PlayStation 2

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2

If you're someone that likes a good challenge with a good first person shooter story line, then this is the game for you. You will definitely enjoy the storyline, graphics, and everything Ghost Recon 2 has to offer. If you're someone that hasn't preferred first person shooter games or doesn't like anything of a very hard difficulty, then you should at least try it. You can rent it (which I recommend) at your local store for a cheap price, play it for a bit, and then decide if you want to purchase it or not.

It is easy to find quibbles with Ghost Recon 2 for the PlayStation 2 - its quest to achieve minimalism as been taken way too far - but it isn't a bad game. Military obsessives will love it and, providing those who play it are prepared to put in the time required to learn its quirks and foibles, they should be rewarded with a fairly satisfying experience.

I’ve said some negative things stuff about Ghost Recon 2 in this review. And it’s a shame, because the game probably suffers more from the limitations of the equipment than it does due to poor programming. Other than the poor AI and the dead-shot enemies constantly dropping you without warning; the story is believable, the overall gameplay mechanic is solid, and the graphics and sound are both top-notch. But when the combat gets heavy, the PS2 just can’t keep up, the framerate crawls and the game becomes uncontrollable. So bad so, that not even a lame online mode can make up for it. It’s obvious that the graphics-heavy Clancy games are tailored toward the beefier Xbox console, and the PS2 versions ported strictly for sales dollars. On the Xbox, Ghost Recon 2 rocks – on the PS2 however, it just doesn’t measure up.

The overall experience I had playing Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 2 comes with mixed reactions. While I enjoyed the initial challenge of the game, I soon realized that the game is more or less based on the “try and try again” mentality. Each pass through the missions seems to get easier and easier because the computer’s A.I. just isn’t there. All of the actions are scripted, making the game turn from challenging to very easy in no time at all. If you’re a fan of Tom Clancy games, you may want to pick up Ghost Recon 2. But I would recommend a rental for most gamers so that you can check out both offline and online gameplay to see if either is something you want purchase the game for.

I applaud Ubisoft for trying something new by making the Xbox and PS2 versions of Ghost Recon 2 entirely different games. However, like most titles in the Tom Clancy shooter library, they simply don’t feel that different. Basically, if the Xbox version Ghost Recon 2 had a minor stroke and lost some of its motor skills, but could still function, you’d get this game.

A flawed experience from start to finish, Ghost Recon 2 on the PS2 has its share of really good action-packed moments, but its glitches are just too hard to ignore. The new third-person perspective is a nice change indeed and the online multiplayer mode is handled excellently, but this is still not the sequel we were hoping would make us forget the poor PS2 version of the original Ghost Recon.

So what happened? Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 really only links to the PC games in name only. This game is a major letdown. Unless you're planning to play this game online you're much better off getting your action fix elsewhere. The biggest crime is that this game has gone even further from the superb squad based management then the first title - and that was one of the biggest complaints about that game! Why is it that a company such as Ubisoft feels they have to "dumb" down the game for console gamers. A poor action title that's hard to recommend to anyone besides die hard action fans.

Even if the emphasis on cautionary camping suits you, Ghost Recon 2 is still riddled with online issues. Over the headset, voices often fallout. Over the wire, the game can get so laggy that just shooting straight becomes an impossibility. Should you opt to play something interesting like a 16-player Supremacy match, you'll happily find yourself dealing with the same poor framerate and lag. You'll also have to deal with the perspective locked in the third-person, too. These kinds of presentational issues really work against a title that has the feel done pretty well.

It's really a shame that Ghost Recon 2 for the PS2 didn't turn out better, as it would have been a nice companion to the excellent Xbox version. As it is, the game feels a bit rushed, as if it could have used a few months more in developments, particularly when it comes to balancing some of the combat. Ubisoft was ambitious in developing the two versions of the game separately, but it may have been better off simply creating one game for both systems.

Ghost Recon 2 is less a step up than it is a reimagining of the entire series, ignoring everything that made up the first game. Instead of making improvements, the development team made a game to appeal to a different crowd than their original audience, and I honestly don’t think the decision was a good one. No offline multiplayer, only incremental graphical improvements, and the cumbersome third-person view make Ghost Recon 2 a release that is much less than what it was expected to be – no, what it should have been.

Ne cherchez pas le rapport avec Ghost Recon il n'y en a pas. On se demande un peu ce qui a pris à Ubisoft d'utiliser cette franchise pour faire un titre qui n'a ni tactique, ni réalisme. On se console alors en considérant le soft comme un jeu d'action lambda, mais là encore, on est déçu par une IA moyenne, des scripts envahissants et une réalisation en dents de scie.

While the squad command system for GR 2 has been tuned to make it more accessible, the elementary AI of your teammates makes you wish they were all dead. Team members will sometimes ignore orders or get stuck behind objects. Online gameplay, which is the cornerstone of almost all the Tom Clancy games on both consoles, is decidedly un-fun. It's laggy, and lacks enough game types to keep anyone interested for long. Unlike the other Tom Clancy titles for PlayStation 2, which were absolute gems, Ghost Recon 2 is an almost abysmal effort. It's hard to believe Ubisoft published this game, let alone green-lighted it for final production in the shape it's in. If you really need tactical team action, go grab SOCOM II, or play the Xbox version of GR 2.

It's a small conclusion this time. Unless you're really sick of SOCOM and want a descent online shooter, this game's nothing for you. If you're not planning on playing online, don't even bother. I even forgot to mention some flaws, but I'll just stop here. You get my point.

In this case multiplayer means only online as there is no split-screen or cooperative which is really a shame. There are problems with the online play like lag, a LOT of voice dropping over the headsets, a very long account setup (sure you only do it once, but jeez...), and graphics. What I mean about the graphics is that they are not nearly as clean and detailed as the single player mode, which weren't that great in the first place! Starting a game takes way too much time and there are just plain and simply better squad based online shooters for the PS2 that you would have more fun with.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 fails to live up to the lofty expectations of its own brand thanks to simplistic gameplay, lackluster presentation, a lack of co-op play, and an overall dearth of polish. Players who simply can't get enough of modern-style shooters may find some redeeming value in the game, but for the rest of us, there are much better alternatives out there.

I'm really surprised how poorly Ghost Recon 2 for the PlayStation 2 turned out. Uninspiring level design, terrible squad AI and minimal multiplayer support all contribute to a frustrating and ultimately dull gaming experience. I simply can't recommend this title to military shooter enthusiasts, let alone newcomers to the series.

Yeah, as far as new gadgets go, there's a camera gun in Ghost Recon 2 that allows you to fire around corners. Big whoop! So many things in this game are either unpolished or retarded that it’s hard to care about the subject matter. The PC version of the sequel comes out later this year and, despite my love for the original Ghost Recon (I play it almost daily), it must be said that this reviewer isn’t getting his hopes up. It's games like Ghost Recon 2 that make you wish for a personal year-long hibernation, after which all the crappy videogames in the world will have been magically fixed. Never fear, SOCOM II, your crown is still quite safe as the premiere PS2 military-themed shooter.