Ghost Recon 2

Platform(s): GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Genre: Action
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Shanghai
Release Date: March 15, 2005

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As WP's managing editor, I edit review and preview articles, attempt to keep up with the frantic pace of Rainier's news posts, and keep our reviewers on deadline, which is akin to herding cats. When I have a moment to myself and don't have my nose in a book, I like to play action/RPG, adventure and platforming games.

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'Ghost Recon 2' (PS2/Xbox) - Multiplayer Details & Trailer

by Judy on Oct. 27, 2004 @ 1:05 p.m. PDT

Ghost Recon 2 is set in the chaotic battlefields of tomorrow, and will offer gamers an insider's view of the way large scale conflicts will be fought in the near future.

Get the Ghost Recon 2 multiplayer trailer off WP (31mb)

MULTIPLAYER DETAILS

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 (PS2)

• Levels

There are 9 new, exclusive multiplayer maps + the fan favorite map from Jungle Storm – ‘Docks’.

All the new maps have a Korean feel, but cater to all kinds of game play styles. Ghost Recon 2 developers enlisted military advisors for level design to make sure they reflect reality as much as possible – and reward players who employ real-world elite forces tactics and strategies. Visually, the game is nothing short of stunning.

• Modes

There are two cool new modes. The first is Assault, where one team defends and the other attacks, kind of like Siege in previous Ghost Recon games, but you get to choose from two different paths – it makes strategy much more important – as defenders, do you send a squad out to defend the forward positions, or hold back to defend the base, or set up an ambush? For the attackers, we’re seeing all kinds of strategies as well – one of the coolest is the decoy: a small squad is sent down one path to draw the defenders, while the main squad goes for the kill down the other path.

The second new game is Supremacy. Here the teams have to attack and defend. There are a number of defensive positions between the two bases and each side must build a path to attack their enemy’s base while defending theirs. It means the teams really must work together to have a clear strategy on who will defend, who will attack. So far this mode has been the biggest hit in our beta test.

Finally, there is the fan favorite mode from Jungle Storm – Team Last Man Standing – the basic. Wipe out every player on the opposite team before they kill you.

• Technology

Network tech for Ghost Recon 2 PS2 was completely rewritten – there is now a 100% dedicated server solution which means that even on a slow ADSL connection (128k download/64k upload) you get a phenomenal 16 player experience with ZERO lag WITH VOICE CHAT - thanks to cutting edge voice chat solution using a peer-to-peer distribution system (think bittorent). We want ALL players to experience the same high quality of gameplay, not a sliding scale depending on your network connection speed and on which server you play. This is what we mean by a mass market 16 player solution.

Something new we have on Ghost Recon 2 PS2 is a ‘Color of War’ filter – color filters are something that film directors have being using for many years to help enhance emotions in particular scenes. Ghost Recon 2 PS2 brings this approach to video games – in the single player game, the filter is used to draw you into fight sequences by desaturating (filtering out) the color, but in the online version we take this one step further and use filters to give hints when an enemy is near and even if an enemy is aiming at you. It’s a really subtle effect, but one that gives you an almost 6th sense – or ‘ghost’ sense.

• Why Ghost Recon 2 Will Be the Best Multiplayer Shooter for PS2

Ubisoft has been a consistent winner on Xbox live, and we are aiming to dominate PS2 online as well. That’s why we created the dedicated team in Paris just for Ghost Recon PS2 online (and have invested heavily in both the online and offline portions of the game). But even more importantly, we really studied online play and know that team-based play gives a much deeper experience than a single-player deathmatch style plan.

All our game modes and maps have been 100% optimized for team-based play. Even our Ranking system has being overhauled to motivate team play. We also encourage experienced players to play and mentor newbies via the updated ranking system.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 (XBOX)

Key Improvements:

4 player split screen through system link or through Xbox live. 4 people in an apartment with 1 Xbox can now jump onto Xbox live and join a server.

Xbox LIVE 3.0 features
Teams and Competitions features from Xbox Live 3.0 will be included in the game. The competitions are all based on the team unit, and you join and play as a team. We even have a specific team leaderboard so you can see how your team ranks against others out there.

Leaderboard improvements
Our leaderboard system has been greatly expanded, and now works on an ELO system, more like a ladder. Play against someone ranked higher than you, and you can go up in rank. To go along with this, you will be able to see the skill level of other players, and even get an average skill level of a server, so that you can seek out a challenge by playing people tougher than you, or just play with people at your skill level.

Bandwidth improvements
Our engineers focused on improving bandwidth usage of the game to minimize lag and maximize player enjoyment. Networking code has been completely rebuilt, greatly reducing bandwidth overhead. Players will notice a significant improvement in gameplay experience.

White button
The white button no longer needs to be pressed to talk during matches. User mikes are always on unless the server has restricted voice ability. (This is a setting).

Important facts:
Players have the option to play in first person view or over the shoulder view. The server can force everyone to play in first-person view only, or let people play in either view of their choice. Downloadable content is planned - details will be released at a later date.

#players:
- 16 players through Xbox or system link in adversarial modes, 4 players in co-op (with up to 12 others observing the action)
- 2-4 player split screen offline, through system link, or through Xbox LIVE. Total #players in one of these games is still 16 in adversarial modes, 4 in co-op (but additional players can still observe in co-op

Co-op Modes (7)

- Mission
- Battle
- Defend
- Firefight
- Garrison
- Recon
- Scout

Adversarial modes (10)

- Hamburger Hill (Squad or Solo)
- Sharpshooter (Squad or Solo)
- Last Man Standing (Squad or Solo)
- Domination (Squad)
- Search and Rescue (Squad)
- Siege (Squad)
- Seek and Destroy (Solo)

New mode = "Seek and Destroy"

This is actually an updated version of “Cat n’ Mouse” that integrates the Lone Wolf gear into a MP mode. Everyone starts out as a regular soldier. First person to get a kill becomes the "Target" and is outfitted in the high-tech Lone Wolf gear (range grenades and camera mounted rifle). The Target shows up on everyone's radar, but the Target's radar doesn't show adversaries. Whoever kills the Target becomes the next Target and the chase continues. You get points for killing the target and for killing adversaries while you are the target. If there is a target, non-targets will lose points for killing each other.

Multiplayer Maps

- 24 total; 8 dedicated MP maps plus all the SP maps (15) plus the training map

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