This Tuesday GRFS is released... I got my pre-order in for Xbox 360... who else is getting it? 360 or PS3? Day of release, a while later, never?

Getting it for 360 but not until opinions are out. GR peaked at island thunder and GR2 from me and has proceeded to slowly go down hill.

I enjoyed the GRAWs but nearly as much as the previous ones.

I'm reviewing it for SimHQ, but need friends, lol...

and stop comparing it to the original GR, that ain't ever going to happen anymore.

This is very much a "not likely to purchase" title for me.

I'll wait for the member reviews to roll in but, so far, I don't like what I see. The MP beta video I've seen was a turn-off and, overall, the game looks too futuristic. I'll stick with BF3 on the XBox for my modern combat MP fix.

I'm waiting for Iron Front. That's likely going to be my next game purchase.

Yeah im definitely gettin iron front Leemz.

Not comparing it to OGR Mags, just saying that i've enjoyed each one a little bit lessbecause each one is a little further removed from the types of game i enjoy. If i do get it before you finish your review then definitely count me in for some games, well even after you've reviewed it hehe. But, it's not looking very likely that i'll be getting it.

Yeah I will be passing on this one too, tried the MP beta and the gameplay was not my style (too much gun and run).

Too busy with DayZ and Iron Front and FM4 Porsche pack will be out this next week, so if I try this it will be somewhere down the road on a sale.

I'm getting it for PC in June...or buying a PS3 and getting a copy with it, haven't decided.

Hey Magnum I'll probably pick it up for the 360 on Wednesday and then I have vacation through Sunday. So I'll have an oportunity to play mp at some point after Tuesday.

Just let me know when's a good day after Tuesday. I'll probably want to play a little sp first on Wednesday too.

Passed based on videos and footage,

brother passed on it after playing the beta.

i passed after i was given a GreenDisc, which i will never boot up again, I've already sent it back with a note stating that UbiSoft and Co needs to stop dragging Tom Clancy's name through the dog #%&*$#.

After playing the beta I cancelled my preorder and ended up getting Diablo 3 with the money. I just hated the beta and didn't think the singleplayer or anything coop would appeal to me either.

I'll probably be another one getting Iron Front. I've never played Arma games online except for a brief stint on DayZ though.

I didn't think many would be getting it... I probably wouldn't if i wasn't reviewing it for SimHQ, lol.

I'm not expecting a tactical game like the original, i know those days are gone... but I am hoping that the SP is worth playing once or twice like GRAW2 was... and thou I don't think I EVER played GRAW2 MP, I did play alot of GRAW2 squad size (8 player) co-op missions with all aids off and it was GREAT... so I'm hoping for the same thing, but with few friends getting it...who knows.

I'll play what I need to for the review, then get back to BF3.

Magnum - I have this preordered and I'm picking it up this morning. If you want to try out the MP, let me know.

1st impressions... trying and playing every mode this AM... Not as action as say the COD or BF series, but more of a fall away from the tactical shooter most of us want. (and all options that made GRAW2 co-op so great is GONE... so your stuck with icons, over busy HUDS, and enemy outlines... that BLOWS.

Buy only if you like the future thing... or wait for my full review in a couple of weeks.

Just got it today. Hope to start playing in a few hours.

I'm hoping my 1st impressions change... but as of now cant even bring myself to force play it, lol... BTW, what the hell are those blue rings around the weapons suppose to be? lol

And it's going to be even harder to play once we all get on Iron Front

That ring around the gun bothered me more than anything else in the beta. Felt like having one of those cone shaped dog collars on.

Well I'm liking it so far for what it is. Its still not like the old days which I knew already but it still has its tactical elements. It does have its quirks but it also has some great things. I'm on the second "Nambia" mission and I love the setting and look of the environment. I'm getting a better feel for my controls and learning how to tag and do sync shots with my other ghosts.

The character modeling and animations look great. I do wish you could toggle the enemy see=through tags as once there are multiple targets up, it gets in the way of situational awareness.

I guess the blue rings is all apart of the "future" aspect. I don't think they are really distracting. Unecessary yes but I suppose its supposed to be some sort of hologram.

Picked it up today.
Just like the beta, I was not too crazy about it at first, but then it grew on me a LOT.

MP thoughts:
-These aren't Ghost Recon maps, but would be pretty darn good Rainbow Six maps. Small to mid size, but a lot of layers and options for getting around (other than Pipeline). I can adapt with that in mind, I love some Rainbow Six.
-The guns really are satsifying compared to the other games. Nice and punchy, great options
-We played in a private room of friends, unfortunately limited to 12 on console (we could easily do 16).
-Private rooms have all equipment WIDE OPEN the way it should be. It's odd to be so acclimated to having to unlock crap that it felt strange at first, but became natural again quickly. There's a lot of good equipment and counters when you have full access.
-Played Conflict at first, which is not a bad game, but when we switched over to Siege, it became Ghost Recon again. The maps felt better, just a bit bigger, the pace felt better...simply had a great time with the game. I'd almost forgotten how much I hate respawn games. The tension was back, as well as the chance to BS with friends in the dead room. It wasn't just hectic shooter-land.
-Pipeline is still a horrible map, but there are some from the other end of the spectrum. The Cargo map was a nice take on the usual cargo ship map that comes up a good bit. The oil rig was nice, you had to watch all around all the time or you'd get taken out from somewhere you didn't even know was possible.

Campaign:
I only got to play for a short while, but got through a couple of areas.
-Briefings are back. I love briefings. I hate the "seemless game play" from the last batch of GR and Rainbow games. Then it changed countries. It wasn't Mexico! Oh yeah!
-Gameplay seems taken from Splinter Cell Conviction, with the same mark/execute type system from Vegas. The game looks pretty darn good. Might be a little washed out, but that's better than the Ubisoft brown we've become so accustomed to.
-The mission area was scored, which I like. I can see going back through trying to be more stealthy. My understanding is that the campaign is pretty short, so any reason to replay it is good.

Bottom line:
MP isn't as complex as the other GR games, the host options are limited, we don't have BLIND siege or some other favorite game types, but the gameplay itself is there. If we could ditch the perfect red outlines for spotted enemies, it would be a vast improvement, but otherwise the always-on HUD isn't as intrusive as it used to be.
I look forward to trying some co-op and playing a lot more MP with friends.
And I *LOVE* the stun mine. How can you not like 9 tasers pointed right where someone's going to come around a corner? Stun, hack, kill.
With Splinter Cell, I think Chaos Theory is one of the best all time games. Conviction was NO Chaos Theory. Taken on it's own merits though, I still like it a lot and play it. At this point, I feel similarly about GR:FS compared to the previous GR games.

I also concur on the briefings Raw. That's another thing that tickled me. We have a real pre-mission briefing accompanied by weapons and equiptment set up. I like the minute configurations of the weapon smith. I also am estatic that we are out of stinking Mexico. Nambia has crystal blue skies and white, sunbaked sands. Don't me to spoil it but wait until you reach the storm part of the mission.(cool stuff )

I also like how in-game cinematics pop up seamlessly to continue and carry the story. And your other squad mates have enough character without sounding like they just graduated high school.

It does have a Splinter Cell Conviction mechanics which is great for moving from cover to cover. I also love the stealth shoot option where you catch the guy you just killed.

And the tagging is important and useful in different ways.



Oh, and the camo is pretty nifty. Its actually quite awesome panning your view off to the side while walking, only to see the rest of your Ghost team moving off to your side, dropping their stance, and then turning into a transparent blur. And I think it is one of those games that starts a little slow and needs some time invested to start opening up. I felt that way when I first loaded it up. It seemed not the quality it should be for a game in this series but there is substance behind it if you give it a chance. And the graphics are good. Not the best Xbox 360 graphics but still very good and its nice having a different looking and "feeling" Ghost Recon game. I think the sun lighting and shadows are great.

Is the coop campaign a different story?

no, exact same... actually before you start a mission you can invite friends... 4 player co-op on these missions would be GREAT. imo

Anyone want to team up tomorrow for some coop?

Hey Coot. I would like to try some coop. I'm not sure when I'll be home tomorrow, but I'll send you a friend request on Xbox Live.

Okay Snake. Evening might be good for me but let me know.

Evening would be best for me too. I'll post here before I get on tonight.

Roger stay frosty

I'm online now Coot...

Crap I'm sorry I missed you. I got on there and accepted your friends request. I was on there till after 9:00pm eastern playing sp but never saw you. Must have just missed you.

No problem Coot. I got on around 7:30 - 8:00 MST, so I did miss you. Anytime you are on Xbox Live, see me and want to play, send me a game invite or a message and we can try the coop.

I do have to wonder that with all of ubi's money and production values and other products, and with games on the console that stand out visually like Batman AC, Uncharted 3 and others, why they couldn't have done a nicer job in the graphics department with this one. Its not horrible looking and sometimes the lighting and sun glare is just great, but for the most part it looks pretty sloppy and rough looking.

Sometimes I almost get the feeling I'm playing a slightly better looking SOCOM PS2 game.

Maybe someday they'll give a damn and do the job right the first time. Even if its not a mega seller it will be a game with substance and lasting quality.

Magnum, are you going to get and review the pc version too? I'm thinking I should have waited for the pc version for higher res graphics.