Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six

by UBI Soft

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000038A7C
• Media: Game Cartridge
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,192 in Video Games (See Bestsellers in Video Games)

Product Description

Editorial Review

Every once in awhile, a game comes along that pulls elements of popular game genres together in a refreshing new way. Rainbow Six is such a game, taking the engrossing realism of a first-person action game, such as GoldenEye 007, and adding a strategy element that brings enormous depth to the gameplay.

Tom Clancy authored the Rainbow Six game while drafting the novel of the same name, and the attention to detail shows in the depth and maturity of the story and game design. Players take command of an elite anti-terrorist team through 12 missions that vary from saving hostages to disarming bombs. A plot unravels along the way that literally leaves the fate of the world in the player's shaking hands (a rumble pack works wonders here).

Before jumping into the mission, players can read briefings and bios of the terrorists, choose team members based on specialty, and strategize each move using an overhead map of the area or building they must infiltrate. Setting waypoints in the planning stage allows the computer-controlled team members to, say, infiltrate a back door while the player leads another team through the front door in the first-person view. A few button pushes shifts the player's control to the other team. Realism is key here, and 20 minutes of planning may end with one bad move. That is, if the terrorist responds intelligently--the artificial intelligence (AI) is a bit buggy at times. Two players can complete missions together, creating a multiplayer option that sure is a welcome change from running around with guns blazin'. --Eric Twelker

Pros:

• An engrossing game, paced as one might expect from a novelist
• Effective ambient sound effects
• An excellent port from the acclaimed PC version

Cons:

• Realism is sometimes compromised by buggy AI
• Graphics are a bit plain in some areas

GameSpot Review

Rainbow Six is highly unique - while it is played from a first-person perspective, and your character does have a gun, it is not exactly what would be classified as a "first-person shooter." What's Rainbow Six's hook? Strategy.

In R6, you lead a team of professional soldiers into the lairs of terrorists where you'll free hostages, diffuse bombs, and accomplish other delicate military tasks. What's unique about this game is that you can plan the mission in advance - a detailed map of the entire level is available, and you can set waypoints, where you can move your operatives to and have them perform various actions. This means while you and your backup are charging into the front of the building, your other team (controlled by either the computer in one-player mode or a friend in two-player mode) can be picking the backdoor lock or picking off snipers.

Control is tight, intuitive, and accurate. The default configuration is impeccable, and each option is both well placed and easily memorable - qualities that were sorely lacking in the PlayStation version. While just about every button has a function, it is not in the least confusing, and immersion is instant.

The graphics certainly do the job - realism is the order of the day, and Saffire went for just that. If you're looking for anything fanciful or artistic, look elsewhere. This is a military simulation, and it emulates the real world. The levels are expansive but not excessive. Everything has a striking tinge of realism. There is background info on the characters - lifted directly from the Clancy novel from which the game takes its name. There is also detailed information on each mission, the players, the factors, and the events that lead to the crisis you are trying to resolve. While you don't have to read this information (and, in fact, the game has a quick-start option that lets you skip the planning mode entirely and jump into the skin of a Rainbow Sixer), details like this are what set this game apart from the pack.

There is atmospheric music, randomly played. At first it seems as though it's whispering a warning of imminent danger around the corner, but after a few false scares, it seems as though the tunes are triggered on the computer's whim and bear no relation to the level's action. While the music swells dramatically and sounds quite nice, its inappropriate placement grates more than pleases. The soldiers' clipped speech is informative, if repetitive. It's quite clear, and it lets you know exactly what's happening - sometimes your backup will take out a terrorist you didn't even see, and it's always nice to know precisely what's going on.

If you do choose to go the planning route, it's intensely configurable. Everything is selectable - operatives, gear, the locations where the Rainbows stop on the map, and what they do once they've gotten there, and it's up to you to come up with a cohesive plan to infiltrate the enemy compound with the fewest problems. Because this game follows the path of realism, one shot can kill, and it's important to make sure you've got a handle on the situation before it boils over. When they begin to lose their grip on the situation, the enemies will have no compunctions about killing a hostage or setting off an explosion, which means you must be quick and decisive for victory to be yours.

Twelve missions make up the roster - a sizable chunk of gameplay when you consider that there are multiple difficulty levels and a cooperative two-player mode. The game succeeds where its brother (in name only) for the PlayStation failed; instead of being a lame pretender to GoldenEye's throne, the original gameplay elements of Rainbow Six for the N64 kept it from being a boring "me too." While your enjoyment of this game is probably contingent on your enthusiasm for military situations - this game does deliver a military simulation on a very personal level. --Christian Nutt
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, you can't go wrong., January 3, 2000

By A Customer

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This is an excellent game. The graphics, while not the best, are great. Since the graphics do not have super high detail,there is no drop in framerates during gameplay (like in GoldenEye when many "bad guys" were on the screen). Although there are only 12 levels, there are three difficulty levels and don't forget the 2 player co-op mode. The game does lack a deathmatch, but if you and your friends want to kill each other that bad, you can split up in the level and then hunt down each other. This is, by far, the most realistic game for the Nintendo 64. Usually, one shot will kill the terrorist and one shot from the terrorist will kill you. (This depends where you are hit/where you hit the terrorist, and the distance between you and the terrorist.) The AI (Artificial Intelligence) is excellent. Believe me, if you just go around shooting wildly, the terrorists will hear your shots and you will be killed. Much strategy is involved in this game. And, you don't just go into a mission, you can plan where your teams will infiltrate the building, who they will kill, etc. The lack of cut scenes is suprising, but does not damage the overall score of the game. And, for the non-blood fans, you can turn the blood on/off. The controls are outstanding, identical to those in Turok (move with the c-buttons and aim with the joystick). The weapons are all realistic and realistic sounding,(for example, if you shoot a wall with a silenced gun at close range, you will hear the sound of wood splintering, but if you shoot a wall from far away, you hear nothing). All and all, this game is magnificent. If you enjoy first person shooter/strategy games, this is a must buy (or a must rent if you can't buy it). You will not regret owning Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Ever!, November 30, 1999

By A Customer

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Rainbow Six for N64 is without a doubt the best game that any fan of the action/stratgey genre could ever buy. Great gameplay combined with great graphics and a really intricate story line make Rainbow Six a must have for any action fan.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the most realistic n64 game ever, December 19, 1999

By A Customer

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

If you like realism, combined with intense terrorist busting action, this is defenently the game for you. the most realistic part of the game is when you get shot, it dosen't take 15,0000000.. and on and on--shots to kill you, once you're shot, you're shot. another thing thats so much more realistic, is the AI(artificial intelligence) of the operatives and the tangos (terrorists). for instance, I was in one stage, were I was supposed to rely totally on stealth and skill,and I accidentally shot my machine gun, and the guard came to check it out. this game consists of 12 heartpounding missions that include 10 from the original and 2 from the expansion. the mission objectives cosist of hostage rescues(mostly) and bomb threats, and international incidents. One of the best parts about it is the unbelievable graphics of the game, far better than goldeneye, and the fact that they actually got the licence this time to get the real names of the guns used, unlike goldeneyes ppk, or there cougar magnum, or their blocky characters. where as rainbow six has very smooth graphics , and very rounded bodies, and the most realistic real world locations, and real time lighting effects on characters and in the worlds. the very best part of the game, besides all of the stuff that i've already said , is the 2 player co-op mode, so if you get board of the game-which you probably won't-you can always have a friend over to play to. I know i've played the pc version, and ive beatten the game in all three settings , and on the 64 version, I can't even get past the second level in elite- and i bet you'll have a tough time to. but thats enogh of that. so to sum it up, i'd just like to say that this game is awesome, and to that guy who says that this game stinks, you're obviously a playstation fan who dosen't know a good game when he plays one , and obviously hasn't played the playstation version, (which i do not recommend for even the most avid playstation fan). anyway , this game is the best game for the n64, and I would definently recommend it. TRUST ME! THIS GAME IS UNBELEIVABLE. BUY IT OR PLAY IT WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE.