Average Customer Review: ( 47 customer reviews )
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There's the great graphics, where each of your friends and enemies look like real people, with proper movements and actions. Your environment is misty, rainy, soggy, with detailed trees and grass. You really feel like you're crawling up the road, watching for that enemy tower.

The sound is also quite good. None of the rock-thumping rambo music here - you listen carefully for where your enemies could be hiding, and watch for signs that an ambush is being laid.

Multiplayer is where this game shines best, though. An assortment of maps, campaign types and of course a wide variety of players means that the game will stay interesting long after you exhaust the built in missions. Downloadable new maps mean that the game can be fun pretty much forever!

A warning to arcade-style button mashers - this isn't a game like Doom where you just hop in and blast away. If you try that, you'll be slain quickly and pretty disappointed. You have to learn how to work with your troops, how to approach silently, how to work out a strategy to take advantage of your strengths. This is a game that involves a lot of patience and coordination. In this game it's not the person with the fastest fingers who wins - it's the person who pays the most attention to what is going on, and plans accordingly.

13 of 16 found the following review helpful:

great gameSep 08, 2003
By TwistaG "Quoth the Raven 'Nevermore"
By now, Live subscribers have realized that they can't escape the military prowess of Ghost Recon-so far, it's been a perfect shot of multiplayer bliss. For even more Ghost action, Island Thunder is an excellent follow-up that both hardcore players and newbies to the game can set their sights on. Island Thunder is much more than just an expansion pack. Like the PC version, the game contains eight new maps that take place in a near-future Cuba, and once unlocked, a handful of new specialists are at your control. But additional Live features overshadow even these expected extras. The most apparent are the in-game dynamic stats that continually track your gameplay. You can also play in more maps, which include several Desert Siege and original Ghost Recon levels. More weapon kits are available for each soldier, too, enabling for greater diversity in player tactics. A complete training stage is included to familiarize new recruits to the intuitive control scheme. All of Ghost Recon's sharp sights and sounds continue to stand out in Island Thunder. Again, the graphics are clearly improved upon from those in the PC version-soldiers look cleaner, and even explosions detonate much more realistically. Booming firepower from fellow gunners in an all-natural environment filled with bustling leaves and thunderous falling rain completes a great soundtrack. The best part of Island Thunder is its price tag. At $10 less than a regularly priced Xbox game, this shooter is a bargain. Though it may seem to be a simple add-on, Island Thunder has enough features to make it feel like a brand-new game.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

More Goodies!Aug 22, 2003
By R. Forehand "dflynsqrl"
I just bought the game yesterday and I have to say they really did a good job. I haven't gotten far into the campaign yet, but I think they've definately made it more of a challenge. Also, for those of you who like to unlock everything, this time there are only 18 items listed in the dossier (compared to the 50 that was in Ghost Recon). For the multiplayer aspect they've added a lot more weapons, especially a much better silenced sniper rifle that can actually drop enemy's without having to be a headshot. I haven't tried it online, but I'm seriously thinking about getting XBox Live after playing this game... it would be awesome online. One down side is that it is just like Ghost Recon in that if you want to play against friends using link play, it's only one player per XBox/TV!

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

Amazing ImprovementsAug 12, 2003
By St.Eve
If you enjoyed playing Ghost Recon you will find Island Thunder to be an even better game. The new weapons maps are just a small part of the expansion. The graphics have improved dramatically, the game is visually more crisp with more colors (unlike the usual green tint that overshadowed the original Ghost Recon), and the sounds have also improved (both voices and environment).
The environment completely comes alive, the clouds move and darkens the terrain when they cover the sun, the rain and lightning is extremely realistic (both visually and sound), and the terrain offers so many hidding places (great for snipers).
The AI has also improved, making the game that much more challenging (as if the realism of 1 shot kill wasn't challenging enough already).
The new maps are HUGE and extremely detailed. The new weapons are very impressive and accurate.
The multiplayer split screen mode offers a new game type, Defend (those of you who have played Ghost Recon on Xbox Live ought to be familiar with it).
With all these new improvements, this game makes the original Ghost Recon seem like a Nintendo 64 game. I don't see why anyone would go back to playing the original Ghost Recon (for the exception of a particular map that is not on Island Thunder) after playing Island Thunder.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Best Squad Based Game Out for Any SystemAug 09, 2003

Ok first off id like to say that this game is totally awesome. The beginning intro is beutiful. More graat missions, more killer weather effects and a pile of exellent new multiplayer maps. And yes it is compatible for X-Box live. It also is the first game to have voice activated commands so all you is get the X-box live head set and you can issue commands to your Ghosts offline or online!!! System link supports 1-16 players. The grahpics haven't really changed from the first one but its very cool to see gear dangling off the ghosts as they run. The story line is always the best when taken from a Tom Clancy Book. Don't buy this game if your not prepared to spend hours just strategising where to hit the enemy from or just where to go! The enemy AI is the best i have every seen in a game. Usually if u shoot an enemy and it misses they won't do anything but just stand there. In GRIT {Ghost Recon Island Thunder) They will hear it a run for cover behind buildings and trees. Very hard game if you like to complete the missions with no causalties. The only cons i have seen in the game are these when you shoot a guy he dies before the bullet reaches him and plants seem to get 2D when close to them. But overall its the best Squad based army game. So even if you don't have the first Ghost Recon go buy it. Well worth the money for the time and effort your gonna be puting in for this game.

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