Ghost Recon Online: The Tactical Shooter U Always Wanted

[RooksBailey]

Gamers seem to be always on the look out for a "more tactical shooter" experience, which is understandable seeing all the "run and guns" out there.  Strangely, though, few people seem to have bothered to check out the excellent F2P Ghost Recon Online.  I first tried this game last year when it was in invite-only beta, and it really impressed me.  Unfortunately, I lost track of it somewhere along the line.  Since then, it has entered into open beta and incorporated a bunch of changes based on community feedback.  With that in mind, I decided to give it a try again.  So I reinstalled it last night...and I had a blast once again!  It really is an impressive shooter!  More people need to get on the GRO bandwagon!

If you aren't sure what the gameplay is like, I put together a video showing my spectacularly awful skills.   :D  But it should give you an idea of the tactical nature of the gameplay.  This vid features all three classes: assault, sniper and support.  It also shows off three (or four?) of the maps, some of which have been newly added since leaving closed beta (the sub pen and the "city of the future"). 

As you can see, that game can be quite the white knuckle experience.   However, it is most definitely not a "twitch" experience.  Teamwork, combined with solid tactics, wins the day.

So what's not to like?

Two things:

1)  It can take an inordinately long time - 2 to 5 minutes - to get in a game.  I don't think this is due to a lack of server population as much as a lackluster "quick match" automated system (I had the same problem with Hawken until they incorporated a server browser).  This game also desperately needs a server browser. 

2)  Matchmaking needs to be more precise with the different levels of skill.  As it is right now,  new players are restricted to a beginners pool for the first five levels of any class, but once you hit that, you are dumped into a mosh pit of players with widely varying skill levels.  One session you might enjoy a really tense and well-balance match, while the next you will be me mercilessly curb stomped into oblivion by the opposing team.  This definitely needs work.  :)

Now, while GRO is free to play with micro-transactions, I have found that it handles this pretty well to date.  The game gives out a decent amount of in-game currency that you can use to buy upgrades and consumables, like grenades, as well as salvage that can be sold for in-game currency (note: salvage has been suspended for the time being as part of another beta polishing pass).  And while you can spend real money to buy better gear, the game wisely prevents players from buying high level gear until they actually achieve a requisite minimum skill level in game, thereby limiting the "pay to win" fallout. 

So...there you go.  Just wanted to spread the word about this gem of a game that I believe is getting the cold shoulder from too many gamers, mostly due to Ubisoft hate, as well as F2P fatigue.  Quite frankly, if you enjoy "tactical" shooters, there is no reason why you should let those reasons stop you as this is a fantastic gaming experience.

[Arctic Blast]

I was playing this for awhile, but I got sick of the maps. Have they added any more recently?

[RooksBailey]

I was playing this for awhile, but I got sick of the maps. Have they added any more recently?

When I was in the invite-only beta last year, I think it had four maps.  Now I think it is up to six.  Not sure when they added those maps, though.  I know for sure that the sub pen map, and the city of the future map, weren't part of the closed beta last year. 

[Arctic Blast]

I was playing this for awhile, but I got sick of the maps. Have they added any more recently?

When I was in the invite-only beta last year, I think it had four maps.  Now I think it is up to six.  Not sure when they added those maps, though.  I know for sure that the sub pen map, and the city of the future map, weren't part of the closed beta last year.

Ugh, the sub pen. It's just far too small to be very interesting.

[RooksBailey]

Yeah, it is a bit on the small side, but I sort of like it.  Is the deep sea oil platform map still in use?  I haven't seen that one come up in rotation yet.  I always liked that one/

[Swatter]

I played it last year also; my recollection is that it was a solid game that needed more time to mature. It repetitive pretty quickly. Bear in mind though, I thought World of Tanks got repetitive quickly (and people really go nuts over that).

[Arctic Blast]

Yeah, it is a bit on the small side, but I sort of like it.  Is the deep sea oil platform map still in use?  I haven't seen that one come up in rotation yet.  I always liked that one/

It was still in the mix a couple of months back when I was playing. One of my favorite maps, actually. I also liked the missile base and the subway tunnels. I once locked down the tunnel portion of that map for 10 minutes by myself as a sniper. It's not that I was that good, the other team was just bad and predictable. I finally died when I ran out of bullets and grenades and charged in melee.  ;D

[RooksBailey]

It was still in the mix a couple of months back when I was playing. One of my favorite maps, actually. I also liked the missile base and the subway tunnels. I once locked down the tunnel portion of that map for 10 minutes by myself as a sniper. It's not that I was that good, the other team was just bad and predictable. I finally died when I ran out of bullets and grenades and charged in melee.  ;D

Epic!  LOL!  ;D

[undercovergeek]

downloaded - great fun - i have found my stress reliever