Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 multiplayer impressions

If anyone tells you that you’re missing out because you haven’t tried Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2‘s multiplayer demo, believe them (if they also tell you that you’re doing something wrong in a co-op match, believe them too, because that’s what co-op is all about). With one rather large map to play in (Outpost) and a small number of offline and online options to choose from, the demo from Ubisoft should give a taste of what’s to come over Xbox Live.

Tastes like blood, actually. As predicted by so many outlets, there isn’t a shortage of online players and matches to search for. There was a shortage of games we could actually join, because a lot of those matches were already on-going and the demo advised us to “wait for the next round.” Thankfully, there also is the 2-4 player offline split-screen segment of the demo, as well as private matches, if you prefer your multiplayer more intimate.

For those who enjoy teamwork, campaign co-op mode would be their first choice. You have objectives to complete, rather hostile hostiles to neutralize, and teammates with which to accomplish both. Again: if they ask you if you can do something for them, and if you could, don’t just take it as a suggestion. Playing alone is only a recipe for dying alone in GRAW. For example: since the antitank missile is a primary weapon that would replace the rifle, someone’s got to be designated rocket man. And he’s going to need some rifle-based backup.

In addition to campaign mode, there also are team-based elimination matches – the future domain, we can bet, of clan warfare. For those who really do enjoy dying fragging alone, though, the solo elimination (death)matches should be their thing. In all three cases, you get to select primary weapon, secondary weapon, and grenades to select from. Gameplay mechanics carry over from the single-player to the multiplayer, from weapon control to mobility.

The only weakness of split-screen multiplayer is, of course, the split-screen. For players who are used to third-person perspectives (especially in the single-player demo), being forced to play in first-person could be a bit disorienting, but that’ll probably be a small quibble. All in all, and just like the Rainbow Six Vegas multiplayer demo, definitely worth the download, but then, we expected it to be.

If anyone tells you that you’re missing out because you haven’t tried Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2‘s multiplayer demo, believe them (if they also tell you that you’re doing something wrong in a co-op match, believe them too, because that’s what co-op is all about). With one rather large map to play in (Outpost) and a small number of offline and online options to choose from, the demo from Ubisoft should give a taste of what’s to come over Xbox Live.

Tastes like blood, actually. As predicted by so many outlets, there isn’t a shortage of online players and matches to search for. There was a shortage of games we could actually join, because a lot of those matches were already on-going and the demo advised us to “wait for the next round.” Thankfully, there also is the 2-4 player offline split-screen segment of the demo, as well as private matches, if you prefer your multiplayer more intimate.

For those who enjoy teamwork, campaign co-op mode would be their first choice. You have objectives to complete, rather hostile hostiles to neutralize, and teammates with which to accomplish both. Again: if they ask you if you can do something for them, and if you could, don’t just take it as a suggestion. Playing alone is only a recipe for dying alone in GRAW. For example: since the antitank missile is a primary weapon that would replace the rifle, someone’s got to be designated rocket man. And he’s going to need some rifle-based backup.

In addition to campaign mode, there also are team-based elimination matches – the future domain, we can bet, of clan warfare. For those who really do enjoy dying fragging alone, though, the solo elimination (death)matches should be their thing. In all three cases, you get to select primary weapon, secondary weapon, and grenades to select from. Gameplay mechanics carry over from the single-player to the multiplayer, from weapon control to mobility.

The only weakness of split-screen multiplayer is, of course, the split-screen. For players who are used to third-person perspectives (especially in the single-player demo), being forced to play in first-person could be a bit disorienting, but that’ll probably be a small quibble. All in all, and just like the Rainbow Six Vegas multiplayer demo, definitely worth the download, but then, we expected it to be.