Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege

Gameplay

In the basic variant of PvP, gameplay is divided into two phases: preparation and combat. During the preparation phase, the attacking team infiltrates the map using drones. Their task is to locate opponents, mark the fortifications they are building, and gather information about the battlefield. The opposing team, as part of self-defense, must set up appropriate safeguards. They include barricades, wall reinforcements, barbed wire, proximity mines, electronic jammers, and motion detectors. After the preparation time has passed, the attackers storm the battlefield.

Fights take place in small and relatively tight locations, where we have to quickly "clear" each room to get rid of enemies and accomplish the mission objective. It is not uncommon to have to blow up a wall, place an explosive charge on the floor, to fall on the heads of enemies located one floor below. Without constant communication and planning further steps, not much will happen in a confrontation with an organized team. The gameplay is fast and exciting, but at the same time tactical, mainly due to the destructible environment. The battlefield changes dynamically during the session, often forcing immediate changes in tactics.

Every available operator has different statistics, different weapons, and a unique special ability. For example, on the attacker's side, Sledge has a tactical hammer that he can use to break walls. Montagne has at his disposal a deployable shield that blocks all attacks from the front, but he can only use short-range weapons - a pistol or a revolver. IQ has an electronics scanner, thanks to which it is possible to remotely detect enemy security systems. On the defenders' side, Rook has a bag with additional armor, which his team can use. Doc uses a syringe gun, which he can use to heal or revive teammates from a distance. Pulse's special ability is a motion scanner, detecting enemies from a short distance through walls. Each operator is played differently and each of their skills is useful. The game is constantly updated and adds more playable characters. Currently, several years after the premiere, there are over 50 operators in the game.

Singleplayer and multiplayer modes

Rainbow Six Siege includes only two modes for single player - Operations and Terrohunt. Operations is a series of eleven training missions aimed at teaching the player the basics. Terrohunt involves fighting against computer-controlled terrorists occupying a given map.

The main element of the game are multiplayer modes. We can work together with other players in the cooperative version of Terrohunt or compete with them in PvP matches. For the premiere, we had three types of games to choose from: Bomb, Hostage, or Secure Area. Each of them differs in terms of the mission objective for the attacking team. In Bomb mode, the attackers' task is to defuse one of the two bombs placed on the map. In Hostage mode, they have to rescue the prisoner and escort him to a safe place. Secure Area mode involves taking control over a designated point by reaching it and surviving for a specified period of time. The defending team has to prevent the attackers from completing the task by eliminating all enemies or running out the time limit.

Story

The story plot serves only as a backdrop for training missions and ultimately doesn't matter in multiplayer gameplay. Players take on the role of operators in the Rainbow unit, a special forces group called upon only in crisis situations. This is the situation that turned out to be a wave of terrorist attacks around the world. An enigmatic group known as White Masks stands behind them and their intentions are unknown. The Rainbow Unit aims to prepare for the fight against the White Masks and to prevent their attack on Bartlett University, where the terrorists plan to detonate a biological bomb.

PS5 and XSX/S versions (next-gen)

Versions for the ninth generation consoles have received a large number of improvements. The "next-gen" edition allows us to choose one of two graphic modes. In Resolution mode, we can expect to play in 60 frames per second, with dynamic 4K resolution. Performance mode allows us to play in native 4K and 120 frames per second.

Depending on the chosen console, the game receives new functionalities. On Xbox Series X, we can switch between Siege and other games without turning them off. Meanwhile, the PS5 enhances immersion thanks to the DualSense controller. Enemies pose different resistance depending on the weapon used by the player. The touch effects included in the controller react to explosions and used gadgets, and specific sounds come directly from the speaker in the pad. The "next-gen" versions also include cross-play functionality. PS5 users can play together with PS4 owners, and Xbox Series X/S users can play with Xbox One users.