Graphics: 8
Gameplay: 8.5
Sound: 8
Controls: 8
Replay: 8.5

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 was released on the Xbox about a year ago. It was met with a surprising overwhelming success. It received solid all around reviews mainly because of the lasting campaign mode and the incredibly addicting Xbox Live game modes. It is the most played Xbox Live game to date. More people log on to take down tangoes than any other game available on Live. So, naturally, Ubisoft decided to come out with Black Arrow, which is really like a standalone add-on, to improve on the already spectacular game.

One thing that everyone should know right off the bat is that this is overall the same game. Basically the gameplay, sound, graphics, and most of the modes and weapons are all the exact same. The main additions to the game are in the forms of a cooperative offline mode, a couple new weapons and gameplay modes, a new single player campaign (fairly short but sweet), and a ton of new online multiplayer maps. So, while the same at its core, it still has a lot to offer both veterans and newcomers alike.

The gameplay in this title is just solid. It does require a certain amount of skill that will come with playing time, but newcomers will find it is very fun and easy to get into. It isn't overly complex or hard to learn, and that is what makes it so much fun: it's accessible. You still control Ding Chavez and his elite Rainbow team in the new game. The missions are still mostly linear but with a few options and choices you can make to complete them in slightly different fashions. But the storyline, while mostly predictable, in both the original and the new game are solid and that is really what draws you into the single player campaign.

The campaign is comprised of well drawn up levels that are made of both tight, indoor close quarters battles and also some outdoor battles. The mixture of combat makes the game exciting. Overall, the campaign is played exactly like the original. It is basically just give your team the right orders at the right spot. It can be done with the D-Pad but it is most easily done using the headset, that way you can just say what you want them to do. Like you can just say, "Open, frag, and clear," into the headset and they will do just that. The AI is all very intelligent, both yours and the enemies, and it makes for some fun, crazy battles. Enemies will duck behind cover and spray in your direction with their automatics while your team will spread out and hide behind pillars and boxes and shoot smart, short bursts of fire into the enemy.

However, not all of the gameplay is strategy. You can choose that way, being careful and sneaky, or you can just choose to go the old fashioned run and gun route. Both work fairly well in most cases (although your men can only be hit a small amount of times before they die so you have to be careful about it), so this game makes it so that just about all types of FPS fans will find something to enjoy about the gameplay.

The graphics in the game are the exact same as the original, which is both good and bad. It is good in the sense that the graphics are above par and solid all around, as they provide detailed environments, well drawn objects, and very good character design and animations. It is bad because nothing was really upgraded and the engine does show a little bit of age. A little more polish on the engine would have helped some.

The gun models are all extremely accurate. The guns are all drawn with the smallest details in mind ranging from the safety switch to the barrel design all the way down to the manufacturer's code. The characters and guns definitely give the game a very realistic look.

Sound wise, the game is good, right above average I'd say. The music is nonchalant, it isn't overly impressive but it hits the spot in some cases. The good parts to the sound come in the form of both excellent voice acting and incredibly realistic sound effects. Starting with the voice acting, most of the phrases said by you and your team are the exact same in the original, but there is a lot of new dialogue in between missions. Still, it is always cool to have on the headset and hear "Tango down!" or "Area secure!" from one of your teammates. It really makes you feel right there in the action.

The guns are what make the game really sound good. There is a great selection of them and each one has its own unique and realistic sound put to it. Veteran gamers can definately know what guns the enemies are using just by hearing their gunfire, and the same goes with what you assigned to your squadmates. All of the sound effects just sound spectacular, albeit the same as in the last game.

There is a ton of replay to be found here. The single player missions can all be played a couple times through because not only are they just plain fun but you can go in through slightly different paths and with different equipment loadouts. The addition of offline cooperative play really makes this game a lot more fun than the last one. But, in the end, it is the Xbox Live play that keeps gamers coming back for more. It is just so addicting to go online and play in deathmatch, team deathmatch, or cooperative modes with other players.

This game is a must buy for owners of the previous game if they have the cash. For people who have never played the Rainbow Six games but enjoy FPS games, this is a great title to begin with.