Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2

The Basics:
Platform: Xbox 360
Developer: Ubisoft
Price: $49.99
ESRB rating: T

Summary: Great shooter with lots of multi-player options.

Note: Parents should know that this game contains a plentiful supply of explosions, shooting and violent deaths. Players are expected to work with a team to tactically eliminate enemy soldiers on a variety of battlefields. The battlefield language can get a little colorful with words like damn and hell used during cut scenes.

Families who purchase this game can discuss how in this game the player's character can die after receiving only a couple of shots. Does this impact the way you play? How does this game compare against other first-person-shooter games/war games?

Further Breakdown:

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Best for ages: 13+
Playability: Medium. About a half hour learning curve.
Graphics: High. Great effects and environments.
Reading Level: Light. Virtually no reading required.

Ages 3-7: Red
Ages 8-12: Red
Ages 13-17: Yellow
Violence Amount: Red
Fear: Yellow
Illegal/harmful: Green
Language: Yellow
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green

Review:
As tactical shooters go, TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON ADVANCED WARFIGHTER 2 or simply "GRAW 2", is one of the best available right now. Stunning graphics, outstanding multiplayer options, and a team-control system that works smoothly all come together in a well-designed and very playable sequel.

In the single player game, rebel fighters in Mexico have overthrown much of the Mexican government, and now are threatening the United States with possible nuclear weapons. It's time to call in the ghost team-a highly advanced, but secret Special Forces team. The player leads the protagonist Captain Scott Mitchell, through missions on both sides of the border, fighting with rebels, mercenaries and a host of other baddies.

Most of the game is pure tactical first-person action. A wide assortment of weapons and tools are available, and with several missions the player chooses three additional teammates to help out. Occasionally, the player gets to make use of armored vehicles, helicopters and Unmanned Arial vehicles (UAVs) to help them through a level, which helps add variety to the game.

Like most other Tom Clancy games a shot or two will usually take Scott down and out of the fight. Therefore, the game emphasizes true tactical fighting-making use of cover, covering fire, and teamwork rather than simply running in with guns blazing.

Since teamwork is so important, it's fortunate the game does a great job of team management. Players can order their computer-controlled teammates to move to different locations, heal each other, and be cautious or aggressive with their movement as well as a number of other commands via a few clicks of the controller.

The single player portion of the game is over fairly quickly, but it the game makes up for it by having a multitude of multi-player options. Players can play through another, separate campaign mode in Co-op mode, or they can play against each other in a variety of maps/settings.

GRAW 2 generally does a decent job of drawing a line between portraying the realism of the battlefield without going to the extreme of using blood and guts as a shock factor. Blood is visible, but not spurting everywhere. Body parts don't go flying off after an explosion. And, generally speaking the game is fast enough paced, players don't spend a lot of time looking at the carnage they have caused.

Overall, GRAW 2 is an outstanding first-person-shooter game for teens and above-one that any Xbox 360 owner should have in their collection. Player's who like this game would also enjoy the first game Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter or Call of Duty 3.