E3 Previews - Rainbow Six: Siege

In my opinion, Rainbow Six: Siege, featured one of the best gameplay reveal demos during E3 2014. The game is multi-player-focused and allows players to take on the role of a SWAT team or a group of criminals barricaded within a house, holding a hostage.  Thus, the format is quite similar to games such as Counter Strike, where one team attacks trying to save the hostages, while the other defends a particular space or building. What makes this different from the more simplistic "guns-blazing" approach of Counter Strike, is the enormous attention to tactical detail - weapons, drones, communication and coordination. This sort of game places a premium on continuous tactical coordination.

The gameplay trailer features a highly choreographed siege where the audience follows the SWAT team throughout the assault. We also get to hear the communication between players and the associated moments of confusion, disagreements and sheer chaos when engaging the enemy.  There were also moments of clarity and quick thinking, and an overall sense of calmness. However, judging by the feedback and initial responses to the game demo, it is clear that most actual games don't seem very clam or organised as the trailer. Instead, more actual online-battles seem bloodier and feature almost complete and utter chaos.  On the positive side, this also means that games are more enjoyable than what the trailer implies.

In the trailer, we get to see 5 vs. 5 match, with the SWAT team descending in through the roof. Before the actual assault, we get to see the use of drones that slide under doors and move across floors to find and identify hostages or defenders. After locating the hostage, and checking out the barricades set up by the defenders, the team prepares for the assault. Following a brief cinematic, we get to see the use of advanced entry techniques that involve grappling from the roof and entering through the windows of the building. Once the hostage is secure, all hell breaks loose, and the SWAT team has to respond to fire coming through the walls and the barricades. This is by far the best element of the game because it gives you a sense of realism and deliberately involves a fog-of-war or a lack of awareness of the surroundings. Players must literally clear each room one-by-one, a tedious and deadly task, which may very well turn out to be a trap.

Something else that I liked was the use of a Sniper, based outside the building and trying to clear out the defenders based on the location of the battle. The Sniper's access is obviously limited by the building walls and obstructions but it is always possible to punch a hole in the right place to let the Sniper take that crucial game-changing shot.

As the team goes through each room, clearing out defenders with a  hail of gun-fire, smoke grenades and flash bang grenades, the SWAT team got to use multiple explosives to get around barricades and launch unconventional assaults. The defenders, on the other hand, were capable of barricading parts of the house instantly. Thus, the siege continues room-by-room.

Defending, it seems, is just as stressful. The SWAT team could enter from any part of the house or building, therefore, you need multiple contingency plans. Barricades and thin walls work both ways, the enemy may not be able to see you, but you cannot see the enemy either. Therefore, a well-placed counter-attack by the attacking side can easily confuse and overwhelm the defending side.

Ultimately, I’m not entirely sure this game will catch on in Sri Lanka but I certainly hope it does because it introduces a variety of tactical elements that are lacking in the type of hostage-rescue games that are popular here.

Also, if you are a female gamer and (understandably) annoyed by the gameplay trailer featuring a damsel in distress tossed around like a football in the midst of gunfire and explosions, Ubisoft has confirmed that the final release will include male and female hostages!

By Navam Niles