A decade on, and Rainbow Six Vegas, the most recent game in Ubisoft's franchise, has spawned a sequel, Rainbow Six Vegas 2. Though the French publisher isn't attempting to reinvent the wheel with their latest title like last time, they are refining and retooling various elements of the game to ensure that it will be even closer to perfection then the original Vegas.
Rainbow Six Vegas concluded with the infamous line 'To Be Continued'. Players had just discovered that one of Rainbow's squad members was a traitor, and that the existence of the top-secret unit could be on the line. That's where Vegas 2 picks up – sort of. The sequel actually begins some years before the events of the previous game and then continues on parallel to the original Vegas' missions, before allowing players to discover what happens next. The squad from the last Rainbow Six – Michael Walter and Jung Park – are returning to watch your back, but this time, players won't be leading Team Rainbow as Logan Keller. Instead, you'll be assuming the identity of a character known only by the name of Bishop. As for his – or even her – appearance, that will be up to the player. You can customise Bishop's facial appearance, uniform and weapons to your liking, or even duplicate your own face using the Xbox Vision Camera.
Vegas 2 will reward players with new weapons, based on their style of play.
Ubisoft are allowing players to customise their own character, because in Rainbow Six Vegas 2, the experience will be more personalised. The Persistent Elite Creation system – or PEC – as seen in the original Vegas' multiplayer, has been worked into the sequel's campaign mode. Earning XP in single player will allow players to advance in rank, unlocking new equipment and visual alterations.
Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will also reward players with new weapons, depending on their method of play. The Advanced Combat Enhancement and Specialisation – or ACES – will track which style of play you are better suited to, out of close quarter combat, assault and marksmanship, and grant points accordingly. For example, if you snipe an enemy from afar, ACES will put points into the marksmanship category. Consequently, if you achieve a high enough score in this class, a new sniper rifle will be added to your inventory of selectable weapons. Once a weapon has been unlocked, it will be available in both single and multiplayer. Players will also be glad to know that in the event they die, weapons earned will not be lost. Further, you can elect whether or not your PEC meter and ACES points are displayed on the screen.
Ubisoft have added a heap of other features to make Rainbow Six Vegas 2 a more tactical experience. By holding down the LB button, players will be able to run from cover to cover. You can also issue more precise orders to your team by using the D-pad. Players can command suppression fire over a specific area, and enemies within that zone will be automatically prioritised. Jung and Michael can be ordered to throw grenades – smoke grenades if infiltrating, and frag grenades if in assault mode. Your back-up will also be more informative and intelligent, commenting on how well you are progressing, offering information on tactical options, and covering themselves as they move from point to point. Finally, Ubisoft has upgraded the game's picture-in-picture to include your team mate's snake cams and top-down tactical maps.
"I said Walter and Park – not a walk in the park!"
Other gameplay additions to Rainbow Six Vegas 2 include a new difficulty mode that is more akin to Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2, and up to five times as many checkpoints. Indeed, if there was anything frustrating about the last Vegas, it was that save points could have been more conservative. Blind fire has also been improved, and weapons classes better balanced. Lastly, Ubisoft have added eleven new weapons, including the popular M468 assault rifle.
Players will be exposed to the grittier side of Sin City in Rainbow Six Vegas 2, including a strip joint, the older gambling district and the Vegas Monorail. Indeed, the game incorporates all of the visual enhancements made to the Unreal engines since the last Vegas was released. With significant improvements made to the lighting, the designers have seen fit to stage some of Vegas 2 during the day. To round things out, the developers have added bullet penetration and made all environments destructible.
The last question on everybody's minds is whether Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will leave us hanging again. Ubisoft has promised that there isn't going to be a third outing, and that Vegas 2 will wrap up the storyline from the first game with an explosive and satisfying end. We'll certainly know in March, when Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is scheduled for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Keep an eye out for PALGN's review around the same time.
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