Tom Clancys Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is one of those games that really make me chuckle to myself. Its a game I really wanted to like, as I had a lot of fun with the SP in the first one, but I just didnt. It added a great new experience system, and took away everything else that made the first so great.
Story
You know, I couldnt really tell you much about the story in RSV2 except it was an extension of the original. There are some rogue agents, terrorists doing cliche bad guy stuff, and many situations where you have standoffs. The story is confusing and very forgettable. Im sorry I cant tell you more, but none of it really stuck with me.
Gameplay
Exactly the same as RSV2. The only thing that is different is you can sprint now(yay!) and you gain experience for everything that you do. You would think that would add to the game, but it doesnt at all. It just makes the game a little easier to play, and sometimes gets you out of a hairy situation, but you die so quick it usually doesnt matter. The XP system is pretty generic, and I usually get comfortable with a certain loadout, so it didnt really matter if I was unlocking new stuff, I didnt want it, but the game wanted me to want it. Ill play how I want to play, thank you very much. The action is still there, and the mechanics work, but its just the same old thing. A few new weapons are nice, and your AI squadmates are a little smarter, but there is still many times where you are covering their ass more than yours.
Visuals
Somehow, they got worse in this one. Some of the outdoor scenes look better, but instead of shooting in glitzy casinos and high rises, you go to boring junkyards and office buildings. Zzzzzzz. Nothing really new here either, pretty boring and dismal. Its like they chose all the most generic places in Vegas for the shootouts. Very disappointing.
Overall, I dont recommend this game to anyone. The SP lost all the flash and fun that made the first game great, and though you can find some people on MP, its not very fun and the mechanics fall apart in a live match. Even the MP is generic and boring, and I couldnt get into it. So if you like R6 and your wondering which of the two most recent offerings to get, IMHO get the first. I played this right after that game, and it really pales in comparison. Do yourself a favor and do not play this game, it doesnt live up to the relatively good praise it received.