‘Rainbow Six: Vegas’ 4.5/5 Stars“Rainbow Six: Vegas” puts the player in control of a Jack Bauer-esque covert ops agent and a pair of armored cronies. The mission: Take out the typical bad guys in a new environment.The “Rainbow Six” series has long been a solid source for tactical shooters. “Vegas” doesn’t stray from this model. If a player runs out in the open with an AK-47, the character dies.

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If a player goes Rambo in an online match, the character dies and then gets ridiculed. The new, one-button cover system in “Vegas” rivals that of “Gears of War” and, when employed, ditches the first-person perspective to show the character against the wall or burnt-out Ford Taurus he’s using to avoid direct fire.Graphically, “Vegas” shines. Lighting effects are fully exploited, and environments are wonderfully destructible. Anyone who has ever wanted to blow the coins out of a slot machine has the chance to do so in this game. Muzzle flashes look outstanding, and the quality sound effects bring the strip to life – even when surrounded by dead bodies. The soundtrack, while subtle, is stunningly composed and crescendos at just the right moments to give players a burst of confidence or sense of relief, depending on the situation.While the single-player campaign will take a good 20 hours – mostly due to a high level of difficulty – the multiplayer keeps users coming back for weeks.

Voice chat allows each side to get down and dirty with team tactics, and the maps are expansive and well-designed.Ubisoft worked overtime on this one, and it shows. Amid a plethora of tactical shooters, “Rainbow Six: Vegas” manages to stand above the crowd with solid graphics, gorgeous music and a robust online mode. It’s not life-changing, but for any Xbox 360 owner or hardcore gamer, “R6: Vegas” is worth a try.

Elite Beat Agents 5/5 StarsThere’s no doubt 2006 was the year of the Nintendo DS. Each month saw at least one new standout title.But no DS game performed quite like “Elite Beat Agents.”.

Advertisement -Gameplay consists of tapping circles, sliding orbs and spinning wheels that appear onscreen in time to whichever of the 15-20 music tracks happens to be playing. In what seems to be the simplest yet most effective implementation of the DS’s touch screen, Elite Beat quickly provides a heroin-like addiction. Even in the higher of the four difficulty levels, when it’s not uncommon to lose a round after 15 seconds, it’s nearly impossible not to give it another try. The game has an uncanny ability to keep a player from work for hours.Never before has a music game had such an eclectic selection. Tracks range from David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” to odd, even terrible choices such as Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8ter Boi” and Good Charlotte’s “The Anthem.” Thankfully, none of the songs in “Elite Beat” are performed by the original artist, and whoever covered “Sk8ter Boi” managed to make the song far less crappy than the original.Excluding titles such as “Guitar Hero,” music games rarely break new ground – how many different versions of “Dance Dance Revolution” do we really need? But “Elite Beat Agents” delivers innovative gameplay, an unquestionably varied track list and a unique presentation in an addicting package.

Gears of War 4.5/5 StarsEpic Studio’s “Gears of War” is a blockbuster third-person shooter on a curiously Earth-like planet where the humans are being attacked by an alien menace. Sure, the story in “Gears” leaves much to be desired. But one look at a screenshot from the in-game visuals running on the Unreal 3 Engine will leave players scrambling to pick their jaws off the floor.Hands down, “Gears of War” boasts the most stunning visuals on any console to date. The environments are gorgeously bleak, and the graphic clarity one experiences when chain sawing an opponent is unmatched.Oh, and a player can actually chain saw enemies. That’s just cool.The main game is on the short side but enjoyable.

Multiplayer features a semi-tactical four-on-four deathmatch and two variations as its only modes. Unfortunately, the online game is plagued with bugs and glitches that really impact the gameplay.

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And there’s an utter lack of matchmaking. It wouldn’t have been that difficult to copy the Halo format for allowing players to find others well-suited to game with on the Web.Those minor quibbles aside, “Gears” does what it’s meant to do. It’s a summer blockbuster, the video game equivalent of movies like “Spider-Man 2” or “Pirates of the Caribbean.” It’s really fun and has breathtaking effects, but ultimately it isn’t that deep of an experience.That said, it’s still difficult to resist a friend’s invitation to play an online match of “Gears.”There’s something irresistible about the prospect of tearing friends in half with a chain saw.

. Summary: The PSP version features exclusive new content and all-new characters as Las Vegas finds itself in chaos and Rainbow operatives are forced to defend one of the most recognizable cities in the world. The future of Las Vegas and global security is in your hands. Will you be able to save The PSP version features exclusive new content and all-new characters as Las Vegas finds itself in chaos and Rainbow operatives are forced to defend one of the most recognizable cities in the world. The future of Las Vegas and global security is in your hands. Will you be able to save Vegas? New Team, New Location – Two new Rainbow operatives enter the impending doom that is Las Vegas as their console brethren, Keller, Park and Walter, simultaneously work against the clock to save 'Sin City.'

As Brian Armstrong, work as a field operative and assault expert, taking down tangos from the ground floor. As Shawn Rivers, use your sniper and long-range shooting skills to pick off terrorists from above, one at a time. Tag-Team Gameplay – In single-player mode, play as both a field operative and sniper as you battle to protect the innocent from carnage. Observe - Plan - Assault – Use tactical planning to maneuver through Vegas environments while utilizing high-tech equipment like snake cams to strategically 'tag' terrorists prior to entering a room. Take Cover – When the action heats up, switch to third-person view while taking cover, giving you time to examine the situation before making your move. Tailored Control System – Shoot your way out of relentless gun battles utilizing a tailored control system built specifically for the PSP system.

Player Rewards – Build up your stats to unlock exclusive Rainbow Six Vegas content, including concept art and the feverish Terrorist Hunt mode. Terrorist Hunt Mode – Hone your skills in Terrorist Hunt mode, where your objective is simple – kill the terrorists.

Enter specific points of single-player maps and down the spawning terrorists one at a time. Multiplayer – Take the fight to five of your closest friends via wireless (Ad Hoc) or online play (Infrastructure) in Survival and Team Survival multiplayer modes, while exploring six classic Rainbow Six maps. Ubisoft Expand. To be honest, these 'professional' reviewers really need to wake up and have some coffee and try reviewing this title again. Those reviews To be honest, these 'professional' reviewers really need to wake up and have some coffee and try reviewing this title again. Those reviews are very bias with a sprinkle of idiotics for good measure, as it is a bad idea to compare a totaly different game designed for staionary entertainment machines such as the PC or the consoles, let alone the fact Ubisoft made it rather clear this was a totaly different game in focus and design from its console/PC bound brother.

With that in mind, and the hardware limits of a portable device, the game serves up a very fair FPS engagement for fans of the PS2/Xbox Rainbow Six 3 titles. The weakest links in this game stems from a online experience that lacks co-op, a few stiff controls few new commers, a learning curve to those used to the simplified RV6 servings of the console/PC edition, and a few bugs. The stark complaint about this title's graphics verus the homebound edition is funny due to the poor choice of comparisons.

First, the PSP is not an Xbox 360 nor a PS3, so please take the complaints of previous reviewers with a grain of salt as they fail to compare it to other PSP titles in the same genre serving. Establishing my opinion on that, this title stacks up rather well to SOCOM Fire Team Bravo 1 and 2 as a decent title for graphics and a far better FPS engagement than Coded Arms. It's apparent, though, that this game's a bit goofy to those playing for the first time. There is a mild learning curve to those who are used to the simplified health and kit system in R6V for the Xbox 360/PC/PS3. Health does not regenerate, and gernades must be equpied before tossing, just like prior franchise installlments such as Rainbow Six 1 all the way up to Raven Shield (PC)/ Rainbow Six 3 (consoles).

This, coupled with the shapes buttons (circle, square, etc) are bound to camera control and the analog stick bound to movement. For those not used to playing Nintendo 64 shooters such as Goldeneye, Duke Nukem 64, Turok Franchise, or Perfect dark then this is going to be a very akward situation and a very annoying one to contend with. The weakest part of this game stems from its multiplayer serving of only Survial (deathmatch) and Team Survial.

None of the award-winning gametypes exist here, such as Hostage Rescue or Attack and Defend. Also MIA is Co-operative play with other people, considering I'm not the most anxious of people to play a match against others these days, I generaly hover around Co Op like a moth to fire.

Sadly this is one of the few Rainbow Six titles to lack co op in any way or form, for the moment. I just hope there is some direct community backlash at the lack of co op and a direct request to make a content patch.

This was the first FPS I played on the psp and I was worried. Bland environments, sluggish control, and a not very interesting Terrible. This was the first FPS I played on the psp and I was worried. Bland environments, sluggish control, and a not very interesting story had me worried this was maybe the best the little psp could do. Then I picked up the first Syphon Filter game, Dark Mirror, and it blew me away.

Especially in comparison. Give thisRainbow 6 a pass. There's better stuff out there by far. THis game is so UNFAIR you only get 5 Magzines for your primary weapon and some of these missions are very long you cannot refresh your THis game is so UNFAIR you only get 5 Magzines for your primary weapon and some of these missions are very long you cannot refresh your ammo.you can't pickup ammo/Grenades from dead enemies, Thats UNACCEPTABLE. There are NO Health packs EVER! At any Point!!!

The Checkpoint system is a. joke.

So If you're injured and low on ammo or have no Ammo you are screwed. If you still own a PSP dont waste time on this.