Ghost Recon: Island Thunder isn't so much a sequel as it is a collection of new missions that didn't make it in the first game, tied together by a paper-thin plot. As such, many of that game's problems still remain.
Castro is dead, and the Ghosts are going to stop the first free elections in Cuba for decades from being sabotaged by a drug lord. Island Thunder lets you select two fireteams and clear Havana's house in a blaze of glory.
While the "plot" may be new, the missions are not – this is more of the same, with nothing really added or removed since the original Ghost Recon. For fans of this series, this is probably an omen, but those who thought the original was too painfully slow for their tastes won't be converted by this new installment. Make no mistake about it – this is an expansion pack that doesn't require the original to play, not a brand new experience.
Like its predecessor, Island Thunder's online modes are a blast. There's a wide variety of maps and game styles here to keep you interested for some time, and while the multiplayer menus are a bit lacking in areas, they do their job.
The standard tactical-shooter approach to audio that has been in place since the first Rainbow 6 still applies here: very little sound is heard, and that which is present generally is that of footsteps, gunshots, and radio chatter between teammates. Similarly, the graphics in Island Thunder are generally crisp and clean, though oftentimes very bland and poorly textured. This is not to say that the game looks bad, it just doesn't look "Cutting-Edge", or anywhere near it.
Fans of tactical shooters, or those trying to diversify their Xbox Live gaming choices would do well to give Ghost Recon a second look with Island Thunder. It's not that pretty, there are some clunky controls to be found, but the game does grow on you if given a chance.
-George
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