-

The key to the successful creation of any sequel is making sure that it's bigger and better than its predecessor. Standing neck-a-neck to UbiSoft's tactical action-shooter "Rainbow Six: Vegas" is no easy task, so perhaps the only game that could do it is its own sequel.

Trimming the fat from the previous game and incorporating a bunch of new features makes this a far leaner, much more fun experience; a cinematic feel, more forgiving difficulty, as well as the fantastic new A.C.E.S. system doesn't hurt, either. The few who enjoyed the post-process filter in 2006's original "Vegas" may be disappointed to find that it has been all but removed from this installment. Environments can be rather bland at times, but the improved architecture, character models, and bump-mapping is welcome for a sequel that changes very little else graphically.

Although "Vegas 2" is not a graphical powerhouse and its visuals are not representative of the game’s overall quality, it is, more or less, the game play that will keep you coming back for more. A system in which XP (Experience Points) is accumulated by performing certain types of kills (headshots, kills through cover, team-assisted kills, long-range/short-range kills, and eliminating certain enemy types) enables you to unlock different types of skills throughout the single-player campaign. This system, called A.C.E.S., will unlock weapons, armor, and clothing based on how you perform in the battlefield and which types of kills you seem to prefer. It helps in making sure you have the right equipment and weapons for your preferred method of play at all times.

Granted, it would have been nice to have every weapon available to you at the start of the game, the A.C.E.S. system gives you a reason to play differently, adapt, replay, and try new things more often. There is also the abiility to dress you and your two-man squad up according to the scenario or, moreover, just how you see fit. Everything that a special ops team of this sort would need - like protective eyewear, body armor, pads for the knees and shoulders, and even face masks to conceal ones identity - are thrown in. And it doesn't stop there, you can also choose from a number of pre-determined color types - including camo - for almost every piece of equipment to best suit your environment.

Other than those (fairly big) differences, not much has changed over the two year period. Thankfully, this second trip to "Vegas" is significantly easier than the first, and the graphics, though nothing that will deter current visual heavyweights, are certainly no slouch. You will probably notice after the first two chapters that there is very little of that familiar "Vegas" feel here, however. A lot of the combat scenarios you enter into take place in more off-beat Vegas locations rather than in the never-ending run of casinos you encountered in the first. I appreciated the change in scenery and I also enjoyed the new-found space between my enemies, myself, and my squad. There are far more cover opportunities and gun battles don't feel as confined. You may even encounter scenarios where you can send your squad through the top floor of a building and have them eliminate resistance from above while you take out what's left from the bottom. These new avenues of game play have helped an already excellent game become that much more involving.

Special mention must be made to "Vegas 2's" in-game music. Where it was considerably sparse in the first, here it is omnipresent. It sounds as if culled straight out of any number of Hollywood-ized, military-styled action films and that alone elevates these somewhat simple combat scenarios of either infiltration or assault to a true shock of the nerves. The music is so good, in fact, a separate soundtrack could have been included as a bonus.

Even if not much has changed from predecessor to sequel - and even if this really is only more of a leaner version of the first "Vegas" - it happens to be a more significantly enjoyable game because of the small fix-ups and new game play additions/enhancements mentioned. Novice players can jump right in thanks to the relatively tame difficult, and "Vegas 2's" highly cinematic feel should make action junkies feel right at home. It should also be mentioned that the game tells its story without cut-scenes; in other words, everything in-game HAPPENS in-game. A cut-scene or two would have been nice just to better portray that cinematic feel, but the game as i has a highly compelling, even addictive single-player campaign that I have yet to put down. Damn you UbiSoft, give me my life back!

9/10