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Killing in the name of...
Everybody knows that online multiplayer is the bread and butter of Ubisoft's franchises. In this case - depending upon your individual preferences - GRAW is either a grand slam or a foul tip off the foot. Fans of the past series will likely be overjoyed by the gameplay, graphics, and options that it offers. Those who prefer the Halo or Quake frenetic style of play may find GRAW to be too much on the plodding or slow side, because just like in the single player mode, it's all about hyper-realism and strategy.
Regardless of personal preferences, there's no denying that the multiplayer is polished and deep. There are so many different things available - from weapons to game modes to gadgets - that it can be a bit overwhelming. Practice is the only way to really get to know what works out in the killing fields of Xbox Live. Don't worry, though - GRAW is no Pandora Tomorrow. There is no intimate knowledge of each map or the need for a detailed understanding of 30 different gadgets. At its core, it's still a standard shooter, just a sweet-looking one that requires some skill and has a lot of depth.
Online co-op may even be the best of the three main modes. Whether it's playing alongside up to 16 friends in only-for-co-op missions, or simply blasting hundreds of bots with your buddies, it's hard not to have a really good time when it's you and your teammates against the computer world. These AI-controlled enemies are no pushovers, either. Just as in the single-player mode, running around shooting your gun in the air will get you blown away faster than you can say "I love you Tom Clancy!"
There are some minor annoyances in GRAW. Occasionally, the crawl-creep-stand animations get confused, leading to disturbing visual bugs. However, the worst of them is the default weapon-changing mechanic. The "B" button changes the guns to the grenades, and then the "A" button changes the smoke from the frag grenades. This non-intuitive control scheme can cause accidental changes at the most inappropriate times. While you're pinned down, fighting for your life and protecting the Mexican president from rebels storming your base, a great way to meet your maker is to stand and throw a grenade 5 feet instead of shooting at an enemy 50 yards away... not that this ever happened to me... *cough*
Time has come today
Despite minor flaws, it's clear to even the most jaded of gamers that GRAW for the Xbox 360 is another in the growing line of tremendous "second wave" titles that are making the console more vital every day. It offers dozens of hours of entertainment for solo, cooperative, and multiplayer gameplay. The look, the sound, the grit, the variety, and the story are top notch. Xbox 360 owners with a penchant for guns, grenades, and steel owe it to themselves to own Advanced Warfighter. Now get to it, soldier!
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