Most of the controls are the same as in previous Ghost Recon titles, albeit mapped to the 360’s controller, taking full advantage of the new shoulder buttons. This makes them easy to learn, but also dulls the excitement of a new game on a new platform and makes the title feel more recycled. Jumping into the game is easy for anyone familiar with the various Tom Clancy-inspired games, and the gameplay feels almost identical to GR2, although movement is more fluid and the graphics are sharper.

Only one map—the desert-themed Arroyo—was available for testing, so no conclusions can be drawn there; however, the high-definition TV made a big difference to the visual quality of the map. Careful placement of rocks and stones in the distance, now crisply visible, caused most players to shoot at walls, deceived into thinking they were enemy soldiers; others wandered into pools of water and admired the graphical effects whilst getting shot in the head from afar. It certainly made a change from the endless parade of sandy rocks that made up the rest of the map.

Overall, the multiplayer modes seemed little different from those in Ghost Recon 2, other than the expected improvements caused by a faster console with better graphics. The promised “technological” feel of the storyline was subdued during the multiplayer mode, although the single player game promises to be a rich and engrossing experience. Diehard fans will love it, but the jury’s out for now on whether new players will be convinced. Especially if they hate rocks.