Ubisoft delivers as flawless a PC port as anyone could hope for.
In the past, PC players have received rather mixed results when it comes to console ports of popular Clancy games, but Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 does a good job of replicating the console experience almost identically. So spot-on is the resemblance that you would be just as well-served to read
On Your Six
The Rainbow Six series began life on the PC, yet it has undergone some significant changes since its inception as a detail-oriented tactical shooter involving delicate hostage situations. Earlier games in the series focused on meticulous planning and painstakingly precise room-entry tactics. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (while improving slightly on the tactical side of things from the first Vegas) plays more loosely with these concepts, providing a frenetic run-and-gun experience that includes squad commands almost as an afterthought.
Indeed, the only circumstance in which you'll really need to shepherd your Rainbow team members is if you play the game on its most difficult setting. Playing through on casual feels decidedly more like playing a re-skinned version of Gears of War or Halo, but that is not to say that there isn't a good amount of tactical meat to sink your teeth into when playing on realistic. As opposed to the first Vegas, Vegas 2 provides at least two entry points for each room, which essentially gives you the option of using classic Rainbow room-entry tactics if you want. There is also quite a difference in the way the AI of both your enemies and teammates react when switching difficulty settings, and you'll notice that enemies throw more grenades, attempt to flank and generally act more aggressive when operating under the influence of the realistic difficulty setting.
In Formation
Perhaps one of the most gratifying things about Rainbow Six: Vegas 2's wholesale replication of the console experience lies in its rich multiplayer component. Both co-op and adversarial multiplayer modes function beautifully with minimum latency. A recent patch has added voice chat, making the multiplayer side of the PC version of Vegas 2 easily as solid as the console offering. A nice collection of modes and maps rounds out the package, delivering hours of replayability even after you've blown through the modest (10 - 15 hour) single-player game.
The fact that both A.C.E.S. (Vegas 2's new ranking system which rewards you with new weapons that match your playstyle) and the rank system now operate in both the single- and multiplayer sides of the game gives the Persistent Elite Creation system (pioneered in the first Vegas) some extra punch. Ordinarily, you'd have to look to an RPG for this depth of character development, but Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 uses the interaction between all of these systems to give you a sense of ownership of your digital avatar.
Sporting slightly more impressive graphics than either the 360 or PS3 versions (mostly due to the superior definition of higher-end LCD displays combined with flashy video cards), the PC version of Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 could be the best version of the game. While detractors may bemoan the series' divergence from its hardcore roots, the focus on action doesn't damage what is essentially a tense and atmospheric tactical shooter.
©2008-04-21, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved