December is probably the most favorite time of the year, more so for the game lovers out there. With the PlayStation Experience coming soon, the year will end in style for the gamers. There would be no better way to usher in the new month than the way Ubisoft did it, with the release of a new video game. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege was released on the 1st of December this year. The video game had been announced at E3 on 9th June 2014. As usual, Ubisoft did not disappoint and it seems the game was worth the wait.
For those who don’t have a clue, Rainbow Six: Siege is a shooter video game from a first person point of view that was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. The game focuses on elite teams of Special Forces units stationed around the globe. The game uses the AnvilNext game engine. It puts heavy emphasis on environmental destruction as well as co-operation amongst the players. The title does not have any campaign and offers only an online mode, unlike previous entries in the series.
Development
After Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6: Patriots was canceled, the Rainbow Six: Siege is considered to be its successor. The development of the game started in January 2013. Similar to the other titles in the series, the game emphasizes on teamwork and realism. However, Rainbow Six: Siege has its own bag of differences from the older versions. This game features and puts a lot of emphasis on destructible environment like in Battlefield franchise and features a lot of multiplayer focus. If Ubisoft’s announcement on March 12, 2015, is anything to go by, a closed alpha is somewhere in the pipeline and it will be released exclusively for Windows. We can also expect a closed beta for Windows, Xbox One, and PS4.
Those who pre-order the game on any platform will have access to the beta. Donating money to a charity organization known as Extra Life will also guarantee access to the beta of the game which began on September 24th. Those who buy Siege for Xbox One can be able to download Vegas and Vegas 2 for free. Some trailers for the game had been released at E3 during a press conference. Some of Rainbow Six Siege’s gameplay elements and environments were featured on some trailers uploaded on the Ubisoft YouTube channel.
Features
At the launch, the game featured eleven maps, but more would be added to the game as part of the free downloadable content. Ubisoft explained that they had made that decision in order to extend the longevity of the game. For players who would like to speed up the progress, the game supports micro-transactions. However, Ubisoft announced that the items bought by players through real life currency would not lead to any changes in the gameplay. There are lots of other exciting features and the visuals are very smooth. Terrorist Hunt is also available in this game just like in the previous versions.
Gameplay
Players take control of an operator from a counter-terrorist unit that is known as the Rainbow team. Each member of the team has a particular specialty and teamwork is essential for the success of the team. They also come from different countries and have different equipment. The players have to face a new enemy type called the White Masks whose goals are not known and are causing trouble all over the world. Players can customize or “recruit” the characters to meet their requirements. Power weapons like grenades and explosives are limited thus they are very valuable. Communication between the players is encouraged and they can plan their attack before the match begins. Players can also be revived by their teammates after they have been defeated. This is in order to encourage the main pillars of the game which are teamwork, tactics and tension throughout the game.
Critic’s response
The reception of the game has so far been positive with critics praising its design and the tension that is created during the matches. The game has received four nominations from Game Critics’ Awards which are; Best Action Game, Best Online Multiplayer Game, Best of Show and the Best PC Game. The game later won the Best PC Game category. According to critics, Rainbow Six: Siege could easily become Ubisoft’s best-selling shooter game.
Conclusion
Publishers have been doing a great job dropping their biggest video games and as we can all see Ubisoft is no exception. The release of the game had been delayed, but it looks like it was worth the wait. The gamers are very impressed with what they have seen from Ubisoft so far. You cannot call yourself a fan of team based gameplay if you do not play Rainbow Six: Siege. You with simply fall in love with this game.
