GRAW still amazes me

Ever since Ghost Recon Island Thunder came out, I have been a huge Ghost Recon fan. I played that game hours on end and never got tired of it's game-play. About a year later, Ghost Recon 2 hit store shelves, a day I had been looking forward since it was announced. I played the game no more than a week until I realized what a disappointment the game was in comparison to Island Thunder. The graphics may have been better, but the core game-play from the first Ghost Recon games was lacking greatly. Then, when Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter was announced for the Xbox 360, I thought I'd give the series another chance. To my surprise, the game took me back to its roots. It wasn't just another run and gun shooter like so many others on the market today, it played like a tactical shooter once again. It might not always seem that way when playing over Xbox Live however, because some gamers new to the series just can't come to grasp the fact that the game isn't another Halo (not that there's anything wrong with that ? Halo 2 is one of my favorite games). Overall, I am extremely pleased at how this game turned out. Everything about this game screams "Next Gen," from the game-play to the graphics and EVERYTHING in between.

Presentation:
The story of the game is extremely action packed, but still plays like a tactical shooter - perfect for fans of the original titles in the series. The menus for the game are set up very nicely and are easy to use.

Graphics:
The extreme detail this game goes into really makes you believe the power that the Xbox 360 holds. Things like individual sprigs of grass swaying in the wind, leaves moving with the wind, lighting, and reflections on windows make the game seem very realistic. People keep saying that the game doesn't look as good in multiplayer as it does in single player, but, in my opinion, the multiplayer maps are what 360 games should look like (especially this early in the systems release) and the single player are just WAY over the top.

Sound:
Another thing that really sets the mood in this game is the sound. When you go by a certain building or area, and you start to hear enemies talking in the background, it really gives you the feel of being in the game itself. Not only can you also hear bullets flying out of your gun, but you can hear the shells falling and hitting the ground. This was another nice touch and adds to a truly realistic feeling.

Game-play:
This game, as I've said before, plays very closely to the original ones in the series! This is one of the main things that keeps me excited and entertained every time I turn on this game.

Lasting Appeal:
The true test with games these days is how the multiplayer portion of the game is and this game doesn't lack in it at all. I find myself playing on Xbox Live for hours on end with no intention of quitting anytime soon. The 10 maps available right now are each great in there own respects and there is great diversity between them. I have a feeling the multiplayer aspect will keep this game fresh and exciting all the way through to the end of this year and into 2007.