There's a small army of Ton Clancy games due out in rapid succession, and Mark Leung takes a look at them all.

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The Sum of All Tom Clancy’s Splintered Raven Shield?

I think it’s ridiculous as well. Three games in one year? And I know you think they’re all going to be the same, but even if they all were, wouldn’t you want them all anyway considering the track record of Tom Clancy games? With the absolutely fabulous Ghost Recon series, Red Storm polished up many of the things that made the R6: Rogue Spear series frustrating and annoying. Hopefully, with these three games, the trend of excellence can continue while offering some variety in a genre that has grown in appeal and scope. These games offer the next generation of tactical FPS that look to further push the envelope.

The first in this year’s lineup of tactical shooters is The Sum of All Fears. Based on the movie, and the book, players will follow a parallel plot that is supposed to occur at the same time as the events in the book and the movie. You will not get to play Jack Ryan; instead, you will lead members of the elite FBI’s HRT (Hostage Rescue Team). Again there will be a sinister plot by all round bad people to create some major world havoc that you will have to stop.

Powered by the Ghost Recon engine, players will lead a team of 3 agents through 11 missions in West Virginia (oooh, exotic), South Africa, and the Middle East. Features include the standard fare of 15 weapon types, plus all manner of flashbangs and grenades. There will be a multiplayer component as is to be expected these days, and it will include the various game types (CTF, Deathmatch, etc.) that online junkies have come to know and love. Default plans before a mission begins will allow newcomers to jump right into the action, while people who are accustomed to the Rainbow Six series can plan their own waypoints, and assault strategies.

Of the three TCTS (Tom Clancy Tactical Shooter) planned for this year, this one looks to be the weakest of the three and the most redundant. Games based on movies are about as good as movies based on games (with the exception of Goldeneye), and this installment of the Tom Clancy series looks like it will be rushed. With the film due out in the next few weeks, it is doubtful that the developers will have time to iron out all the bugs let alone make the game original and interesting. Also, with a game based on a movie, mass appeal will be something that the developers will be gunning for. This likely means that the level of realism will be toned down a bit to increase the appeal to fans of more fast paced shooters. Anything is possible though, and if it falls to the base level of the standard set by Red Storm, the maps and weapons alone will probably be enough to lure many tactical fans to its shelf space.

Above - Rainbow Six: Raven Shield

Next up, we have a new installment in the Rainbow Six series and this is a completely new reworking complete with a new engine to replace the dying Rogue Spear entry. Of the three games to be released from Ubisoft bearing Tom Clancy’ mark, this one looks to be the most true to the original concepts of the Rainbow Six series. Once again, players will assume the role of the members of UN elite counter terrorism unit, Rainbow.

As the game is still early in development, no plot or multiplayer features have been detailed yet. Most of the developments so far have been in the AI and graphical departments. The game is powered by Epic’s latest Unreal engine and just taking a look at the screenshots, it’s easy to see the improvement over Ghost Recon. A more user friendly interface is also set to replace the sometimes daunting and confusing planning stages of the game.

The first detail to be addressed so far is the issue of the AI of both enemies and team members. In Rogue Spear, your friendlies could be somewhat of a liability and the terrorists were sometimes a little slow, and at other times, seemed more elite than your team. A number of improvements have been made that add nice graphical touches, while increasing the functionality of your team.

Your team will never walk in single file, the rear team member will cover the advance of their other team members, and all team members will now drop to one knee to present a smaller target when stationary. The covering fire that your team members provide will also be better, as they know not to cover a wall or objects. As your team members sweep past you, they will lower the barrels of their weapons, further enhancing the realism of the game.

Bad guys will also be smarter too, and will provide newer, more realistic challenges. If you are spotted, enemies may try and suppress you while calling for backup. If you are lucky, they may just give up allowing you to handcuff them. Enemies may also try and flank you and move in on your position if you are pinned down. Hostages will also act more unpredictably as they will have the same reactions as in Rogue Spear, but additionally may try and run away from you and may also throw themselves at you to try and be saved.

Above - Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Additional tweaks to your options of movements will also be in place. You will now be able to slide down ladders, lean and shoot around corners, and open doors a little bit at a time.

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What tactical game would be complete without new gear? All the weapons available in previous Rainbow games will make their return in Raven Shield, with a sprinkling of new weapons added to the mix. New gear will also include a set of thermal goggles that will allow team members to spot baddies even through thin walls.

Of the three, this game looks to be the true successor in the Rainbow

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Six series. With the original gameplay aspects of the series intact, the facelift and tweaks to the AI and movement, Raven Shield should improve on an already high standard set by games like Rogue Spear: Urban Ops, and Ghost Recon.

Lastly, we have the greatest departure from the genre in Tom Clancy’s: Splinter Cell.

In this game, you will not control a squad of characters, but will instead play a lone operative. Under the direction of the NSA (National Security Agency), you will assume the role of Sam Fisher, a member of the Third Echelon. This elite group of lone operatives is trained to infiltrate and take out special targets that require particular discretion.

Great emphasis will be placed on sneaking around and taking out guards with your brains rather than with an arsenal. While infiltrating compounds you will have to use your thermal vision to spot heat from fingerprints on keypads to gain access to restricted areas. Setting up demolitions, and explosions from gas tanks and pipes to cause distractions will also be your specialty. Players will have to work their way through 14 missions, and will have access to at least 13 different weapons.

While still early in development, Splinter Cell, is powered by the Unreal II engine and will be playable at E3. The gameplay emphasis will not be on planning and execution but rather on sneaking around and taking out your mark without being seen or heard. Early comparisons are being drawn to the Metal Gear Solid series rather than any other of Tom Clancy’s games.

While not in the tradition of the other Tom Clancy games, this one looks like it will be a lot of fun, and will almost certainly be compared to Metal Gear. How it fares will have to be seen, but if the early build is an indication of things to come, Solid Snake may not be the only bad ass on the block.

So there you have it, not one, or two, but three, Tom Clancy games coming soon for your gaming pleasure. Hopefully, the trend will continue where every subsequent game that is released bearing Tom Clancy’s name is an improvement on things past.

Title: The Sum of All Fears

Platform: PC (Possibly other platforms to follow)

Genre: Tactical Shooter

Developer: Red Storm Entertainment

Publisher: Ubisoft

ETA: Q2 2002

Rating: Teen

Title: Rainbow Six: Raven Shield

Platform: PC, Xbox

Genre: Tactical Shooter

Developer: Ubisoft (Montreal Studio)/Red Storm Entertainment

Publisher: Ubisoft

ETA: Q4 2002

Rating: RP (Pending)

Title: Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell

Platform: PC, Xbox (Possibly other platforms to follow)

Genre: Sneaker Shooter

Developer: Ubisoft (Montreal Studio)

Publisher: Ubisoft

ETA: Q4 2002

Rating: RP (Pending)

- Mark Leung


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