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When reviewing games, some games are harder than others to review. For instance, very bad games are easy to review as there's so much to talk about with them. Very good games are probably the hardest to review. Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is a very good game, and thus, very hard to review short of "you'll like it; go buy it."

That's not completely true — not everyone will like it. There are two caveats to that statement: one, that you like modern day first-person shooters, and two, that you like "tactical" style shooters. By "tactical," I mean games in which it's more about your ability to use your squadmates and knowledge of the situation to give you the advantage rather than just going in guns blazing and relying on magical "health packs" that restore your health.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is a very solid tactical first-person shooter and one that avoids some of the pitfalls of the first game. (Remember the long part in the first game in which you only had a pistol? And that whole long convoluted introduction/tutorial mission that had nothing to do with Las Vegas? This game avoids those pitfalls — just a short mission in the Alps — and it's much better for having done so.)

You play as Bishop. "Who is Bishop?" you might ask, and neatly enough — well, it's you. You can pick how Bishop looks, even what sex Bishop is and what clothes he or she wears. I played Bishop as a guy, but there doesn't really appear to be any effect other than aesthetic as to which you choose.

The game leads you through some of the grittier parts of Las Vegas as you work your way through an army of terrorists. Almost all of the time, you're with two of your compatriots. While not perfect, they make good companions and are quick on the trigger. They also can take a good bit of damage, which is good for when you're still trying to figure out how to get them to fast rope out of (or into) danger.

The story is fairly straightforward — bad guys doing bad things, you've got to stop them, etc. It's kind of a side-by-side story to the first game, but honestly, I can't remember much of it (the story, that is, from the first game).

The big emphasis is tactics, as I've said. Using things such as the snake-cam, you scout out where the bad guys are and develop your tactics based on that. Are they close by to the door? Are you trying to be stealthy or loud? Should my guys use frags or flash-bangs? Should I go through the same door as them or through another?

Complementing these choices is the fact that you have a lot of choice in equipment. There are tons of different types of guns you can carry, and better yet, you can customize them. You also can wear armor, deciding if you want to move fast and unencumbered or if you want to be heavily decked out.

You'll probably want some armor, though, because one good shot can take you down. You have a regenerative health system, though, so if you can get out of fire, you'll slowly recover. If your buddies get taken down, you can give them first aid or order the other AI companion to give first aid.

And you'll probably have to do that a good bit. Your guys are good, but the enemy doesn't slouch, either. They'll toss grenades like crazy, hide behind cover and use shields. They're not perfect enemies, but if they were, the game would be harder than it is already (and it is fairly hard).

The graphics are a bit better than the original. I liked them a lot, as well as a lot of the little additions to the interface that immerses you in the game, with one exception: the constant Cisco branding of your video link. But that's just me.

Sound is good, too, and some of the little quotes you'll hear from the terrorists — especially when they know you're hunting them — are pretty funny.

Another interesting concept they added is the idea of XP. You get XP from everyone you kill (and that your AI buddies kill, too, thus making their stealing of your kills more acceptable). You get the XP in different ways, and it helps to unlock new equipment.

There's a good bit of multiplayer in it as well. You can play co-op campaign multiplayer, a popular choice in video games nowadays and always fun. There are a number of player versus player multiplayer games available, too, plus alternate modes to the campaign, such as "terrorist hunt."

If there are any nits to pick, they are kind of small. The campaign is a little short — 6 to 8 hours is what most people say. I don't think that's bad, personally, as it helps ensure that I can actually finish it.

At the same time, some parts of the game can be punishingly hard. You need to learn where the enemies are and what the right tactics are for different places. You have times that you need to bunker down and times when you need to race forward — pick the wrong time to do one, and you'll be killed in no time.

And sometimes you are just killed, anyways, when the enemy gets a good shot in.

All in all, however, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is an incredibly fun game. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll probably like this one better, and if you like first-person shooters, I'd highly recommend giving this one a go. Personally, I can't wait to get online with my friends and play this; I just have to get the darn TIME to do so!