Rainbow Six 3 is different from its predecessors. A PS2 adaptation of the Xbox 360, the game has an intuitive and simple command system that negates any complex planning. Team orders can be easily executed by pressing the X button, which includes clearing rooms, defusing explosives, stealth, opening doors etc. Your computer-controlled team-mates will act automatically in various situations and there’s no wastage of time in commands.
Like other Rainbow Six games, the PS2 version features numerous missions and some sophisticated weaponry. You, as Domingo “Ding” Chavez with three other operatives comprising of snipers and commandos counterattack terrorists in different scenarios ranging from hostage situations to defusing bombs and other intense missions that are very close to realistic combat situations. Unlike other fps games, this game is no button-masher. Only stealth-based initiatives, surprise-attacks and tactics are the key to kill terrorists. There is no second chance: a hit and you are dead. The game continues if your operatives get killed in action, but once Chavez gets hit by a bullet, the game has to be played again. Some missions involving bombs and hostages have different conditions that need to be taken care of. If any hostages get killed or if a bomb gets denoted, your mission fails.
The PS2 version has different checkpoints to save your progress automatically, but compared with the Xbox360 version, there’s no manual save, which is a bit disappointing. The enemy AI is very unimpressive. A game like Rainbow Six 3 should have intelligent enemies, but alas, the enemies look more like a bunch of rookie shooters who keep on spurting bullets blindly.
The PS2 version has a nice custom mission mode, which lets you play unlocked campaign missions. The mode adds randomness to the game. Each time you play any custom mission, you will see enemy AIs positioning themselves in different points. The advanced weaponry is very impressive. You will wield different varieties of weapons ranging from sniper rifles, submachine guns, assault rifles to scoped submachine guns, all carefully modeled to look exactly like their real counterparts. Each gun has its own accuracy ratings. But, the controls, particularly the aiming system, is not as accurate as most PC versions, though there’s that occasional auto-aim system, if enemy AIs fall within your range.
