Ghost Recon: Wildlands Review Roundup
By Brad Jones 06 March 2017
The review embargo on Ghost Recon: Wildlands has lifted, and critics are beginning to offer their analysis of whether Ubisoft’s latest open world adventure is a worthy return for the squad-based offshoot of the Tom Clancy franchise. The game hits shelves tomorrow, but many players might have already made their minds up for themselves.
A record-breaking beta allowed anyone who was interested in the game a chance to experience Ghost Recon: Wildlands firsthand. Now, we’ll see whether that preview was indicative of the retail release, or whether the full version packs any surprises that weren’t showcased during the beta.
Destructoid (Mike Cosimano)
“Since I haven’t seen even half of what Ghost Recon has to offer, there’s no point in writing a full review at this juncture. It’s a fun game, but I’m only just starting to comprehend the sheer breadth of these wild lands. The cartel mechanic makes for a slick opening, but if the campaign is as long as I suspect, there’s a chance I’ll be sick of it by the time the credits roll.”
Score: Review in progress.
US Gamer (Jaz Rignall)
“I’ve been playing the game mostly single-player so far, because I really wanted to test out how Ghost Recon Wildlands is as a solo experience. To be blunt, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Indeed, I can see exactly why Ubisoft really pushed the boat out to organize multiplayer sessions during the review period, because the game really does shine when you’re playing it with other people.”
Score: Review in progress.
Gamespot (Miguel Concepcion)
“In keeping with Ghost Recon’s history of team foursomes, having a full squad made up of your friends is the ideal experience. So far, a team of four humans with at least a modicum of experience in tactical shooters is a powerhouse in Wildlands even though enemy headcounts adjust to scale with the size of your team. Players who already have a squad in mind might want to consider starting off the game at the highest difficulty.”
Score: Review in progress.
Games Radar (Mike Wehner)
“You’re given total control to approach each objective the way you want, whether that means stealthily stalking a jungle hideout while sniping militants or driving a farm tractor into a military base and lobbing grenades at everything that moves. Sometimes stealth is necessary to survival, but other times doing your best impression of Rambo is not only extremely effective, but also a whole lot of fun.”
Score: 4.5/5
Hardcore Gamer (Chris Shrive)
“The action packed gameplay and well developed story make the time in Bolivia enjoyable, and the freedom to play solo or cooperatively through campaign caters to anyone’s preferred social level in gaming. Wildlands might not be what longtime fans were hoping for from a new Ghost Recon, but putting expectations aside, Wildlands is not a game to miss.”
Score: 4.5/5
The biggest takeaway from these early reviews seems to be that Wildlands puts its focus squarely on co-operative play. Most critical responses state that single player isn’t as engrossing, and many sites are holding off posting a score until there’s time for more testing with a full player base.
There certainly seems to be plenty of madcap action to enjoy in Wildlands, and a deep character customization system that ties into players’ long-term progression. However, players who enjoyed tackling previous Ghost Recon games alone might not find that much to enjoy.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on March 7, 2017.
