The number of free-to-play shooters out there has absolutely exploded over the past 12 months. There's Tribes, Team Fortress 2, Blacklight Retribution, and Bulletrun to name more than a few, and now Ubisoft are throwing their hat into the increasingly crowded ring with Ghost Recon Online, an experience which places an emphasis on team-play, and equips players with a myriad of futuristic technology including stealth suits, shield projectors and other gizmos that wouldn't look out of place in the reboot of Total Recall.
The problem is that free-to-play shooters tend to feel as though they've been ripped out from an abandoned traditional game, and here that's exactly the case. All of these crazy powers and their uses are explained via in-game video tutorials narrated by developers, but it just seems a bit cheap and lazy. These tools aren't linked with the game's universe or any kind of story, instead they just plainly exist simply to give you and your team-mates more of an edge against similarly kitted-out foes, in a competitive environment optimised for 18 players. These toys are GRO's main hook and to see them not placed in any kind of context other than a short blurb describing their function is just a bit strange.
The rest of the game is similarly light on any kind of context for the ensuing battle. Each map is introduced with a tiny description, explaining why Red want something and why Blue want to stop them but really this experience is aimed squarely at the competitive crowd.
Ghost Recon Phantoms Gameplay 2015
In total there are five dreary concrete maps on offer, all of which are smaller than Tribes' yet bigger than Blacklight's arenas, with game modes split between Conquest which requires two teams to fight over five different capture points on one map, and Onslaught which has one team attacking three capture points, while the other must defend. These lack of options may be to do with the fact that the game is still relatively new, but we suspect it's so that Ubisoft can keep the game polished and balanced.
Each of the three classes on offer – Specialist (heavy), Sniper and Assault – boast abilities which can help your team-mates in various ways, for instance scanning an area for foes and each class's strengths and weaknesses also prevent one extremely good player dominating a team – that is if they're working together. Each role works out exactly as you'd expect with the Specialist touting machine guns, Sniper boasting rifles, and Assault the versatile mix between the two. There are lots of different customisations for each piece of equipment and finding the right loadout is crucial. Swapping out different scopes and adding a laser sight to your rifle of choice is also well implemented and provides a good thrill.
Aesthetically GRO is rather bland, but the UI and menu design effectively communicate the near-future setting. We especially like the HUD with its sweeping lines attaching themselves to team-mates whenever they're nearby and neat overlays whenever you set off support powers.
The core gunplay feels really impactful and the emphasis on cover, with players able to snap their character to any surface, gives rounds a very strategic feel. The matchmaking system is also fast and efficient, with matches usually hitting the competitive sweet spot before two teams of 18.
The cash store is also very flexible with players able to buy mostly anything, other than XP boosts, with Requisition Points which are earned merely by taking part in matches and meeting daily challenges. The first time you realise you have to buy grenades is a bit of a shock, but as new goodies are offered at every level, or when you complete individual challenges, that nasty taste is immediately washed away.
GRO isn't the perfect online shooter, it's certainly lacking in the juxtaposition department, but for a free-to-play game it's enjoyable and doesn't punish the player for not forking out cash. Fundamentally this is a polished multiplayer experience which is worth a punt if you're looking to exercise your cyber-loving trigger finger, but just don't expect it to do any more than that.