Securing the Sawmill
Let’s not forget that Guerrilla Mode also got some attention with the latest installment of DLC. Sawmill has been added the available maps to take on 50 waves of hostile forces. In Sawmill, players will have several outside cover points and a central building, the usual layout. What makes Sawmill entertaining is the heavy-set fog that rolls in, obstructing visibility of incoming forces, mimicking the feel of Arctic Base’s snowstorms. The added challenge helps the map standout from the originals.
NOT
Lame Story
Much like many other military shooters, the story of Future Soldier didn’t wow anyone with its generic premise. The story incorporated in the Raven Strike DLC doesn’t do much to excite those interested in deep plots and unexpected twists. Everything plays out as one would expect, assuming anyone even bothers listening to the briefings at this point in the game. The true gem is the gameplay, and that’s what is going to help you push through to the end, not the poor excuse of a story.
Not for Lone Wolves
Raven Strike’s campaign missions aren’t impossible to enjoy alone, but it is difficult. Relying on the AI to make the right calls (which they didn’t on numerous occasions in Cold Walker) or position themselves correctly can have unwanted results. The DLC is best experienced with three other buddies online. Moving through a sunny countryside or poorly-lit streets of Moscow with your friends brings out the best of what Future Soldier’s second downloadable pack has to offer. Nothing compares to flawlessly coordinating an assault on unaware soldiers in a village sitting outside a murky swamp over the headset. This is a sense of accomplishment that just doesn’t present itself while with computer-controlled AI. Furthermore, when a mistake is made, at least you know it’s on your end and not the sporadic judgement of the AI deciding to “go loud” at the worst possible moment.
Verdict
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier’s Raven Strike DLC is easy to recommend mainly due to the fact that it extends the campaigns set of epic missions. The challenging and varied mission structures round out the appealing package. Even the lackluster story can’t detract from the wonderful moments awaiting players inside Russia. Also, there’s the foggy Sawmill map, for those taken with the horde style of Guerrilla Mode. Although Raven Strike may be considered by some as the first single player offering, it is still best played with others. The game may be playable without others, but that doesn’t mean that it is the optimal play style. That aside, the DLC is sure to provide a few more hours of entertaining game time to one of this year’s most memorable shooters.
[Editor’s Note: Ghost Recon: Future Soldier – Raven Strike DLC was reviewed on the PS3 platform. The DLC was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
