Okay, by this point we all know that the PS3 version of Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (RSV2) is having server issues. Over my gaming career I have developed a good amount of respect for Ubisoft and with this in mind the fact that the servers for RSV2 do not work right will not factor into my overall score. I am certain that Ubisoft will correct the problem and therefore I feel that reviewing the game based on a technical error that will be fixed sooner rather than later is not fair.

I have heard a lot of people refer to Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 as an expansion pack. Since when did sequels become expansion packs? The last time I check a new story with new features constitutes a new game, not an expansion.

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 follows a new character by the name of Bishop. Most of the game actually takes place at the same time Rainbow Six: Vegas (RSV) did. The key difference being that your new team is at a different location. All you need to know about the story without giving anything away is that Bishop has a pre-existing relationship with Gabriel (the traitor from RSV) and that Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 will offer a conclusion to the story. However you will have to play the game to figure out what that is.

Now although RSV2 is fairly similar to RSV in regards to its core mechanics, RSV2 does offer some great new features. First and foremost I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of the A.C.E.S. system. The A.C.E.S. system allows you to unlock new weapons and gain extra experience based on how you kill your enemies. I found the system to be very rewarding and added a great new feature without upsetting the way the game was supposed to be played. One thing I noticed almost immediately was that both the enemy and teammate AI has been improved. It was nice not having to walk over and heal my teammates all the time because they were just standing in the middle of the room getting shot. I also really enjoyed the new level designs. As much as I liked the environments in RSV I always felt that they lacked in variety. In Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 there is far more variety and with more spots for cover the game also feels more strategic this time around. My biggest gripe with Rainbow Six: Vegas was the horrible matchmaking setup which has been corrected in RSV2. You can now join rooms in progress and play instead of waiting for the game to end. I no longer have to wait 20 minutes for the opportunity to play only to get booted for no reason. Also with smaller maps I feel that Ubisoft has made some great strides in improving Rainbow Six: Vegas 2's multiplayer.

Even though there are some significant additions and changes made to RSV2 I feel there are still some lingering problems. First and foremost the story is not nearly as entertaining as it was the first time around. Not that RSV told some epic story, but RSV2 completely fails to capture your interest for a majority of the game. While your teammates no longer stand around waiting to get shot they make up for it by not following directions. On more than one occasions I would direct them to move to one location, but they would appear to either ignore me or get stuck on the wall they were on and not move. If I have any issue with the multiplayer it is the fact that they have recycled 3 maps from Rainbow Six: Vegas and included them in Rainbow Six: Vegas 2. I mean come on Ubisoft; the least they could do is change or remodel the maps to make them different, but these are essentially the exact same maps with only minuscule changes. I refuse to believe that this is the extent of the creativity at Ubisoft.

As I have already said Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is definitely more than an expansion pack. With a new campaign, new multiplayer maps and some key changes, RSV2 is a worthy follow up. I would recommend this game to everyone; even those of you who have out played the original. The bottom line is that there is enough new content and some key changes that fans of the original will enjoy.