G.R.A.W. 2 (360) Demo Available Now

[Norse]

No arcade title today, but at least we get something:

Name: Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Demo
Price: Free
Available for: Gold Members in all Xbox Live regions
Dash Details: Following up the 2006 platinum seller Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (GRAW), Ubisoft brings the sequel GRAW2, with more of what fans loved about the original with 12 single player missions, 14 multiplayer maps, and a 6 mission coop campaign. You are the Soldier of the Future 2.0. All systems have been upgraded to give you more power and control on the battlefield. Following the failure of the “coup d’etat” in Mexico City Mexican rebels have gathered their remaining forces along the US border. Lead your team of elite Special Forces for the first time on US soil - straddling the border between Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas. The Ghosts have less than 72 hours to stop a nuclear attack.

This size of this demo is about 500 MB.
Source: Major Nelson (http://www.majornelson.com)

Can't wait to give this one a go...

[Morratut]

I'll download this because I loved GRAW 1.

However I can't see the multiplayer being that much different to GRAW1. I will buy this mainly to do the story and co-op missions,not for the mp.

GRAW was the only decent online shooter last march. COD2 had problems at the time. Things have changed, the bar has been raised especially in the multiplayer side of things with Gears and Vegas.

[The Iron Weasel]

Huzzah! I'm downloading right now...hopefully I'll be able to give'r a shot before I got to class in.....6 hours....Oh dear sweet jesus, where does the time go?

[RainOfTerror]

it's 625mb, not 500, and includes 1 mission (the second mission of the game)

[BadCRC]

WHat about "Silver"? Next week???

[jamaicanrage]

WHat about "Silver"? Next week???

Check major nelson's site. It will probably be a week though.

[Johan]

SNORE!

I don't mind sequels, but I DO mind GRAW being set in Mexico again. That was a poor decision, in my opinion. I'd much prefer a more exotic, or at least a DIFFERENT, locale.

I'll skip it til it's a bargain-basement title. And it will be...virtually all of them are eventually.

[Mdot23]

SNORE!

I don't mind sequels, but I DO mind GRAW being set in Mexico again. That was a poor decision, in my opinion. I'd much prefer a more exotic, or at least a DIFFERENT, locale.


agreed. i wanted to see more vibrant areas, like the maps in the original graw that were set in that beach area, the docks area or that co-op jungle mission. everything is so brown in the single player.

[trip1eX]

Rainbow Recon is back already? I thought a new one just came out.

[Serapth]

agreed. i wanted to see more vibrant areas, like the maps in the original graw that were set in that beach area, the docks area or that co-op jungle mission. everything is so brown in the single player.



Thirded. Im very disappointed they set it in Mexico again. Makes it feel like a minor upgrade then a new game. They should have set it in North Korea, China, or the Middle East, that would have been pretty cool.

[Telefrog]

Count me in on the Mexico/GRAW hate. What is it with their fascination with Mexico? Even R6: Vegas had the Mexico levels. I'm tired of it. At the very least, let us see different parts of Mexico.

You know, part of me wants to do a comparison and see if there are any recycled Mexico textures/buildings from the other games. I'd bet there are.

[The Iron Weasel]

The demo was alright, I'll buy it eventually, but.....fucking hell UbiSoft Vegas' cover system was twice what this ones is, and it was released last year! Another thing is that when you reload your weapon the clip doesn't actually leave the gun (pet peave of mine). It just feels sloppy, if they released it as GRAW: Mission Pack for 20 dollars less (Like GR2: Summit Strike) I'd be all over it but this is NOT a sequel by any means.

[Roc Ingersol]

GRAW's Mexico setting worked for me, because it was a plausible and underutilized location. And hell, an urban middle east campaign would have looked much the same.
I would like to see a N Korean or Chinese setting though. China in particular has plenty of 'territory disputes' (Taiwan, Tibet, etc) that are ideal for limited force actions and haven't been done-to-death.

But this is a glorified map pack, like Ghost Recon 2 was. I'm not expecting much.

[The Iron Weasel]

But this is a glorified map pack, like Ghost Recon 2 was. I'm not expecting much.
I'm hoping you mean GR2: Summit Strike, but they actually manned up and put "expansion" on the box and charged less for it. This on the other hand...will be 69 dollars.

[MasterKwan]

I really wanted to like Graw but, the AI team mates were such idiots, it just left a bad taste in my mouth. In Vegas, your team mates will actually kill tangos while on the move. In Graw, it just seemed like they were mobile targets.

[51|RandoM]

I don't really care where it is set, I don't see drab building in a boring mexican cityscape, I see objectives to accomplish and hurdles to overcome.

Mexico actually has a wide area of climate conditions. It doesn't have to be portrayed solely as an arid waste. So, don't blame Mexico, or their choice of Mexico, blame them for being lazy in not showing you the variety of Mexico... or choosing another area. :p

[PsychoticVile]

The demo was alright, I'll buy it eventually, but.....fucking hell UbiSoft Vegas' cover system was twice what this ones is, and it was released last year! Another thing is that when you reload your weapon the clip doesn't actually leave the gun (pet peave of mine). It just feels sloppy, if they released it as GRAW: Mission Pack for 20 dollars less (Like GR2: Summit Strike) I'd be all over it but this is NOT a sequel by any means.

Just remember this game is still 4 to 5 months away from release and this Demo is more of a beta so I'm sure it will feel a little "sloppy".

I do agree though that the Mexico themed stuff is a little old since it was covered in Graw 1 and R6:V but at least it isn't another WWII shooter.

[51|RandoM]

Was that how the 360 version of GRAW played? This demo wasn't anything like the PC version of GRAW.

[Food Nipple]

Was that how the 360 version of GRAW played? This demo wasn't anything like the PC version of GRAW.

Yeah, this is pretty close to how GRAW 1 played on the consoles.

How to convert Rainbow 6 to GRAW:
1) Remove useful cover system
2) Add a picture in picture in the corner of the screen
3) put red diamonds around all enemies

Ubisoft is really starting to become EA with their yearly installments in franchises and it's hurting the quality of the games.

As a rule I try to avoid games that get announced in financial statements to investors, I just hope this doesn't cannibalize Rainbow 6's multiplayer.

[Roc Ingersol]

I'm hoping you mean GR2: Summit Strike, but they actually manned up and put "expansion" on the box and charged less for it. This on the other hand...will be 69 dollars.
You're right, my mind had blurred GR2 and Summit Strike into the same entity of sucktitude.

In any case, this title's a 'wait n see'. The demo's not blowing my skirt up.

[51|RandoM]

Guess I'll stick with the PC version then, assuming there will be one for GRAW 2.

Isn't the main reason for differences(nowadays)between GRAW and R6 due to the fact they're developed by different studios?

[The Iron Weasel]

Just remember this game is still 4 to 5 months away from release and this Demo is more of a beta so I'm sure it will feel a little "sloppy".

I do agree though that the Mexico themed stuff is a little old since it was covered in Graw 1 and R6:V but at least it isn't another WWII shooter.
Um...it comes out in march....

[DoubleUranium]

The one thing I really want above all else is to be able to voice chat on the loading screen instead of it just cutting out. Anyone tried multiplayer yet?

[Dag-Sabot]

-My 2007 resolution is not to kill any more virtual Mexicans. Sorry Tom. I found the plot very cheezy in graw. I am under the impression the trend will continue in the sequel.

[51|RandoM]

-My 2007 resolution is not to kill any more virtual Mexicans. Sorry Tom. I found the plot very cheezy in graw. I am under the impression the trend will continue in the sequel.

Yeah, the plot is dumb. You can see that in the demo map.

I found it funny it wouldn't let me send the UAV over to where the enemy mortar team was but they had no problem sending mortar rounds over to me, lol.

[MasterKwan]

51|RandoM, the PC version plays exactly like the console version. I was really hoping the PC version would be better (but, it isn't).

[Disgustipated]

51|RandoM, the PC version plays exactly like the console version. I was really hoping the PC version would be better (but, it isn't).

Not true, there's no cover system in the PC version, it's 1st person only, and it's really fucking hard and the levels are bigger.

I like the PC version, but I like the 360 version as well.

[wyeast]

Ubisoft is really starting to become EA with their yearly installments in franchises and it's hurting the quality of the games.
This is exactly what I'm fearing with GRAW2 coming in on the heels of R6:V. Vegas still has some bugs :mad: that need to be dealt with, and I'm gonna be mighty let down if they drop the ball to focus their efforts on "the new queen" in their stable.

The sad thing is GRAW still has some elements (namely weapons balance, and where's my fucking M468?) that I prefer over R6:V. But I like the deeper co-op experience to the paltry 4-mission "special campaign"... now 6-missions in GRAW2 apparently.

It's like between the two, there's one really kickass game waiting to be made, but they'd rather make twice the bank and split it into pieces.

[wyeast]

-My 2007 resolution is not to kill any more virtual Mexicans. Sorry Tom. I found the plot very cheezy in graw. I am under the impression the trend will continue in the sequel.
Didn't I read somewhere that GRAW2 was supposed to at least bring the storyline into the US? At least shooting shit up in Arizona or Texas instead of Mexico?

[51|RandoM]

Not true, there's no cover system in the PC version, it's 1st person only, and it's really fucking hard and the levels are bigger.

I like the PC version, but I like the 360 version as well.

You're talking about GRAW, I think he is talking about GRAW 2.

If, unlike GRAW, the PC and 360 versions of GRAW 2 are pretty much the same, I doubt I'll pickup either version, based upon my experience with the 360 campaign demo.

[Dag-Sabot]

Didn't I read somewhere that GRAW2 was supposed to at least bring the storyline into the US? At least shooting shit up in Arizona or Texas instead of Mexico?What's the difference? Different hats, better economy and stringent policing?

The next installment should paint the normally quaint and peaceful Amsterdam streets (and canals) red with blood and quality Moroccan.

[Watership]

SNORE!

I don't mind sequels, but I DO mind GRAW being set in Mexico again. That was a poor decision, in my opinion. I'd much prefer a more exotic, or at least a DIFFERENT, locale.

I'll skip it til it's a bargain-basement title. And it will be...virtually all of them are eventually.

I like the decision to be a direct sequel to the first game, continuing the plot right from the end of the game. The last dev diary did show lots of variety in locals, especially once your north of the boarder.

And what's with the GRAW hate? R6 and GRAW are different types of games. Its a matter of scale. You're not doing room clearning missions in GRAW and there is huge open areas to move through. Did I miss something or was the frist game not one of the best games on the 360?

[ArchVile]

Having played the demo, i'm very disappointed with it, after playing Gears of War, GRAW's cover system feels clunky and restrictive, too restrictive. I was always wanting to press up against something to use as cover, but the bloody thing wouldn't let me because it wasn't a perfectly flat surface...

It's more of an expansion pack than a full sequel if you ask me, but i suppose what did we expect when the original game was released as little as a year ago...

[MasterKwan]

I was talking about GRAW1. Maybe it's different later on but, the first couple missions are identical, PC versus 360 version. That's up to the embassy explosion which is about as far in as I can stomach both versions. Vegas is also identical PC versus 360 all the way through, down to the spawning enemies and trigger points. PC version might be a bit harder in realistic mode. At least I find myself dying alot more often.

If you play the PC version with the 360 controller, the experience is the same though the graphics look much better. I was hoping the PC version didn't have the spawn in enemies which I consider to be the only weakness in Vegas. Maybe I should try GRAW with the 360 controller?

[Deadend]

The demo frustrated me as it seemed to lack FUN. A cover system that is a year old, shooting at targets I can only see due to the red outline, an overabundance of brown and bloom effect. It just felt boring after Rainbow 6 and Gears.

[Mantooth]

Looking more and more like a $59.99 expansion pack.

[Morratut]

I still haven't downloaded this yet but reading your comments is confirming my fears. GRAW last year was a great shooter but much better games have come out since. Ubisoft could have at least used the Vegas cover system which is amazing.

[51|RandoM]

Ubisoft could have at least used the Vegas cover system which is amazing.

Different studios is it not, even though same publisher? They probably see each others as competitors, not codebase-sharing buddies.