Back in 2006, my good friend and I got hooked onto this new first-person shooter that required us to work together and be smart about our decisions. Rainbow Six: Vegas offered a co-op experience that few games could match. Even playing the single-player campaign, I felt like there was something special here. So, when the game was released this month via Xbox's Games with Gold service, he and I got excited to jump back into the world of the late Tom Clancy.
Unfortunately, 8 years can do a lot to a game's credibility and performance. Having played so many other games, the controls on this one felt clumsy and didn't seem to make sense. With the left trigger being used as a cover tool instead of a traditional aiming mechanic, I had to get used to that again. The cover mechanic would have been better, had the enemy not been programmed with the ability to kill you with a bullet to the tip of your elbow.
Speaking of the enemies, the AI in this game has some issues. Bad guys can morph through doors in the blink of an eye, and some can magically snipe you with a shotgun from 200 feet away. Your teammates don't always cooperate with you either. I found myself being stuck in a hallway or door without being able to retreat because my team was trying to plow through me like a defensive lineman.
Finally, the presentation of the game was a bit rough. The graphics could have used a polish, even though I am aware that this game is almost a decade old. Also, the voice acting was the part that Ubisoft must have spent the least amount of money on, because it was boring and forced in many areas.
The only good props I can give this game concern the co-op opportunity. This game can be really fun, if you have someone else to play it with. So, if you and someone you know have a little extra cash lying around and want a decent military shooter experience, then go to Vegas.