User Rating: 8.7 | Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder XBOX
Island Thunder is a great update that should not be overlooked by anyone looking for an Xbox action game. With a ton of weapons and maps from three different games, this game delivers the variety this great engine seemed to beg for in the original. This game plays almost exactly like the original. In other words, running in wide open areas is on par with saying "shoot me." This game rewards patience and thinking, and careful planning is a must when facing human opponents or more advanced AI. IT also includes more weapon sets and maps for multiplayer competition, expanding the possible gameplay combinations significantly: you can be playing in a Cuban city one minute, the jungle the next minute, and in the desert the next. Learning to effectively manage your squads can take time to master, but it is very rewarding once you manage to adeptly execute your plans. The game's graphics do not seem to have gotten any noticeable upgrades from last year's iteration, and as such retain a clean look, but without many extras. For the purpose of the game, they work well, so there is no need to complain. Ah, sound. IT features some of the best ambient sounds and sound effects of any game, period. The variety of locales featured in this game means that there is now an even greater breadth of ear-candy to be had. While the game features much new content and the latest XBL functionality, it might not offer enough to entice those who are still actively playing the original. Since it is definitely skewed towards online play, despite fair campaign mode, those without a gamertag might also feel that there is not enough in the stand-alone game to warrant a purchase. But for anyone looking for a great coop experience, a great military combat sim, a well-balanced online action game,or simply something new (for those who passed on the first game), you can't go wrong with Island Thunder.
