Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Review [XBox 360]

As a result of the fine gameplay and the fact that the game encourages multiple approaches to the same missions, the ten hours of game-time feels packed with detail, and the entertainment factor never dips. It is rare in FPS games these days to feel so engaged, and that experience is testament to the fine execution Ubisoft have brought to the table with Future Soldier. And if you want more than the single player offers, it is supplemented with a very good Co-op Mode – with up to four playable characters taking on the entire campaign, and changing the dynamic of entire missions thanks to the even greater focus on team-play and supporting one another.

Then there’s the Multiplayer Modes, which include Decoy – a clever take on team battles which introduces two decoy objectives for the teams to take – conventional death-match mode and Guerrilla mode – Future Soldier’s version of Horde mode.

The game is not without flaws, with some gloss issues coming up, especially in some background sequences where it looks a little like the budget for detail and textures ran out before the game was released. This is a massive shame, as the game is very, very good and could have garnered an even more impressive review score if it weren’t for these slight polish issues, but as it is the overall quality of the rest of the game only serves to make the flaws seem more pronounced. In that respect the poor script and voice acting that might have been expected in any other FPS property seem like more of a betrayal to the rest of the game here. But if those are the only issues, Ubisoft can count Future Soldier a considerable achievement.

And indeed, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is a resounding success, with very few faults, which provokes a level of intellectual engagement rarely seen in some of its fellow modern FPS titles, and which is hugely rewarding thanks to its refusal to dumb gameplay down or appear too “accessible”. It’s not quite perfect, but considering its aspirations and the new elements it offers, it’s a lot closer to it than those early reactions to the first trailers.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier XBox 360 Scoring
Gameplay
Excellent, thanks to an exceptional cover system and the well executed tagging system. All in all it's a comparatively tough game, successfully rewarding team-play and thoughtful approaches to missions rather than sheer firepower.
Graphics
Largely very good, but there are textural problems at times, and human faces have a tendency to look a little poor.
Sound
The sound effects are great, but the soundtrack is mostly unremarkable and voice acting isn't very good at all.
Replay Value
Ten hours of gameplay isn't massive, but good Co-op and Multiplayer modes make sticking with it a much easier choice.
Presentation
Strong art direction and a good story more than make up for the poor dialogue.
Overall
An intelligently crafted, hugely rewarding shooter that pays due attention to former Ghost Recon titles, and rewards exactly what the player puts into it.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is available to buy now on XBox 360, PS3 and PC.

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