Some may claim that it's because of Bill Gates, Robbie Bach, or J Allard that the Xbox has become the success it is today. I will be one of the few who will solemnly disagree and cite a another man as a key to the streak of excellence Microsoft's console has experienced as it has undergone the inescapable process that is a console's aging. Strike upon the books that I believe that because of Tom Clancy, the Xbox has become the great console it is today. Since 2002, Ubisoft has been crunching out excellent military thrillers, and constantly redefining what online play can be. The original Ghost Recon stood shoulder to shoulder with the original MechAssault back when Xbox Live launched, and Splinter Cell was Xbox game of the year, and overall GOTY in many publications. 2003 saw the release of Rainbow Six 3 and the further solidification of Xbox Live as an online game service. 2004 was arguably the strongest year for the Clancy line which saw the release of the genre redefining Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow with it's unique and innovative multiplayer mode, the expansion pack that was Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow (which is still one of the most played Xbox Live games nearly a year after it's release), and the game that this review is basically based on, Ghost Recon 2. Released a week after Halo 2, Ghost Recon 2 strongly held onto the #2 position on the Xbox Live charts for seemingly forever.

It's now been nine months since Ghost Recon 2 launched, and in typical Ubisoft fashion, it's time for an expansion pack! And like every other expansion pack made for the Clancy games, little to nothing has been changed on the gameplay front, outside of the addition of a more refined multiplayer mode, and the addition of two new multiplayer modes. Will this strike succeed, or does it blow up in Ubisoft's face?


This is my rifle!

Let's not beat around the bush: the Tom Clancy games have never been reknowned for their sweeping, epic storylines, and Summit Strike is no exception. However, and luckily for you, the story is not piss poor. It can be somewhat enjoyable, though not as much as the multiplayer game, which I'll cover later in the review.

That being said, the singe player campaign can be tense, and quite fun. Each mission offers some adrenaline pumping action. The moment gun fire crackles, and the sound of a bullet whizzes by your head, you can bet that you'll be hunting for a rock or building to hide behind so you can mount a counter-offensive. As with all Clancy games, trying to be Rambo or Solid Snake is going to end with you being in a world of hurt and you'll end up looking like a jackass. Thus the reason you'll want to be hiding behind that rock and popping shots off in bursts. Shooting fully automatic is extremely inaccurate, and you'll be lucky if you can hit your target once. All of the weapons in the game feel nice and powerful, with the exception of the pistols. But then again, they're pistols. Who cares if they feel weak?

Making a return is the especially fun and white knuckle tough Lone Wolf mode. The main difference between this mode and the other modes is that you're all by your lonesome this time around. With no squad to watch your back, you're going to have to be extra careful. Luckily, you've got some handy tricks available to you in Lone Wolf mode that aren't available when you play in a squad. Want to call in an air-strike? Available only in Lone Wolf mode. In Lone Wolf mode, you'll also be able to use the gun camera, which is a nifty little tool that will let you pop a cap at a a terrorist whilst hiding safely behind a car or whatever you may be hiding behind.

For those of you who own an Xbox Live headset (and if you are purchasing this title, you have no reason not to), you'll be able to execute some pretty cool voice commands to your A.I. teammates, ala Rainbow Six 3 and the game to which Ghost Recon 2. However, you'll need to speak a little loudly to get the attention of the Ghosts, or the character you control, so if you're playing a Quick Mission at three in the morning, it might be best to stick to the commands mapped to the controller as they work fine enough as is. The campaign will last Clancy veterans about ten hours (maybe longer for Ghost Recon newbies), and once you're done, there won't be a whole lot of reason to revisit it, unless you want to test out some of the different game modes (all of which are available in multiplayer) in a Quick Mission.

That Lone Wolf better turn around before he gets capped.

This is my gun!

As mentioned, the multiplayer in Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike is simply a boatload of fun. For anybody who is looking for an alternative to Halo 2, you'll find that Summit Strike is an excellent choice. As soon as you're signed into Live, and you've chosen one of the various matchmaking types (Optimatch, Quick Match, etc.), you'll have to choose the type of game you'd like to play.

Through extensive play of Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike over Xbox Live, I personally found that playing in the Co-Op match settings to be the far most enjoyable and satisfying. Perhaps it's the lack of an online Co-Op mode in Halo 2 or that TimeSplitters isn't played enough on Live. Regardless, accomplishing goals with others is extremely fun. The excitement is cranked to eleven when you've got ten or more players on a server and play on the 'Hard' difficulty (which believe me, offers a serious challenge).