A good shooter, but not the best squad based shooter.

User Rating: 8.5 | Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter X360
By beutlich99 | Review Date:
I did not know what to expect from GRAW for the 360. I actually came into the game figuring I would not like it that much. I had played a Ghost Recon game for the original Xbox, and I was not all that impressed. The action felt too slowly paced and the squad mechanics were difficult I thought. I figured not much had changed in the series, but everybody seemed to like the game. I was pleased to see that the Ghost Recon series has come a long way since my first attempt a few years back. The action is much more quickly paced and controlling your squad is not much of an issue. The commands to your squad are simple: go there, regroup, aggressive, recon, kill that guy, etc. All can be controlled by pressing only 2 directions on the D-pad. But other than the ease of controlling your squad, that is where the squad aspect of GRAW ends. Your squadmates are not the sharpest tools in the shed. As you play the game, it is a constant dilemma as to whether or not tell your guys to attack something. If you do, they have a tendency to just stand out in the open and shoot. While effective for killing one or two opponents, it has the effect of getting your guys killed dang quick if any serious opposition comes up. That then leaves up to you to try and find some way to thin out the bad guys your squad can actually be of some use. Furthermore, if the game is supposed to be a squad-based game, why are there so many missions that you play WITHOUT your squad. While being good at getting shot at dying, they are still nice to have around for the added firepower (they also draw fire nicely). It just seems to me that the squad mechanics could have been implemented better (i.e. Brothers in Arms or Full Spectrum Warrior)

On the other hand, if you approach GRAW from a strictly first person tactical shooter, the game is very good and sufficiently challenging. The visuals are amazing, even on my non-hi-def tv. There is a great balance between having to shoot while on the move, and/or holding the left trigger so that you go into "aim" mode. You can still move, but much slower, but your aim is superb then. The cover mechanic is well implemented as well. All that a player has to do is "push" up against any object and the character will assume the appropriate cover stance. You can use this to look over low walls or around corners without fully exposing yourself. Shooting from behind cover is a must as well. While you are still vulnerable, you are much harder to hit, which makes the game that much more realistic. Along that line, because it is a realistic tactical shooter, you can die in just a few gunshots. Frustrating at times, but rewarding when you make it through a particularly difficult section without even being winged. One of the best parts of the game is the amount of technology available to you and your ghosts. The picture in a picture function is great (albeit too small to see much detail). This allows you to see what your squad sees, essentially letting you be in two places at the same time. Additionally, you can control a scout drone to identify targets coming up, you control Apache and Blackhawk helicopters for fire support, and even M1A1 Battle Tanks. All of the above give you large amounts of firepower, and make you feel like you really could take on the entire Mexican rebel army with just you, your squad, and few well placed support items. On the whole, GRAW was a fun game to play. As a first person tactical shooter, it is a game that keeps you on your toes, presents you with multiple angles to defeat enemy units, and gives you the feeling that you really are a super soldier of the future. Unfortunately, I was hoping for a better implemented squad. They do help, yes, but if you are looking to do any kind of cover fire, flanking, or other specific squad mechanic stuff, it won't be in GRAW. The squad is simple; they follow you around and shoot some extra stuff. So depending on what you want, GRAW may or may not be the game for you.

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