Team Rainbow is a multinational task force comprised of counter-terrorism experts from around the globe. Equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, Team Rainbow is deployed during terrorist crises. When all other attempts have failed, Rainbow is brought in to save the lives of innocent people.
They do not negotiate with terror. They destroy it.
Members of the team are from all over the world, the best of the best, and you are one of them...
You start out rescuing hostages from terrorists, but as you go on, you discover there are bigger things at stake... Such as the entire world...
Age requirements: ESRB Rating: TEEN with Blood and Gore, Violence. PEGI Rating: 16+ with Violence.
Minimum system requirements: Windows XP or Windows Vista, 1 GHz Processor (1.4 GHz recommended), 256MB RAM (512 recommended), 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended), Mouse, Keyboard.
Rainbow Six is far more a tactical game than your standard FPS. The emphasis is on careful planning before the mission rather, and if you simple charge in guns blazing, either you, or a lot of hostages are going to die. It's much more a game based on intelligence, stealth and timing.... full review
Each mission presents you with a complete layout of a given area. You select soldiers based on their skill-sets, select from a wide array of weapons and then plan your egress. The map takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you can plan a complicated series of actions that will have your team liquidating terrorists, flashbanging rooms and disarming bombs. The AI of your soldiers is sometimes a bit iffy. While they will often spot targets and take them out, often saving your life in the process, they tend, on occasion to get stuck in doors, but you do have a wide array of commands you can give them that they tend to execute well. The enemies, like-wise, have some AI issues. They have nigh perfect aim from any distance, so you'll find yourself trying again and again on a certain areas, but will sometimes just stand ramrod stiff while you and your team wipe them out.
For those whose experience with the FPS genre begins and ends with games like HALO and Duke Nukem, you'll be in for a very steep learning curve. But once you get it down, Rainbow Six is a tense gameplay experience with a rewarding plot and lots of fun and realistic scenarios.
A Classic! A true break-through when it was first released.
(by
Bron)
I will never forget playing Rainbox Six (on the PC where it was first released and best played. I still have it handy. Far more replay value than most games.) It was a break-through in modern gameplay at the time. A thinking man's shooter. When I played it, it was like "this is what I have been waiting for!" It remains my favorite game of the series. (I've actually purchased... full review it multiple times as it was bundled in later editions as well.)
At the time, nothing like it existed or had been seen before. I will never forget the first time I got shot, was spun around by the impact and found myself lying on the ground looking up at my squad mates. For the first time, I felt like I was playing a realistic game and had some idea of what it might be like to be shot for real. It was truly dramatic. The realistic, simulation type game play really rocked.
Yes, it was hard at first. But I imagine taking down a bunch of terrorists is also hard. It felt real. As I learned and got better, there was a great deal of satisfaction in seeing my strategic ideas and tactics succeed. The environments were grand for their time (and are still fun) and gave the game a great atmosphere. The pre-assault planning aspects gave it a nice feel. Over time I learned there were many ways to play. You can skip the planning and just dive in or take your time and enjoy the more detailed aspects.
This is one of the few games I have ever played through more than once to the end. The amount of fun to be had made it one of the best ever. Although I still have my original, I will probably buy it again from GOG just for the convenience and nostalgia. I hope they will add some of the others in the series as well. I tend to like the earlier titles in the series the best, anyway.
Though the graphics are a bit rough around the edges, the creativity and artistry are still apparent. Yes, there are some quirks and bugs, but they are minor and there's plenty of fun to be had. What I like about this game is that real life tactics work and stupid run and shoot wildly tactics do not. Stealth is important and sniping a tango is very satisfying. ;)
If something does not work, you retreat and try something different. You will die a lot in your early games if you have not played any RB6 type games before, but it's all good. Once you get the hang of it, you will have a lot of fun and feel a true sense of accomplishment as you progress through the game. The levels are all very different and interesting. The setups before each level are cool and a welcome break from the tense action. The feel is gritty and real. Music and sounds are good. Controls good. Depth and replay value - super.
This game broke ground in many areas. If you never played it, especially on the PC where it thrives, do yourself a favor and give it a shot! Be prepared for many, many hours of rewarding gameplay. For a twist once you get into it, try leaving your squad mates at the insertion point and completing the levels solo. ;)
Enjoy!
P.S. Tip - you really need to do the training scenarios, but don't get discouraged. The training scenarios are actually much harder than the game itself. Use them to learn to handle your weapons and the controls, move around, peek and shoot, and so on. They can be tough, but the game levels are a lot more fun by contrast and you will appreciate that the training has prepared you well for your tasks. Again, very realistic.
Do not be fooled by the looks of these dated graphics. Rainbow Six has a lot to offer a player who wants a little bit more than a run an' gun shooter. ... full review
This game offers players a chance to to select/configure teams, members, weapons (primary and secondary) and uniforms including armour. You can select the pathways that your teams will take during the execution of the mission, hopefully with minimal casualties. When planned correctly you can get your teams to surround a room and clear it in tandem. A thing of beauty that I find extremely self satisfiying. However, if you don't want to take the time to intricately explore all of the parts to mission planning there are default plans from the man in charge that is more than capable in order to get you throught the mission successfully.
I also appreciate the one to two hit incapacitations or deaths incorporated into the game making missions very challenging and realistic. When your character is removed from the action of the game you take control of the next member of your fire team and carry on. Be sure to keep the logistics of that in mind when setting your team rosters.
Keeping in the vein of realism the games story progresses through basic hostage rescue scenarios to intel gathering for upcoming missions. All of which are woven into a storyline that is intriguing to follow and makes you want to play the next mission.
Overall, I had so much fun with this game I had to buy it again when a superior version of it was available to me. The music is motivating, the setting and atmosphere is well thought out and though serious the presentation is fun. I would recommend this game to people who want a shooter that is deeper than your average teaspoon.
antihippie)
Bron)
whodares2)