Graphics
In GRAW, a lot of people complained about Mexico’s yellow tint, this was explained by the fact that your team members all used yellow tinted goggles. Well the yellow is gone but it still looks plain and bland. The scenery still ls nice in detail and the effects are incredible — if not over the top sometimes. I love the soldier models and weapon models with the digital camouflage. The animations are still nicely done while sliding behind cover or slamming your body into a prone position. There are some continued problems from the first version like not being able to climb a hill that’s about 6″ or going prone on that hill and sliding down due to the “ragdoll” effects.
Of course the explosions and debris are incredible, and like I said earlier, sometimes a little too much. Heat and blur effects are well done. During some missions I did see objects floating in the air. A bug with the physic effects I would imagine? The maps are done well, and differ in size and type. But they still comprise “sand and ruins” into a third-world look. Even though I have never been to Mexico or Southern Texas (where the campaign takes place) I just wish for more color, more visual excitement. Then again maybe I’m completely wrong and they got that area perfectly modeled in game after all.
Sounds
The sounds continue to be fantastic in the series. From the first days of the first Ghost Recon I have always been impressed with the sound quality in all of the Ghost Recon games. Each of your own characters are unique, and the local citizenry sound convincing, thou pretty much all in the same tone of voice.
The sound effects of the support teams, the environment and explosions are incredible. The weapons fire is nice and loud without being overly done. But I have noticed an occasional drop of sound in the middle of a firefight which usually lasting only a couple of seconds. Not enough to ruin the game but the drop out is there. I have no clue if this is common or just me. I use a common sound card (Audigy 2) with the latest drivers so it’s anyone’s guess. Maybe it’s overloading the sound card?