Silicon Fusion >> Reviews >> Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield

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Review:

8th April 2003:
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
Tactical shooter of the year? Could well be...
Posted by John Wasabi - PC - UK and Europe

Raven Shield is the latest in the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six series and to be honest, the best so far. The series has always been about realism so if one shot kills puts you off these as well as the inability to save during missions, stay away and go back to no-brainers like Quake and Unreal.

The actual plot of Raven Shield is thin like all that has come before but that's not saying it hasn't improved. There is tighter continuity and we get a few cutscenes to highlight certain missions but with Tom Clancy's name strapped to this game one must wonder why Raven Shield couldn't have been a game with a story of epic proportions.

The above is probably the most critical I'll get with Raven Shield because as reviewers it's our job to let you know what we liked and didn't like about a game. What I did like far outweighed anything I didn't like so the first place I'll start is the AI. Although they prove to be quite a pain in the ass and thoroughly challenging, I never felt cheated. I found survivors of gunfights running away from me when they felt overpowered only to be plotting an ambush further down the level. 'Cheeky bastards, should have killed them when I had the chance' I think to myself. Environmental sounds also play quite a big part in Raven Shield. Things like footsteps, broken glass gunshots etc can be used to alert terrorists so not making too much noise is a gameplay factor here.

Your squad's AI has been dramatically improved in Raven Shield. They provide cover and are on the look out all the time as they turn around from time to time just to check they are not being sneaked up on. Nice touches like these are seen throughout the game and much appreciated as there is nothing more annoying than having your squad shot to pieces when they clearly saw the enemy first. Pathfinding problems still persist but that's not to say that it ruins your enjoyment of the game completely, you have to take these squad based tactical shooters with a pinch of salt when it comes to pathfinding, the sooner you get over it, the sooner you'll appreciate all that's good with games of this genre.

Graphically Raven Shield is stunning and quite possibly one of the best-looking games out there using the Unreal Engine. Character models and architecture are superb, throw in ragdoll physics and visually there isn't anything to fault with Raven Shield. Weapons are fully animated, beautifully textured and holstered like in real life. Animations are fluid as characters are blended together and seamlessly change posture to adjust their weapons, a true joy to watch.

The control scheme is well thought out in Raven Shield and improved upon from previous installments. It now features a context sensitive GUI and reticule order system allowing you to point and interact with a number of things in your surrounding. You will also be able to issue orders to your teammates like climb ladders, open doors, regroup, throw grenade to just name a few. There were times when I just ordered my men to do all the work while I sat back to watch it all unfold, however, it doesn't always go to plan but great to watch nevertheless.

What really keeps this game challenging and refreshing is the fact that terrorists are constantly on the move creating a random feel to the level so you cant really memorise a level through trial and error, it really is all about skill and tactical planning in order to progress. One wrong move and it could cost you the lives of your men, believe me, you will be playing certain parts of the game over and over again in the hope that you made the right choice this time round. It may put some gamers off out for a quick fix, but the Rainbow Six series has never been about that, instead the game rewards players with a keen mind, quick reflexes and the frame of mind of a leader.

Multiplayer in the Rainbow 6 series has always been great to play and Raven Shield is no exception. With co-op modes and your typical deathmatches and rescue modes, one could be playing Raven Shield for quite a while and there is nothing better than forking out your hard earned cash to a game that is going to be there for your enjoyment for a long time to come. If you are heavily into your team based counter strike games, you should definitely give Raven Shield a go as it certainly makes Counter Strike look extremely out of date.

Without a doubt, Raven Shield is a fine tactical shooter if not one of the finest available at this present time. If you like the series and have been following it for a while then go out and get this now. If you are new to the series but want a more intelligent shooter, you cannot go wrong with this but if you are new to tactical shooters and play Quake and Unreal primarily, you may find Raven Shield way to realistic and slow paced for your liking. Tactical shooters requiring plenty of planning and skill may not be for everyone, but for those who want it, look no further than Raven Shield.

John Wasabi

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Review Summary:

Tactical shooters requiring plenty of planning and skill may not be for everyone, but for those who want it, look no further than Raven Shield.

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 : Raven Shield
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