Rainbow Six 3

After quite some delay, Tom Clancy's anti-terrorist team has finally crossed over from Xbox to the PlayStation 2. How does this version of the tactical shooter compare to its big brother?

PlayStation 2 owners get a bonus in the form of a map exclusive to that platform. But the real bonus is in the totally new split screen co-operative mode. Rainbow Six on Xbox offered LAN and Xbox Live co-operative play, yet it's only a minority of gamers that take advantage of these great online features. It's great to see PlayStation 2 owners getting a chance to play the missions with a friend on a single machine. It works surprisingly well, with the two players being able to work together as a team on any of the game's single player missions. The gameplay remains smooth in this mode, the only major change being the removal of the first-person gun model in favour of an onscreen crosshair - this is to give the players a clear view when only using half the TV screen each.

It's clear that the wait has paid off for PlayStation owners who can now boast of a feature rich and enhanced version of Rainbow Six 3. Developing the game for the higher spec machines first has paid off and resulted in another PS2 game that works hard to match up to its more powerful rivals.

Ubisoft really is on a role at the moment as there isn't another developer that seems to be releasing such quantities of quality games one after another. Rainbow Six 3 is by no means a Mensa game, but it's no straight shooter either. The missions are involving and require some thought and tactical awareness if the whole team is to survive. The inclusion of the split screen co-op mode, which Xbox owners will have to wait until R63: Black Arrow to enjoy, is a real treat - especially for those without the network adapter. Is it work purchasing for people who don't play online? Yes, the single player game is absorbing and exciting and R63 is worth the entrance fee alone for this adventure. It's never been the prettiest of games, even on Xbox, but it is a good looking, action packed game that's worthy of your time.