Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (Nintendo Wii)

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon is a game in the Ghost Recon series with gameplay very different from the other entries. Most of the other games are tactical shooters, while this one is a rail shooter where most of the movement is done automatically, so the player only has to point and shoot. After completing a section the soldiers generally move to a next position automatically and the camera, always showing the soldiers from a third-person perspective, cannot be controlled. The story describes how an ultranationalist faction within the Russian army staged a coup in Moscow and other major cities to take over the country. Since then they have expanded their control into Norway. Eighteen months later the Allied side starts a beach landing in Norway and attempts to move into Russia, which take up the game’s 30 missions of the Campaign mode.

Next to support for the Wii Zapper, the game is typically controlled with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The Nunchuk is used to switch between aim and cover, and to change weapons. The Wii Remote is used to aim and shoot, and two buttons to change weapons and to switch between cover. Reloading is done by pointing off the screen and shooting. While running the Wii Remote can be shaken to slide into cover. While in a cover position the soldier cannot be hit, but cover fire also does not harm enemies. Effective fire can only be done while aiming and moving between covers, but at these moments the soldier is also vulnerable, making quick switching mandatory.

There are three difficulty levels and the game is always played with two soldiers, Hibbard and Booth, working cooperatively. When not controlled by another player using the same screen, the computer’s AI controls the second soldier and it is possible to leave or join at any moment. Next to the main Heckler & Koch MP5 weapon they also have a limited amount of grenades and other weapons such as a pistol, an M50 or a barooka can be found later on. Sometimes there are sections controlling a machine gun as a turret or a vehicle mounted gun. There are power-ups in the environment to restore health and also to activate slowed down bullet time for a short moment, making it easier to target and shoot.

Next to the main campaign mode there is a competitive Arcade mode to get a highscore.