I'm going to level with you; this is my first foray into the Rainbow Six world, so if you are looking for an expertly crafted history of the franchise and its entries, this is probably not the review for you. If, like me, you are intrigued by the introduction of aliens into this shooter that seems traditionally grounded in realism, this review will dive into my experience with the game. Never let it be said that you were not warned.
Rainbox Six Extraction is set in an alternate timeline from the previous titles, and while the premise is still point and shoot, instead of human beings, it is an alien race called the Archaeans who have invaded Earth and taken over cities. This time around, the agents' role is to charge into each section, eliminate as many of the aliens as possible, and do fetch quests and other tasks to get control of that region back.
While recent multiplayer shooters go for a run and gun mode like Fortnite, this game offers a slower pace that takes a bit of time and practise to get used to, but when you do delivers a unique multiplayer experience to help it stand out from the crowd.
Players team up in a group of three to head into different sites that have been taken over by aliens. Each area is separated into three different zones, and the more you progress, the more difficult it becomes. Each zone has other goals, so you explore different areas. The focus on exploration and scouting makes the takedowns even more satisfying. Each zone is vastly different from the one before. From the cityscape of New York to the mountains in Alaska, there is a large variety of other areas that help each zone feel unique, showcasing the amount of care put into each level.
Each area has a sub-zone in which you complete different challenges. This awards you bonus points that you need for upgrades, research and purchasing new gear. All of this combined will give you the tactical advantage your team needs to take out the aliens as they are not messing around. The Archaeans are violent and ruthless in their killing. They have different abilities that will surprise you every time. Some of them hurl blue spikes at you, some saunter up on all fours and explode on you, others have blades in place of limbs and just slice you apart. Some even appear as blobs bursting with ooze as you try and get past, reincarnating quickly, making it near impossible for you to pass. It is genuinely terrifying and the biggest surprise of the game for me. Oh, and they respawn! There are little pods that spew out more aliens, be sure to destroy these as quickly as you can.
Gameplay-wise, this is a bit of a thinker. You can send in a sentry drone or remote control car to scope out the area and see how you get to your objective with as little (or as much!) alien interference as possible. In the first 10 hours of the game, this is essential as your health gauge is small, and the ferocity of the aliens leave you with no chance of making it to your goal. You can combat this by coordinating attacks with your teammates (a headset is ESSENTIAL!) In addition, purchasing AI assists like sentry guns and various motion detectors placed smartly is the key to getting through each area relatively unscathed.
Perhaps one of the more unique and exciting parts of the game is how it deals if you die. The hoard of Archaeans suck you in, and your teammates must carry you successfully back to the airlock where you start each level; if they don't do it successfully, your player is removed from the roster. You must then re-enter the level as a different character and try and free them from the alien parasite. It's utilised really well and adds a level of urgency to how you play.
A lot of detail has been given to the mission types. You are rescuing trapped civilians, investigating the Archaeans biology to investigate more about them and develop more effective weapons against them, clearing out entire units of aliens and stealthily taking out the prominent leaders to send the rest into a flurry of confusion, making them easier to take down. This all combines with the eery soundtrack and beautiful visuals (this game was reviewed on Playstation 5) with a playtime of 20 hours (and counting!) Which I'm sure will increase as the game launches, and more of my friends can jump in.
This game offers a thrilling shooter with an extraterrestrial twist boasting gorgeous graphics, a soundtrack that is tense and supports the terrifying atmosphere as you wait to be ripped apart by the Archaeans who refuse to let go of their zones. This game is best played with one or two of your friends is the best advice I can give you, as long as you can communicate and plan well. Otherwise, you can strike up a game with a random and see how your luck fares. Ubisoft should be applauded for something different and coming up with an inventive and intelligent shooter I can't wait to keep playing.
Comments