Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword (2004)

by Nish
written by Nish 4 minutes read

Summary

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword (2004)

Introduction

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword is an expansion pack for the tactical shooter game Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft, it was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and Xbox on March 16, 2004.

Gameplay

Athena Sword features a new storyline of 13 missions, set after the events of Raven Shield. The player takes control of a team of Rainbow operatives and must complete objectives such as hostage rescue, bomb defusal, and VIP protection. The game introduces new gameplay elements, including the ability to rappel from helicopters, use night vision goggles, and breach doors with explosives.

Setting

The story of Athena Sword takes place in various locations around the world, including the United States, Russia, and the Middle East. The game features a variety of environments, from urban settings to rural landscapes.

Characters

The player can choose from a roster of 20 Rainbow operatives, each with their own unique skills and abilities. New operatives include:

  • Marius “Marius” Streicher – A German GSG-9 operator specializing in assault and breaching.
  • Kim “Dokkaebi” Soo-in – A South Korean 707th Special Mission Battalion operator specializing in electronic warfare and hacking.
  • Gilles “Montfermeil” Touré – A French GIGN operator specializing in stealth and reconnaissance.

New Features

In addition to the new storyline and characters, Athena Sword introduces several new gameplay features, including:

  • Rappelling – Players can now rappel from helicopters to infiltrate buildings and reach new areas.
  • Night Vision Goggles – Players can use night vision goggles to see in dark environments.
  • Breaching Charges – Players can use breaching charges to blow open doors and create new entry points.
  • New Weapons and Equipment – Athena Sword adds a variety of new weapons and equipment, including the M4A1 carbine, the MP5 submachine gun, and the M249 SAW machine gun.

Reception

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword received generally positive reviews from critics. The game was praised for its new gameplay elements, challenging missions, and improved graphics. However, some critics found the game to be too short and lacking in innovation.

Legacy

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword is considered to be one of the best expansion packs ever released. The game’s new gameplay features and challenging missions helped to extend the lifespan of Raven Shield and set the stage for future Rainbow Six games.

Conclusion

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword is an excellent expansion pack that adds a significant amount of new content to Raven Shield. The game’s new gameplay elements, challenging missions, and improved graphics make it a must-play for fans of the Rainbow Six series.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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