Gameplay emphasis in ''Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
is placed upon the player doing the bulk of the fighting in each mission, while relying on tactical combat rather than arcade run-and-gun shooting to overcome enemies. Combat in the game is more forgiving than in previous titles in the series, with players being able to survive several bullet hits before dying, instead of dying after only a few shots like in the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon''. However, players are unable to regain lost health in the middle of a mission, and a single headshot or a sustained burst of fire can still kill the player instantly.
GRAW features numerous firearms, many based on real weapons, including the
Heckler & Koch G36, the
Beretta M9, and the
FN SCAR, in addition to prototypes such as the
MR-C. The game also makes use of various other pieces of equipment, including tanks, helicopters,
armored personnel carriers, and remote-controlled
unmanned aerial vehicles, which can be used tactically to overcome obstacles, and scout out the environment, in order to complete objectives.
GRAW features three versions of the game that each have slight minor variations in storyline/missions depending on the version; the main storyline, though, remains the same between the versions. While both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions are essentially the same title, the Xbox 360 and Windows versions each stand out on their own with their own unique features, including the ability to command a squad of soldiers indirectly.
Cross-Com System One unique feature of the gameplay is the cross-com system, which is designed to allow indirect control over friendly units, assisting them on a mission (e.g. helicopters, UAV drones, etc.), by giving them commands on what to do, whether to locate enemies or deal with a particular threat encountered. This system can be used in conjunction with the game's Intel map - a tactical map showing the entire play area and location of objectives, enemies and friendlies/allies - to issue commands. Notably, this gameplay feature varies between the different versions. For the Xbox 360 version, the system highlights enemies spotted by both the player and both their squad and other allies, while the Microsoft Windows version only highlights enemies seen by the player's squad and not themselves.
PlayStation 2 & Xbox versions Both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox console versions of ''Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter'' are played in first-person, but have notably fewer features than those found in the Xbox 360 or the Windows versions. The most notable differences to the other versions is that players only have a single AI-controlled teammate following them on missions (as opposed to a squad of 3 soldiers), there are more levels but of shorter lengths, and that player character Scott Mitchell never speaks throughout these versions.
Xbox 360 version Unlike all other versions of
GRAW, the Xbox 360 version gives players a choice between using either a third-person or first-person perspective during the campaign mode, and also features a unique covering system that allows the player to duck behind objects for protection from gun-fire while performing tactical maneuvers. In addition, some levels feature on-rail sections in which players must eliminate as many enemies as possible from their airborne transport via the use of a mounted gun, and if a mission provides them with a squad, orders given via the cross-com system apply to the entire squad, and not to individual squad members. Players cannot recover ammo from fallen enemies but can take their weapons if needed; otherwise they must re-arm at either rally points or ammo stations.
Microsoft Windows version The Microsoft Windows version of ''Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter'' is played from a first-person perspective. This version features larger levels than those of the console versions with enemy AI more likely to use ambush tactics, thus greater emphasis is placed upon using squad tactics and having more situational awareness in each mission. The cross-com system in this version is more flexible, capable of issuing more controlled commands to individual squad members, as well as plotting out attack routes and battle plans for other friendly units. In addition, players cannot pick up discarded weapons, unlike the other versions, but can take ammunition from the weapons of dead enemies or allies, if the player's weapon is of the same caliber. Unlike other versions, players may select the loadouts for their selected team before the start of a mission, although this is done with no briefing given, with each member able to carry a primary weapon and a secondary weapon, while either carrying extra ammunition or a heat-seeking anti-tank weapon. Unlike other versions, every Ghost member has a maximum weight limit on how much they can carry, with them becoming fatigued from sprinting at a much faster rate the more equipment they are carrying. Weapons are able to be modified with various attachments, such as optical sights, grenade launchers, silencers, and vertical foregrips, and each modification has used on a weapon has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, attaching a grenade launcher reduces accuracy and adds weight, while adding a silencer reduces noise and muzzle flash of a weapon at the expense of accuracy and range. The Microsoft Windows version can take advantage of the presence of a
PhysX card, however the enhancements are only cosmetic and do not affect gameplay.
Multiplayer Online multiplayer on the Microsoft Windows edition has both versus and co-op mode. Versus mode features 32 players, double that of the Xbox 360 version. The online co-op mode only supports up to 4 players maximum on Windows, while the Xbox 360 version supports up to 16 co-op players. On the Xbox 360 version, some new
Xbox Live features are included: the co-operative campaign (which currently features 8 missions - 4 of which are available on the Xbox Live Marketplace) and multiplayer maps are all set in
Nicaragua as a follow-up to the Mexico City missions of the single player campaign. • On June 22, Ubisoft released the Chapter 2 Downloadable Content for 1,200 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The price was later reduced to 600. In the UK, a special Game of the Year edition was released in late 2006 containing a card enabling the player to obtain all marketplace content for free, including the Chapter 2 download. The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions have some similar online game modes and can be played with up to 8 players. ==Plot==