In what can only be considered a much anticipated follow up (regardless of how you felt about the original); Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (RSV2) has recently hit store shelves. Although I have heard many complaints about this game being an “expansion pack”; after playing through it I can honestly say that nothing is further from the truth. Although there have not been too many changes since the original, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is worth the price.

Gameplay

Those of you who played Rainbow Six: Vegas (RSV) will find that RSV2 plays very similarly. For those of you who haven’t played the previous title, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is a first person shooter with a cover system that pans back to 3rd person when you take cover. Unlike it’s predecessor, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 shows you the seedier side of Vegas. You will no longer be firing through slot machines, instead you will be fighting your way through factories and convention centers. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 has a more complete campaign than the first game. There are more places to take cover, which also feel more organic; and the enemy and teammate A.I. has been ratcheted up to improve the overall experience.

What your teammates make up for in not getting mowed down at every turn, they now lack in the ability to follow directions. Your teammates will frequently ignore your instructions to move or take a completely illogical path. This lead to very frustrating situations that resulted in the death of the squad.

The most noticeable gameplay difference is the ability to sprint for short distances. You can now run from cover to cover. This is a huge benefit, especially when you need to change your position in order to take out the enemies.

Just like the campaign, the multiplayer has seen very few changes. There are a few new maps and a couple of new game modes, but other than that it is the same as RSV. This is one area that they could have definitely improved on to set this game apart from its predecessor.

Graphics

Let’s face it, no one plays Rainbow Six for the graphics. On the contrary, the game is actually a borderline eyesore. Even High Definition cannot save this game from being one of the ugliest you will see. Although I will admit that the character models are better this time around, that unfortunately isn’t saying much. The environments still look washed out, which is only compounded by the fact that the game has occasional frame rate drops.

Sound

Much like the graphics, the sounds of RSV2 seem to have been lost in the fray. Everything from explosions to voices sound flat and uninspired. The sounds of a Las Vegas without casinos just doesn’t cut it. I can still remember the noises slot machines would make as they exploded from gun fire in RSV and it makes you wish they would have something similar in RSV2. From time to time, sounds seemed to be coming from the wrong direction. I don’t know if this was intentional, as to put emphasis on the chaotic atmosphere, but it is aggravating nonetheless.

Fun Factor

Since I have already stated that Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is very similar to the original in most ways, I feel safe in saying that if you enjoyed the original, you will enjoy this one. For those of you who have not played it, everything from the strategy based campaign to the great new maps for the multiplayer are a very rewarding experience. The most rewarding experience in RSV2 is when your teammates blow open a door only to have you pop in another door and kill everyone in the room before they know what happened.

PlasmaFactor 

The PlasmaFactor for Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 definitely has to be the new matchmaking system. As much as I loved Rainbow Six: Vegas, I slowly found myself being drawn away by other games because of the lobby and matchmaking systems. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 now allows the player to jump into games that have already started. Instead of waiting for a match to end, you can now play immediately which is an enormous upgrade to the previous matchmaking system found in RSV.

Conclusion

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is worthy enough that it should not be titled just an expansion pack. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is a quality game that stands on its own. Despite its many problems, including mediocre eye sore and sound positioning problems, Vegas 2 is still a blast to play. If you are looking for the same experience as the original Rainbow Six: Vegas, than this title is for you.