Played with: Mouse and Keyboard
GPU: GTX 960
Version: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

This is my first paid online only game I've ever played. I never played CounterStrike, but I have played games with a campaign mode and multiplayer mode such as Call of Duty. That said this game is far different from any multiplayer shooter I've played so far. I won't be covering everything in the game, since I haven't tried everything that there is in this game, but only from what I've tried. Also, I'm not an expert in any graphics or aesthetics terms and details. If it looks pretty to me, then I mention that and how it looks. My main focus is on how fun the game is to me.


[THE GOOD]

Let's start with the visuals, they're beautiful in many ways. The details on and in the buildings as well as around them are wonderful. The textures on the walls and grounds are pleasing to the eye, and the models and weapons aren't lacking either.

In terms of gameplay modes, you have a "campaign" mode which is only a series of tutorials that let you take on a few scenarios with certain opperators against computer AI terrorists, you have a terrorist hunt mode which consists of going against computer AI in defending a hostage, rescuing a hostage, disarming devices, and search and destroy all terrorist units. This can either be done with a team of 2-5, or you can choose to go solo in lone wolf mode. You can change the settings to have certain modes more active than others as well as the maps. Lastly there are the multiplayer matches which consist of casual and ranked modes. Ranked mode has players trying to get their ranks higher, allows players to choose their spawn points at the start of a round, and allows getting more renown than in casual mode (more on that later), while casual mode lacks all of the features I jsut mentioned, but allows for a lot of fun as well. All multiplayer matches consist of one team defending a hostage, defending a biohazardous container, or defending two different points from being diffused (note: if one of the two is diffused then that round is lost). While the other side has to extract the hostage, secure the room where the hazardous container is located, or having to diffuse one of the two. Note that if you die during a round in terrorist hunt mode or multiplayer mode, you won't be able to play until the next round comes. However, you will be able to spectate.

When playing any mode you can aim down or hip fire. You can lean right or left to peek passed walls and angles without exposing you whole body to gunfire, this can be done while crouching or standing. You have the standard forward, back, left and right movements, crouch and prone positions, melee attack, sprint, and vault buttons. You can also communicate with teammates if you have a microphone. If you don't have one, then you can text chat with them during the match (note that text chat and microphone communication can be done while dead during a round as well).

Here's where it gets a little different. In this version of the game, you have a recruit operator from the start, you have an initial 20 operators which are non dlc, and 14 dlc operators. With the 20 initial operators, you have 5 different branches of service where the operators originate from (FBI SWAT, GIGN, SAS, GSG 9, and Spetsnaz). Each operator in each area costs about 500 "renown," then after purchasing one in that branch the price raises to 1000, then 1500, and lastly 2000. There is no select way to get one in a branch, it's your choice which to get. Now you may be asking what renown is. Renow is an ingame currency you can get which you get by playing, and it's not too hard to get. Win one or five matches in casual mode and you can get enough points to get all the operators in a branch (this is based on likely flawed memory, as I got operators a long time ago.

Each branch has certain weapons they use only spetsnaz use Russian AKs and so on so forth. However, with every weapon you are able to customize them with several attachments (silencer, holo sight, etc.) and different color schemes. You can also do so and change your weapon layout right before a match begins. Not every character has a grenade for the "g" key. Rather, some may carry barbed wire (defenders side) which slow down the attackers when they come across it, and it also makes sound at the same time. Some carry barriers, others impact grenades, etc. You are also able to change character attire as well, but I never really looked into how that's done.

The biggest difference with every character is their special skill or item that can be activated and used. For some it can be used multiple times in a single match, for others it is very limited. Take Tachanka, he has a portable machine gun he can mount anywhere in the map and in turn use it against attackers. But Kapkan on the other hand has a limted amount of trip wire explosives that can be used in door ways, and once the trip wires go off on an attacker there is no getting them back. The choosing of certain operators over others in itself can be done for a strategic purpose, and choosing the right operators can make things much harder for the opposing side. I'm not saying that it's impossible to win using operators that might be considered not the best choice for certain maps, but it can at times make it easier.


[THE BAD]

I played this game with no knowledge of the gameplay pre-alpha trailer Ubisoft showed at E3. However, those visuals, aesthetics, animations, and game design elements made me feel sad when I saw how good it looked. I'm not sure if the reason for this is due to console limitations affecting PC ports, or if those elements removed were to create a more competetive and balanced game, but I am still saddened by the lack of those features. A hostage with many reactions and emotions to the environment around them, rooftops capable of being breached, helicopter spawn points, and lighting and detail much better than what's shown now.

There's another issue I have with the game, and that is that in stages with police cars all around, they don't seem to have anyone in or beside them. Moreover they don't give much back up when a defender comes out from the building and decides to rush you instead. It really bugs me.


[THE FANTASTIC]

Rainbow Six: Siege is a game that can yield many different results every match due to each player constantly changing their approaches to deal with different scenarios. It's feels satisfying to win a match, to be the last one standing on your team and still holding your ground against the enemy and surviving, it feels good outmaneuvering the other team. The game feels fun and has a lot worth coming back to. The designers put a lot of work into this game, and they deserve the recognition for making such a great game.