Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
A turn-based tactics launch title for the Nintendo 3DS.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, a turn-based tactics title from Ubisoft, launched for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011. It arrived as a launch game in Europe, North America, and Australia, with a Japanese release following. Part of the Ghost Recon series, it earned generally positive reviews for its gameplay and design, though its multiplayer and characters drew criticism.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Ubisoft Sofia
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Producer
- Julian Gollop
- Designer
- Andrey Velkov; Yavor Mihaylov
- Programmer
- Stefan Dyulgerov
- Artist
- Borislav Bogdanov
- Writer
- Daniel Greenberg (story), Martin Capel; Bozhidar Grozdanov
- Composer
- Elitsa Yovcheva
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The battle system resembles other turn-based tactics games such as Advance Wars and Fire Emblem, with elevation and cover playing critical tactical roles and a distinctive support fire system. It also shares similarities with earlier games by the same designer, including Rebelstar: Tactical Command and UFO: Enemy Unknown. Completing mission objectives awards points that upgrade each unit's rank; units follow a predetermined development tree, with each new level granting HP bonuses, new abilities, and alternative equipment. Players choose how to spend points on each unit. The game offers three modes: a Campaign Game with 37 missions totaling 35–45 hours of play, where the player controls up to six Ghosts; 20 Skirmish Missions with fixed teams and deployments; and 10 Multiplayer Missions played on a single 3DS console. Playable characters include the Commando (Duke), equipped with an assault rifle and shoulder-mounted missile launcher, available in anti-vehicle or anti-personnel types; the Sniper (Haze), a long-range specialist with heavy or light sniper rifles and AP or EMP grenades; the Gunner (Richter), wielding a high-powered automatic weapon with limited maneuverability and grenade choices; the Medic (Saffron), with personal defense weapons and medi-kits including stim and boost kits; and the Recon (Banshee), who uses a camouflage system preventing direct attacks unless revealed by an adjacent enemy, armed with silenced carbines and EMP grenades or a knife.
Plot
Following political turmoil in the Russian Federation, ultranationalist Yuri Treskayev seeks power by reviving Soviet-era military infrastructure. His faction reactivates hidden Dead Hand missile and drone bases across Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Siberia, refurbishing them to assemble an autonomous drone army and advanced weapons. The elite US unit known as the Ghosts is deployed to prevent escalation into open war. Their first operations take them into Kazakhstan, where they investigate pipeline sabotage and insurgent movements linked to Treskayev's forces. They uncover a conspiracy to destabilize neighboring states, leading to the location and neutralization of a Dead Hand base in mountainous terrain that houses drone assembly lines. The narrative then shifts to Ukraine, where Treskayev's forces launch drone strikes, rail-hub seizures, and infrastructure sabotage. The Ghosts conduct missions to hold bridgeheads, intercept convoys, and assist Ukrainian resistance, facing drones, mechanized infantry, and shadow-state proxies. As the conflict escalates, their deployment evolves from covert insertion into overt warfare.
Reception
Critics generally liked the game. Aggregators GameRankings and Metacritic rated it around 78% and 77 out of 100, respectively. GameSpot gave it an 8 out of 10 but found the story shallow. Official Nintendo Magazine awarded 80%, highlighting its ease of play. IGN's Anthony Gallegos noted flaws like weak multiplayer, repetitive missions, and predictable characters, but still gave it a 7 out of 10 and suggested it for strategy fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars?
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars was developed by Ubisoft Sofia.
When was Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars released?
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars was released on March 25, 2011 in Europe, on March 27, 2011 in North America, on March 31, 2011 in Australia and on May 19, 2011 in Japan.
Who designed Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars?
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars was designed by Andrey Velkov and Yavor Mihaylov.
Who composed the music for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars?
The music for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars was composed by Elitsa Yovcheva.
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