Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars Review

At first glance, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars is an unlikely 3DS inaugural title. With a launch library focusing on exhibiting quick, palatable demonstrations of the hardware’s capabilities, a thoughtful turn-based game which delivers a middling initial impression can be a tough sell. Yet, surrender a few hours to the title and its virtues become unmistakable, as the game’s mixture of devastating weaponry and chess-like depth seamlessly converges. Mirroring the calculated tactics of the cartridge’s satisfying skirmishes, Shadow Wars is a powerful counterattack on an otherwise conventional introductory software lineup. Fans of grid-based darlings such as Advance Wars and Fire Emblem should be duty-bound to give the game a try.

From Richter, the gung-ho heavy machine gunner to the imperturbable Haze, the team’s sniper, each member of the squad has a particular specialty. After a handful of introductory stages, players are free to choose their own mission rosters, typically picking any three of four members of the game’s six-member regiment. For me, I grew disproportionately enamored by Banshee, the game’s optical camo-suited, stealthy siren. With the ability to remain cloaked to all but adjacent foes she proved to be an imperative asset. Since the game forgoes managing healing items (although immediate-use med packs are scattered around some zones) and the death of a ghost results in mission failure, I also relied on Saffron, the game’s matriarchal medic. Perhaps it was my play style, but I found commandeering the  straightforward assault soldiers a bit less appealing and longed for more a oblique arsenal. If Ubisoft green-lights a sequel, additions like anti-personal mines and decoys would be appreciated.

Depending on the selected difficulty of the mission, players are rewarded with stars which can be applied to supplement each ghost members health or loadout. While being able to control your team’s development is satisfying, the option in undermined by the its depth- each member has only a single tech-tree. Likewise, the game’s multiplayer mode seems like a afterthought. Despite the 3DS’s robust ad-hoc and online functionality, Shadows Wars compels players to pass a single system back and forth. For single players, the title’s supplement of unlockable skirmish missions ensure value past the twenty+ hours it takes to complete the main campaign.

Much like Solid Snake’s deviation into turn-based combat for the Metal Gear Acid series, contextualizing Ghost Recon unto a grid is an inspired choice. With a efficient command scheme which avoids getting mired in multilayer menus along with an instinctive ruleset which balances depth and  accessibility, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars offers a accomplished alternative from the 3DS’s  collection action-oriented launch titles. Armchair strategists are encouraged to plot a way-point in the vicinity of their nearest retailer.