Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (GRAW) is a tactical shooter video game originally released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows in 2006. As in previous Ghost Recon games, players command their team of Ghosts while neutralizing hostile forces and completing various mission objectives. These objectives can range from escorting friendly units across the map to rescuing hostages or taking out enemy artillery.
Gameplay:
Gameplay emphasis in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is placed upon the player doing the bulk of the fighting in each mission, through the character of Captain Scott Mitchell, while relying on tactical combat rather than arcade run-and-gun shooting to overcome enemies. Combat in the game is more forgiving than in previous titles in the series, with players being able to survive several bullet hits before dying, instead of dying after only a couple of shots like in the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon series. However, players are unable to regain lost health in the middle of a mission, and a single headshot or a sustained burst of assault rifle fire can kill the player instantly.
GRAW features numerous firearms, many based on real weapons, including the Heckler & Koch G36, the Beretta M9, and the FN SCAR. A few, such as the MR-C, are actually hypothetical prototypes. The game also makes use of various other pieces of equipment, including tanks, helicopters, armored personnel carriers, and remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles, which can be used tactically to overcome obstacles, and scout out the environment, in order to complete objectives. GRAW features three versions of the game that each have slight minor variations in storyline/missions that is found on a different game platform's version; the main storyline, though, remains the same between the versions. While both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions are essentially the same title, the Xbox 360 and the Windows versions each stand out on their own with their own unique features, including the ability to command a squad of soldiers indirectly.
Xbox 360 version
Unlike all other versions of GRAW, the Xbox 360 version gives players a choice between using either a third-person or first-person perspective during the campaign mode, and also features a unique covering system that allows the player to duck behind objects for protection from gun-fire while performing tactical maneuvers such as pop-and-shoot. In addition, some levels feature on-rail sections in which players must eliminate as many enemies as possible from their airborne transport via the use of a mounted gun, and if a mission provides them with a squad, they may issue orders only to the entire squad via the cross-com system and not to individual squad members. Players cannot recover ammo from fallen enemies but can take their weapons if needed, otherwise they must re-arm at either rally points or ammo stations.
Microsoft Windows version
The Microsoft Windows version of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is played from a first-person perspective. This version features larger levels than those of the console versions with enemy AI more likely to use ambush tactics, thus greater emphasis is placed upon using squad tactics and having more situational awareness in each mission in order to achieve success. The cross-com system in this version is more flexible, capable of issuing more controlled commands to individual squad members, as well as plotting out attack routes and battle plans for other friendly units. In addition, player's cannot take discarded weapons, unlike the other versions, but can take ammunition from the weapons of dead enemies or allies, if the player's weapon is of the same caliber.
Unlike other versions, players may choose the weapons for their selected Ghost team before the start of a mission, although this is done with no briefing given, with each Ghost member being able to carry a primary weapon and a secondary weapon, while either carrying extra ammunition or a heat-seeking anti-tank weapon. Unlike other versions, every Ghost member has a maximum weight limit on how much they can carry, with them becoming fatigued from sprinting at a much faster rate, the more equipment they are carrying, while weapons may be modified with various attachments, such as optical sights, grenade launchers, silencers, and vertical foregrips. Every modification has used on a weapon has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, attaching a grenade launcher reduce accuracy and adds weight, but adds extra firepower including the ability to take out multiple targets with grenades, while adding a silencer reduces noise and muzzle flash of a weapon at the expense of accuracy and range.
The Microsoft Windows version can take advantage of the presence of a PhysX card, however the enhancements are only cosmetic and do not affect gameplay.
Multiplayer
Online multiplayer on the Microsoft Windows edition has both versus and co-op mode. Versus mode features 32 players, which is double that of the Xbox 360 version. The online co-op mode only supports up to 4 players maximum on Windows (the Xbox 360 version supports up to 16 co-op players).
For those with the Xbox 360 version, some new Xbox Live features are included. For the Xbox 360 version the co-operative campaign (which currently features 8 missions - 4 of which are now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace) and multiplayer maps are all set in Nicaragua as a follow-up to the Mexico City missions of the single player campaign.
- On June 22, Ubisoft released the Chapter 2 Downloadable Content for 1,200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
- The price of 1,200 Points was later reduced to 600.
In the UK, a special Game of the Year edition was released in late 2006 containing a card enabling the player to obtain (for free) all the marketplace content, including the Chapter 2 download. The game is also budget priced.
The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions have some similar online game modes and can be played with up to 8 players.
Sales
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