'Warfighter' is everything next-gen game should be

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 14, 2006 | by TERRY TERRONES THE GAZETTE

It's hot, the streets are empty, and it's quiet except for the sound of sporadic gunfire in the distance. A revolution has left Mexico City empty and in shambles. Its primary inhabitants are now rebel soldiers, some of which I'm spying on half a mile away through the lens of my sniper rifle.

Crack! Crack! I'm taking fire from the right. I duck behind a wall and, peeking ever so quickly, see a band of rebels huddled around a tank. Outgunned, I call in air support. An Apache gunship quickly fires two missiles that destroy the tank, leaving six rebel scum for me to deal with.

This is what gaming is all about! Intense, exciting and visually stunning are words that describe "Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter" for the Xbox 360.

Its 2013 and

Mexico City has never looked worse. I mean that in the best way possible. Detailed, destructible environments give "GRAW" a photoalistic look. It's so lifelike, I felt like Shaq in the fourth quarter of a playoff game with sweat dripping off my face as I ran through the city, constantly on the lookout for enemy soldiers.

These soldiers aren't your typical video game goons, either. These guys are smart, sometimes annoyingly so. Enemy AI characters don't sit around waiting to get tagged; they hide and pop up only to fire. You'll have to work hard to defeat this well-trained foe.

But what fun would it be wandering the streets of Mexico City with a rifle and hand grenades if you had to go it alone? Game play is enhanced with the ability to periodically call for help in the form of helicopter and tank support. If you can't tell where your enemy is, deploy the hovering drone and find your target. Or send in your squad mates as bait.

"GRAW" has one of the best multiplayer modes I've seen. Combined with the singleer campaign, it's like having two games in one.

Online play has plenty of customizable options. Standard capture- the-flag and death-match modes are easily tweaked, but for real online fun, try Co-op Territory mode. Working with a group of other gamers while trying to hold off an enemy AI that picks you off one at time is a rush.

The bumbling team AI (with teammates standing out in the open and stepping in your line of fire) is "Ghost Recon's" only annoyance. But if you're anything like me, you don't want your computermated pals having all the fun, anyway, so it's really a minor inconvenience.

"GRAW's" beautiful graphics, intense game play and a multi- player mode that rivals "Halo 2" is what you should expect from a next-gen game.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0250 or check out his blog at www.gazette.com. If you'd like to challenge him to an Xbox live game, his tag is coloradojoe.

details

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Cost: $49.99-$59.99

Format: Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2, PC (May 16)

Genre: Tactical Shooter

Players: 1-16

Rating: T (Teen)

A

Terry's Top 5 People I'd Go Into Battle With

1. Superman -- Pros: Indestructible, great strength, good character. Con: Kryptonite allergy.

2. The Terminator -- Pros: Weapons expert, hard to "kill." Con: No sense of humor.

3. Shrek the Ogre -- Pro: Awesome hand-to-hand fighting skills. Con: Flatulence.

4. John Rambo -- Pros: Fearlessness, expert on living off the land. Con: He's a geezer.

5. My Dad - Pro: Can fix anything. Cons: Asleep by 6 p.m., distracted by yard sales.