone who played the original
and didn’t like it, and anyone who played the original,
liked it, but then either can’t remember why they liked
it or can remember but are willing to keep an open mind.
– SQNLDR Nick Hogan
