Developer: Red Storm Entertainment / Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Genre: First Person Shooter
Number of Players: 1-16
Expected Release Date: PC, Xbox 360: March 2007; PS3: TBD
Gallery: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Gallery (GRAW)


Ubisoft is at it again. After the successful release of Rainbow Six: Vegas last year, it’s almost time for Ubisoft to release the next installment of their other FPS series; Ghost Recon. A sequel to the most resent Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 continues right where the first GRAW left off, with a few improvements.

Less than one year after the conclusion of GRAW, Captain Scott Mitchell is back with his ghosts to silence a new military threat. The year is 2014 and a Mexican rebel group has the intentions destroy a newly-built wall that divides El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez. Scott Mitchell and his team have 72 hours to stop this Mexican rebel force.

GRAW 2 is more of a tactical shooter than anything else, but there are many different elements to be found in this game as well. A variety of classes, gadgets, weapons, and multiple mission types increase the depth of GRAW 2 dramatically. Different types of missions in the campaign include single-man missions, team missions, and massive war combat missions using multiple forces.


If you’re familiar with the Xbox 360 controls of GRAW, they will be nearly identical in the sequel. One difference in the controls is actually a pretty significant. Tapping the right-bumper will still rotate the camera perspective through the individual squad members. However, as a new addition of GRAW 2, holding down the right-bumper now switches to a full screen view of whatever unit you are commanding using the Cross Com. In this mode you also have full control over the selected unit.

What are these units that you can control using the Cross Com? The first is the UAV drone. In short, this is a flying observational drone. It can’t attack anything, but it can identify enemies from above. Using the new Cross Com feature, you can switch to the UAV’s perspective in full screen, drop down low for a better look of your enemies’ location, ascend back into the skies to avoid being destroyed, and then instantly switch back to Scott Mitchell’s perspective ready to battle. Another controllable unit is the MULE, a very creative armored weapon cache on wheels. The MULE can be used in the same way as the UAV drone. Moving the MULE up to your team will allow you to be able to reload on ammunition and even switch weapons. Additionally it can be used as a temporary protection, but the MULE is not invincible.

With games like GRAW, a huge factor of what can make the single player campaign enjoyable or not is the AI. If your teammates are stepping in front of your line of fire, or an enemy is oblivious to your shots whizzing past his head, the lack of AI can really be deflating. The AI of GRAW 2 looks to be a great improvement over the first. Enemies will stand watch in creative and strategic spots, rather then out in the open. Instead of standing still when fired upon, enemies will attempt to find cover, or flank your position. Also, you can adjust how hostile you want your teammates to be, either aggressive or recon modes.