Rainbow Six 3: offline and online

[Darwin]

First of all, I don't know what Redstorm's definition of Easy mode is, but the easy mode on this game is still pretty hard. I had to redo the first mission 7 times and have now failed the second mission 4 times. The terrorists are very clever about hiding, and the damage you take is quite realistic. Also, unlike the previous Rainbow Six games, if your character dies, it becomes mission-over. At least with the previous iterations of the series you could jump into the body of any of the remaining characters and finish the mission.

This is definitely more of a hard-core, or technical game (like MotoGP2 or Ghost Recon) rather than an easily-accessible ardadish game (like Midtown Madness 3, Unreal Championship, or Mechassault). However, as we have seen on Live in the last year, the more technical games tend to have more replay value. How many hours have you spent in Midtown Madness 3 online verses MotoGP2 online?

Perhaps the best part of Rainbow Six 3 is the ability to play so many different types of modes online. All of the Missions for single player and all of the Terrorist Hunt maps can be played with other gamers online. Plus, you also have the standard elimination, team elimination, or regular deathmatch (where you can respawn.)

I've played about 5 hours online, most of that in the Mission or Terrorist hunt modes. The AI has some minor flaws, but overall works well withing it's environment. Also, it will become apparent early on that you will have to work with each other as a team or else you will not get very far. This is perhaps the best aspect of the game. At no time should you really venture on your own. It's also very interesting to see how each group develops their own strategies and who becomes the leader of the pack. You'll actually see your whole team get better the more and more games you play. After a while, you'll be discussing equipment strategies in the lobby, coordinating breaches, forming two-man flash-bang teams, etc ... the game really forces you to develop good group dynamics, even more-so than Wolfenstein.

In the single player game, you can use voice recognition to issue commands to your AI teamates. Voice recognition is very smooth (requires Live headset) and you can even opt to hear your teamate's responses through your headset. No need to calibrate anything, it automatically recognizes anyone's voice. And it works 95% of the time (rarely, you'll have to repeat yourself). It's real nice since it frees you up to concentrate on watching out for terrorists.

[Darwin]

Or at least, that's what I thought. Whoa, I just learned this amazing peice of information about the game: mid-level game-saves. They are limited, but at least it's better than redoing the mission all the way from the beginning.

No wonder I was having such a hard time on Easy difficulty.

Can I get a big, fat "DOH" ?

[sw33tjimmy]

i didn't have quite as much trouble as you're having with difficulty, darwin. But I've also played the PC version to near complete status.

If you have live and you like ghost recon, get this one. In fact, trade ghost recon for it. You probably will never play it again. The voice commands for single player are tight, too. just say 'go go go!' and your team moves to wherever you're looking. Then say 'regroup' and they'll fall in and cover you. You can also give your AI team mates open; open & clear; open, flash, and clear, etc commands via the head set. You can even give zulu commands so that they will pause until you say 'zulu, go!' and then they will carry out your zulu order.

the graphics are alright. nothing to brag about, really. but there are a number of nice visual effects like lighting, shadows, smoke, teargas, and flashbangs. The latter two really mess up your vision and/or hearing.

k, later. gotta finish work then i'm jumping back on this puppy.

look for me if you're bored, gamertag - sweetjimmy

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Well I don't think the game is that hard, probably now that you know about the save it should be easier. I play the game on Elite, and i've only been killed twice. I have team members killed, which prompted me to reload a save cause I don't want to lose any of them, anybody knows what happens when a team mate dies and you complete the mission, is he available or do they replace him?

One thing I don't like is you can't choose your teammates gear, i don't like that. Here is a tip for those who have a tendency to use flash bangs/breaches, don't. I limit their use, and I limit the use of my teammates opening doors. When they open the doors, they open the all the way up and a gun fight ensues, or if you have them flashbang/breach too much most of the time its a waste, especially in a big room its useless. I prefer opening the doors, cause I use the D-Pad to slowly open the door, instead of the A-Button. Most of the time the tangos don't even see or hear the door open. Plus, you can keep creeping it open or close it slowly. Many times, I use the door as a shield like that. I find opening the door slowly I can quietly take down the terrorist, without big firefights. Only let the teammates breach/bang in a small room and when you know the hostage is there. Also, why don't the tangos ever kill the hostages? Why be stealthy?

Also, use the thermal imaging. You can see guys all over the place with that thing, its even better than nightvision, though more disorienting. I also use tear gas and smoke grenades a lot. The tear gas is cool, just don't walk into it yourself, it will incapacitate you for a short time.

I love this game!

[Darwin]

If your teamate falls in battle, he does not die. He is incapacitated and returns at full health the very next mission.

I've failed missions many times because terrorists shot the hostage.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Hey Methadone,

I actually left work at 7pm, I normally leave at 5pm but had to do some OT. So I was surprised that you guys hadn't started the race yet when I got into the room. But that is cool, my alternate Vicsalt had informed me that he was quitting our team because he couldn't get the hang of racing the Honda RC211 and he was going back to the 2 strokers. But I asked him to fill in for me, so since he agreed I wasn't going to tell him he couldn't race. It sucks though, because our team got killed, KennyD lost his connection, and Vic finished 2 laps of the lead.

I played some Rainbow6 with Dahrk yesterday. It was just he an I, we played terrorist hunt. This was my first time online, he playes quit differently then I do. Maybe the way I play will be too slow and methodical for most people online. He told me he hadn't completed any of the terrorist hunt missions with anyone online, but had trying. So we began playing, and he just runs and guns like he is playing Halo or something, lol. I felt bad cause he kept getting killed. He got killed and I completed the level on my own. We did 3 levels completing two of them, it was fun and I didn't mind his style of play, I just felt bad cause he kept dying so soon and would have to watch me play.

Then I played the third mission after, and you are right. I got to the second bomb, they detonated on me because I was too slow opening the door. So I attempted it a second time and disarmed the bomb, but as I went to save the hostage, they killed him. So, I had never seen either event happen, and I play on Elite, so I was quite happy to finally see the enemy use these tactics. I never completed the third mission, I had to get some shut eye. Are you having problems playing saved missions? After I turn off the XBX my saved game isn't there and I have to begin the last mission I started from the insertion point. Maybe because its on Elite, cause you only get 1 save on Elite.

[Darwin]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Hey Methadone,

my alternate Vicsalt had informed me that he was quitting our team because he couldn't get the hang of racing the Honda RC211 and he was going back to the 2 strokers.

I played some Rainbow6 with Dahrk yesterday. It was just he an I, we played terrorist hunt. This was my first time online, he playes quit differently then I do. Maybe the way I play will be too slow and methodical for most people online.</div>

Yeesh, Vicsalt. Vicsalt knocked down two riders yesterday, including me on the opening straightaway, yet he did not pit. I was clearly ahead of him ... in fact, I qualified fourth, my best effort so far this season ... but all of that for not because he hit my back tire. In addition to this, my teamate Essobee did not show, nor did he tell me ahead of time so I was solo for MUFFler Kings.

I also take it quite slow when I play online Rainbow Six. You have to, especially with that shrinking targetting reticule when you move. We should do some terrorist hunts online sometime soon.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

He races frequently with us in real lappers, but as you know, he always seems to have a bad connection. But he should know to take his lap, I hope you guys didn't hesitate to disqualify him, rules are rules. I don't know, but I can definitely see a slow down starting to occur in MGP2, due to all the new games, its really hard to find the guys we use to play with online regularly. Its sad, 'cause MGP2 didn't have that big of a fan base anyway, so if you start detracting from that its gonna go downhill fast. I wouldn't mind as much if a technical racer was on the way, but PGR2 and GT Online are hardly what I call technical racers, and Toca2 or PRD2 I can't find a release date for the US.

About R6, I will be playing this evening, probably around 10pm. In fact, I will be online from like 10pm to Midnight tonight. So we can play some R6 or Crimson Skies, or even some MGP2, that is if you are able to be online.

I was able to play some Crimson Skies with Tappy Tibbons the other day. It was cool cause we had the melding of VGR and XBL in Crimson Skies, I think it was Tappy, Myself, Dahrk, Bravearse, Wobbly Goblin, and someone else from XBL. Tappy and myself were on the same team, and we didn't lose, we had other guys on our team, but it was basically us, against Bravearse and the other guys. The game is a blast and definitely a counter balance to the seriousness of MGP2 and R6, so its nice to have that Yin and Yang. By the way, did you download the new cars for MM3? I did, but I haven't even driven or viewed them. I just finally took the time to update a few of my games.

I just am in game overload mode though, R6 has precluded my playing of Desert Storm2, I still have to finish D&D with my girl, I did finish Crimson Skies Solo(for once i was thankful for a quick game), and now True Crime is releasing and I still want to get Top Spin. Not to mention, I do plan on eventually doing KOTOR the good side. I don't want to see another RPG for a while. Plus, I really want to rent Freedom Fighters cause the XBOX version features 720progressive scan. All these games so little time.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">First of all, I don't know what Redstorm's definition of Easy mode is, but the easy mode on this game is still pretty hard. I had to redo the first mission 7 times and have now failed the second mission 4 times. The terrorists are very clever about hiding, and the damage you take is quite realistic. Also, unlike the previous Rainbow Six games, if your character dies, it becomes mission-over. At least with the previous iterations of the series you could jump into the body of any of the remaining characters and finish the mission.

This is definitely more of a hard-core, or technical game (like MotoGP2 or Ghost Recon) rather than an easily-accessible ardadish game (like Midtown Madness 3, Unreal Championship, or Mechassault). However, as we have seen on Live in the last year, the more technical games tend to have more replay value. How many hours have you spent in Midtown Madness 3 online verses MotoGP2 online?

Perhaps the best part of Rainbow Six 3 is the ability to play so many different types of modes online. All of the Missions for single player and all of the Terrorist Hunt maps can be played with other gamers online. Plus, you also have the standard elimination, team elimination, or regular deathmatch (where you can respawn.)

I've played about 5 hours online, most of that in the Mission or Terrorist hunt modes. The AI has some minor flaws, but overall works well withing it's environment. Also, it will become apparent early on that you will have to work with each other as a team or else you will not get very far. This is perhaps the best aspect of the game. At no time should you really venture on your own. It's also very interesting to see how each group develops their own strategies and who becomes the leader of the pack. You'll actually see your whole team get better the more and more games you play. After a while, you'll be discussing equipment strategies in the lobby, coordinating breaches, forming two-man flash-bang teams, etc ... the game really forces you to develop good group dynamics, even more-so than Wolfenstein.

In the single player game, you can use voice recognition to issue commands to your AI teamates. Voice recognition is very smooth (requires Live headset) and you can even opt to hear your teamate's responses through your headset. No need to calibrate anything, it automatically recognizes anyone's voice. And it works 95% of the time (rarely, you'll have to repeat yourself). It's real nice since it frees you up to concentrate on watching out for terrorists.</div>

Nice "mini" review of Rainbow 6 thus far Darwin. ;)
Have you considered writing a review when finished?
E.T.