Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear
Score: 85% ESRB: Teen Publisher: Majesco Developer: Pipe Dream Interactive, Red Storm Media: GD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Strategy/ Miscellaneous
Graphics & Sound: Strategic combat games depend greatly on good graphics and audio. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear has both. First off, the action graphics are impressive. Player models are incredibly realistic with their movements and motions, and every single person has significant facial features with much detail. Speaking of detail, each scenario that you and the members of your team go through is tremendously meticulous, from definition of the buildings, right down to the bullet holes in the wall. Then there is the mapping graphics, which are just as fun. However, these graphics don't need to be as animated, but they are effective. The one thing I did find to be a problem was that the font was extremely small, making it hard to read. This was the only beef I found with the mapping graphics though. The audio is just another complimentary incentive to this well orchestrated game. The music is enticing and leaves you at the end of your chair, wondering what will happen next. Meanwhile, the sound effects are a plenty, including gunshots, people screaming, and radio communication between the team members. The attention to detail also shows through with the different voice male and female tones between members.
Gameplay: After the successful debut of Rainbow Six, the sequel Rogue Spear once again provides you with one of the more realistic strategic combat games available. Following the original storyline of author Tom Clancy, you take members of the group called Rainbow, and work to fight terrorism in 17 unique missions with real world locations. To do so, you and the elite force will brief the mission, map out a plan for each team, and then try to execute it with as few mishaps possible. Members of the team include 20 different Clancy characters, each with their own special qualities like Stealth, Leadership, etc. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear doesn't have many game modes to play with, but the basics are back with a few new surprises. First, the Campaign mode allows you to play all the different missions. As previously said, you control the Rainbow teams through realistic missions against international terrorism in a number of different locations around the world. Crouch down and be as stealthy as possible while maneuvering about the entire mission. You can act as a sniper and try picking off a guard from long range. Be careful though, as realistic gunshot wounds take place for every shot, so to make sure he's dead, shoot him in vital spots (i.e. head or heart). Then move your team into position. However, it doesn't just have to be YOU controlling each team. You and your friends can play together, with each person taking control of one of the four possible teams. With a numerous amount of artillery and a team full of snipers, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear will entertain you with the combination of both strategy and action gameplay. The other mode to play is the Deathmatch. Much like the multiplayer version for the N64's 007 Golden Eye, you face up against your friends in many different levels with plenty of different weapons. You can change the amount of time the rounds take, the number of kills it takes to win, and what weapons are available. Hours of fun, right at your fingertips!!!
Difficulty: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear has three different levels of difficulty with Recruit, Veteran, and Elite. The difference between the three is the number of terrorists you encounter, and how fast they are willing to pull the trigger. You can improve your stealth techniques against the enemy by playing the Practice Missions provided, which prepare you for very similar missions, such as Hostage Rescue, Terrorist Hunt, and so on.
Game Mechanics: Probably the most confusing in all of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear is the controller configuration. Every button has a purpose, so it will take some time to get used to it. However, there are several different configurations that you can choose from, so you should have no problems finding a configuration that is right for you. If you don't like using your controller, it is possible to use the Sega Keyboard or Mouse instead. The other important part to this category is how the multiplayer games function. Well, whether you have two players or four, the speed of the game never slows down. Sadly though, half your VMU will be used up, but you can save up to ten campaigns on that VMU. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear definitely follows up the '99 Action Game of the Year with an exciting sequel. If you like strategy war games, then this is one stealth game you don't want to miss!
-Red Dawg, GameVortex Communications AKA Alex Redmann
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