So what about armory? Well there’s no shortage of guns in this game, from the AK74 to the state of the art MR-C is attached with a Camera Add-on that displays the video of the gun’s target directly over your point of view. This allows you to shoot around corners without even lean or peek from the cover. As well as the usual small round things that go boom.
Every member of your squadron is outfitted with light-weight bullet-proof vests, and extensive set of weapons for riflemen, grenadiers, and marksmen. In addition, your visors are equipped with high definition video cameras to aid in communication (Cross-Com and Nar-Com). The Cross-Com is located in the upper-left of your screen, which enables communications with your team, vehicles, or other tactical equipment. You see what they see, giving the player a first-person perspective of helicopters, tanks, or other ghost squadron members.
The Nar. Com is a transmission device that enables communication with executive-level personnel. This usually comes on during key elements or bookmarks in the game, telling you your next set of objectives.
3d tactical map ties into the Cross-Com. Real-time strategy… explain a little more and give examples.
AUV Cypher is a motorized spy drone that can ascend and descent into enemy territory to pick up enemy locations. Players can call up the tactical map and direct the drone to the next objective, or any point along the way to pick up enemy camps and locations.
Once enemies are located, their position appears as a red diamond on the tactical map and first-person view. This tool becomes invaluable when scoping out snipers or other well-hidden enemies. This is a good example of how the finesse of strategy allows for execution of precise targeted strikes. Going in with guns blazing will only get you killed quickly.
Tactics
Moving your squad around has been difficult in other squad-based strategy games (previous versions of Ghost Recon included). You have less control over dictating their exact locations, but the soldiers are mostly smart enough to take care of themselves. In fact, you will want to direct them to an unknown area before you charge in, as they are much smarter than you, and far less likely to die. When near cover, they will take defensive positions, and other appropriate actions when directed.
Sometimes the squad can be as dumb as a bag of rocks, like when I was running up to a bunker to plant a plastic explosive. As I was running away from the bunker, I realized my squad had been following me, and I was now passing them as they were making their way to the bunker! You do have to perform some degree of “baby-sitting” by telling your squad to stay put so they don’t kill themselves, but most of the time they know what they’re doing. Fortunately you get a limitless supply of health packs to keep them alive on the field.
You can order them to be aggressive, so they engage any enemy they find, weapons quiet, so they only fire when fired upon (weapons cool), or to regroup to your position. You can also direct them to take out a particular target by selecting the victim (via the tactical map or first-person view) and pressing up on the D-pad.
Since your teammates can worry about themselves, you can concentrate on the tactics that will keep you alive. You can drop to a crouch or go prone. While prone you can perform a quick roll to the left or right. You can “snap” to a wall or other form of cover by running into the object. When “snapped” you keep your back to the cover, and will stop at the edge, when you can then target enemies from behind corners.
The sniping is excellent. The sniper scope bobs realistically, and like other Tom Clancy games you can hold your breath for a short period of time to hold the scope steady. Some sniper rifles come with “wall piercing” bullets so you can take out an enemy in a tent or structure with thin walls. When prone, you can shoot at enemy’s feet or arms to draw them out from cover.
Switching weapons… press B to quickly toggle between grenades and your primary weapon. If you want finer granularity, you must press and hold B, then select secondary weapons or functions. For example, this is how to change your rate of fire on your primary weapon, or switch between frag and smoke grenades.
You can pick up weapons from fallen soldiers, so if you are find yourself with little ammo you can always pick up that guerilla’s assault weapon for up-close negotiations.
