Review: Tom Clancy's GRAW 2 (360)

The first GRAW was the showcase for the first generation of Xbox 360 software and even now still stands as being one of the best looking games on the system. Of course, with this sequel we're guaranteed improved graphics, but with only one year passing since the original, is that really enough time to iron out the bugs?

Apart from the addition of a "2" to the title and a different picture on the title screen as soon as you start the game you're instantaneously hit with de-ja-vu. The same menu system, the same music, it's obvious from the start that Ubi Soft have taken a few short cuts to get this game quickly out on the shelves. This feeling isn't helped when you're asked to download a system update straight from the start.

Campaign is the mode we tried first after deeply enjoying the abrupt single player demo on the marketplace. After an awfully slow tutorial (although you do have the option to skip it - something we didn't discover till after) you're flung straight into your first mission. Controlling your main character (Scott Mitchell) is exactly the same with the only distinct difference being that he's faster on his feet - crucial when dodging mortar fire. Your team mates are also utilised in the same way as the original GRAW, but now you do get to see what they see with the new Cross Com 2.0. Holding RB will make the cross com appear full screen (instead of a small window) and with this you can direct your team or position your UAV to spot enemies.

The first problem comes half way through the campaign when you're given lots of different troops to command. You have to flick between them by pressing the right button and later on in the game you can command up to four different types of teams. You can have your regular Ghost squad, an infantry team, a UAV and a tank - amongst others. Not a problem if each one has reasonable AI, but here comes GRAW 2's biggest pitfall and one its predecessor also fell into.

The AI is quite frankly appalling. The enemies are fine, but your own troops have a collective intelligence to rival a jellyfish. Every now and again your Ghosts will shout "I've got no cover!" even though there's a massive wall next to them and often you'll practically be babysitting them to make sure they stay out of trouble. Not to mention the fact that they're terrible shots and couldn't hit a barn door from standing two centimetres away. It almost manages to single-handedly ruin the single player experience, if it weren't for several fantastic set pieces that happen during play. Never taking you out of the experience, cut scenes are few and far between (only lasting around five seconds each) so each moment between levels is handled similar to the original and more recently Rainbow Six: Vegas. You will often find yourself ferried between locations by your truck driver or helicopter pilot, but sometimes it's not all plain sailing because your driver or pilot may have to take emergency action whilst under fire. Then there are the moments where you take control of the helicopter machine gun, mowing down all terrorists in your way and this is just the tip of the iceberg - many memorable moments await and we wouldn't want to spoil them for you.

Once the campaign is done and dusted (not that hard on medium difficulty - around six hours) you can take the fight to the area where the original GRAW truly excelled - Xbox Live. It's safe to say that solo game modes are not where the fun is. Join a ranked match with random players (particularly when the room is full with sixteen of them) and the lag is horrendous. However, just like the original GRAW get some friends together, a strong host and set up a co-op mission and it's one of the most fun experiences on Live.

GRAW 2 is as much a by the numbers sequel as you can possibly get. The graphics have been given a polish, the single player is more action packed and the game has a few new features for you to enjoy. But this still does not detract from a number of glaring faults. The inability to take cover in multi-player is an odd omission and the AI in the single player is dreadful. Some may moan that this game is designed as a multi-player game with the campaign being an afterthought and they may be true; but when paying £50 for a new title we expect the whole package to be of equal quality. The bottom line is, if you enjoyed the original then there's little chance of you disliking this, but maybe next time we could get more of a sequel than an enhancement.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Adam Gulliver