Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (PS3)

Available For: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Age: 18 (PEGI)

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The GRAW series has always screamed seriousness and ferociousness from the bottom of its lungs. Even the acronym sounds like a lion’s roar – a nod to the fact that one false move can result in a single bullet of death.

Stealth still makes the bulk of the game, with a strong emphasis resting on tactical and strategic team play. Your squad is ready to be commanded to attack either separate targets at the same time, or to lay heavy gunfire on one. It’s easy, effortless and deeply rewarding to work well as a group.

AI is decent enough to keep single-player enjoyable, whilst the four-player co-op is an infinitely more engaging and satisfying experience. It’s because of this phenomenal online play that also makes Guerrilla mode’s premise so enthralling, having to attack or defend certain points as wave-upon-wave of unrelenting enemy wickedly try to hinder progress.

Where would a Ghost Recon game be without the use of plenty of hi-tech gadgetry and weaponry? And that’s where Future Soldier hits the ball out of the park. Packing a swing loaded with sensor grenades, flying UAV drones and more, there’s just so much to experience and get to grips with. With a gradual spoon-feeding of each item, players will never become bogged down or confused by the items, but will find each vital for progression.

Move functionality comes into play in the Gunsmith sections where each weapon can be looked at in great detail and then taken to the range to try out. This helps greatly when choosing the load-out that best suits your needs.

Visually, things don’t rock the gaming world like the former GRAW games did. They’re not necessarily awful, they’re just boringly average, and the facial expressions can often be laughable. The colour palette is also a little bleak, with colours outside green or brown being an absolute rarity.

It is still stealth based, yet there’s more of an action vibe than ever before. Players can get away with taking more bullets now, and action set-pieces sandwich themselves between play. In fact, they tend to hamper the flow a great deal.

It may not be as groundbreaking as the former games where, but Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is still a great game in its own rights – especially when played with friends.

SCORE: 7 / 10

PROS: Oodles of high tech gorgeousness. Superb with other players.

CONS: Often more of an action game than a tactical shooter.