Sound: 10
Gameplay: 8
Replay Value: 10
Reviewer's Tilt: 10
Overall: 9.8
PC game of the year? Why not the best PC game of all time? The gameplay is excellent because of this stealth approach. You are part of a platoon sent in to do various commands in the year 2008. You can choose your team members, your team, and where each team member is sent and what to do. In a way, it kind of feels like babysitting, but once you get the hang of it, this game is really powerful. You can crawl in swamps, high grass, etc. to slowly approach your enemy, then attack the hell out of it. It's a unique game that takes a while to get used to. But once you can figure out how it plays (this is NOT your typical FPS), you'll be happy that you stuck with it. However, this game is marred by some minor problems.
First of all, the AI need some polishing. This kind of AI is an insult to any gamer, and I feel sorry for those people (including myself) who have been cheated by it. The stupid teammate AI is the poorest, even though the enemy AI often lets you stand there and shoot them. So basically, it's not about tactics and dodging bullets, it's about who's lucky enough to shoot first: Enemy or you?
The game can get a little crazy at times. Your character can't jump at all! It's really stupid for an FPS not to let you jump. Another complaint: You have to hold down a button to run! There is no toggle for the run command, so you're always holding down a stupid button because if you walk, it's slower than a limbless 90 year old woman crawling on the ground. Also, you can't climb down hills. In some areas, you might encounter a very small, non-steep hill. You can't climb up it, you have to "run" around it to the other side of the too-large level just to get to the other fricking side, which takes five or more minutes.
The game lets you choose stat points for your characters, so by the end of the game you have your whole platoon as professionals in war. You can lead the team into battle and kill them all, or protect them and choose whether or not you want to assault or recon. You actually feel in charge of your team in this game, and that's one thing that makes it so damn impressive.
PC Gamer gave this game the PC game of the year award for 2001. It's that good, and I truly think that this is PC game of the year for 2001 as well. There's no better combat simulation than this wonderful masterpiece. It's got a really high fun factor too. Even a tremendous replay value. So I say go for it. The game boasts the most realism in any game I've played. This is the first game I've ever played that shows you what war is really like. All those other games that promise war fail to deliver it. This game shows you the gritty, terrifying world of war, and that's something to be proud of. One-hit kills may annoy you at first, but remember--realism is what makes this gem sparkle.
Sure, the game has some major flaws. But these can be overlooked when you consider the package as a whole. The sounds, for example, are excellent! I like the sounds of glass shattering and bullets bouncing off rocks. Or the sounds of bullets penetrating human flesh, or a bark of a tree. Also, the music and graphics are excellent too. Once you're done playing all the missions, you get to do Firefight and Recon missions, which are even funner than the regular missions!
If you want to buy this game, do it. Hey, it must be good because it was featured on CNN a few months back. It's definately more challenging and more realistic than any other game out there. Buy this game. ***However, if you want to buy Ghost Recon, make sure you download the Internet patch.*** Some major adjustments have been made, including an Always Run toggle, the loud buzzing noise has been fixed, so when you walk in certain rooms you don't hear that annoying sound. You can also fire automatic weapons automatically instead of single-shot. So, please buy the game, and then download the patch. Enjoy, fellow gamers! I love this game more then you'll ever know, and it's so much fun!
