Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (Xbox 360)

I decided to buy this game from seeing the reviews from game websites, claiming it was "Awesome" "5 stars" etc etc. I felt i was taking a risk, knowing little of the 'Ghost Recon' series. However, the first impressions of the game were outstanding, an excellant atmosphere and sutnning graphics, which blend very well, even the way you character runs and moves is extremly life like. I am just using a standard TV, playing this game on a HDTV the graphics would be outstanding!

The Missions are fun, and dont get repeative. Many similar games i have played can get repeative, start...stealth mode for a bit, shoot, then end of mission, then the next mission it happens again in similar surroundings etc, such a Call of Duty or Rainbow6. However, GRAW seems to make excitement every mission, something new, working within a team. Also you get "intel" from supporting black hawks in the sky, giving you a sense of relism, as in a real war situation.

I thought i was taking a risk buying this game, espically for the price. I was very suprised at how well this game has come out, the designers have done themselves proud. I would definatly definatly recommended this to anyone who is considering buying this game, in doubt? just get it! you will be grateful. One of my favorite games on the XBOX360.

The latest in a long line of Tom Clancy games makes it's debut on the next generation's hottest property, the XBox 360. So you've toiled for your platinum medals on PGR3, played Call of Duty 2 through on "Veteran", dodged bullets by sprinting through PDZ levels, and are now searching for something new, something to truly make others green with envy. Enter GR:AW...

Fast forward 7 years from now to Mexico and you'll have the game's setting in a nutshell. You are the Captain of the Ghosts, a crack team of operatives of whom you have complete control due to the innovative "cross-com". This "cross-com" is effectively your standard HUD, but from which you can command your team members, identify targets and objectives and plan your missions in detail. It's a system that works exceptionally well.

There are eleven missions in total and whilst this might not seem extensive, the difficulty is pitched at the perfect point, where stealth and planning are paramount - it's a great feeling coming up against a situation, taking the time to prepare, and nailing it first time.

Controlling yourself and your troops does take some time as GR:AW makes full use of every click, flick and button press of your controller. However you'll soon be commanding your men with ease, forcing them into recon mode for a softly-softly approach, or imposing assault mode for a fire-at-will. Your team-mates AI is equally impressive.

GR:AW is full of touches which accentuate it's class. If you start to wander too far off the map you won't be hit with a Tony Hawks-style brick wall, instead your HUD will start gathering interference, and you'll be told in no uncertain terms to get back to the battlefield! When sniping you can also pull on the left trigger to hold your breath, to steady yourself for a more accurate shot. It's features like this that make GR:AW stand head and shoulders above it's peers.

Whilst the offline campaign is as good as it is, value-for-money is furthered to astonishing levels due to the exhaustive online modes via Live!. Solo, Team, Co-Op modes, they're all here, with staples such as Capture-the-Flag, Territory and standard elimination. With the right crowd online it's good, tense fun but as ever, this is where a decent Friends list comes in.

At an RRP of around the £50 mark you're paying a premium for being an early adopter of the next generation of gaming, you expect or at very least hope for value-for-money. GR:AW is one of these titles where the steep price point can be entirely justified, with it's intuitive and accessible control system, engaging single-player campaign, extensive multiplayer options, breathtaking visuals and immersive audio, if this isn't on your shopping list or already in your collection, then why do you have a 360?

Visuals: 9

It's unlikely that you'll see a much prettier or detailed game at present on the 360 - hook this up to an HDTV for the full and desired effect.

Audio: 10

You owe this game a 5.1 system or at the very least a decent set of headphones. The panic that ensues when a bullet smashes into a wall behind you is all due to the stunning audio.

Gameplay: 9

Team-based battle games can be notoriously hard work. Whilst a game like GR:AW is never going to be "pick up and play", once mastered it'll feel like all good games should - it makes you feel good when you play it.

Lifespan: 10

A benchmark for a next-generation title. A challenging single player mode and more multiplayer options than you'll ever need - it'll keep you going until the next installment at least.

The Xbox 360 has been waiting for a game like this. Something that will show off the console's huge power reserves and something that is easy to get into but giving you fair few struggles along the way.

All the trailers I have seen for this game have been gameplay footage - there aren't really any cut-scenes to speak of. Between missions whilst travelling in a heavily armoured vehicle or chopper you are able to look around whilst dialogue is played out. Character models, animations and scenery are all stunning and are as close to lifelike as I've seen on any game. Best viewed in high-definition though.

Ghost Recon makes great use of a surround sound system as it enables you to pinpoint where voices, gunfire and explosions are coming from. There is music in the game but its mostly incidental and infrequent, allowing you to listen to the sound effects and hear enemies moving before they start shooting at you.

This is a great game to play, with straight-forward controls and enough tools to get the better of your enemies making it easy to get to grips with, but it is hard, even on normal. It doesn't take many shots to kill you, there are no energy packs and you can't save between checkpoints - so you'll often replay some sections over and over in order to reach the checkpoint. Its a minor problem in the grand scheme of things.

Most of the missions involve leading your team through the streets of Mexico city to rescue people or blow things up. A simple system of pointing at a location with your crosshairs and pushing up on the d-pad will issue an order to your 3 team mates, or a tank or a helicopter gunship. Making the most of your team is the key to success, although it doesn't lead you along like Call of Duty 2.

With plenty of Live options and downloadable content and a game format that feels like Socom 2 on steroids, you really can't go wrong.