Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms

 PC
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Aug 15, 2012
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 276 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 144 out of 276
  2. Mixed: 45 out of 276
  3. Negative: 87 out of 276

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  1. ThinkSamich
    Jul 11, 2014
    4
    Ghost Recon: Phantoms doesn't know what it wants to be. The mobility system has you leaning against walls, under barricades, rolling around corners, and even firing while you slide across the ground. Sounds good, until we talk about the accuracy system. Accuracy is severely diminished in a "realistic" or "simulator" type fashion. It doesn't make sense to mix the gears of war style cover +Ghost Recon: Phantoms doesn't know what it wants to be. The mobility system has you leaning against walls, under barricades, rolling around corners, and even firing while you slide across the ground. Sounds good, until we talk about the accuracy system. Accuracy is severely diminished in a "realistic" or "simulator" type fashion. It doesn't make sense to mix the gears of war style cover + run and gun mobility systems just to slap huge accuracy penalties on mobility.

    The game also relies heavily on micro-transactions. The type that give you silly advantages some would refer to as"pay to win" or "pay to be competitive.' The first five or six levels will have you fooled, as the matchmaking algorithm is pretty good about matching you with other newbies at that level. Around level 8 or so, you will learn that the player with the biggest wallet has the best score, every round. Micro-transactions are tied to fancier gear like grenades, and even arbitrary things like reload time. That's right, you can pay to reload your weapon faster. Some of the purchasable gear is outright ludicrous and will make you feel as if you are shooting at people with an airsoft gun. This game had an image and an idea, but lost it somewhere along the way. Still, these pay to win type games have shown success in the past, so I wouldn't doubt it if Ubisoft is turning a profit from this game. Continuing the way it is, no legitimate gamer or competitive league will ever take this title seriously. It's a shame there isn't some "Vanilla" game mode, where equipment is normalized. The core gameplay is quite satisfying, despite the movement and accuracy systems contradicting one another. It's a shame greed got in the way of what was once a promising title.    … Expand
  2. zto101
    Apr 14, 2013
    4
    Alright. I have to say it, I am going to give this game a 4. Ghost Recon Online has quite some style in it. I've been playing for a couple months now. Game play is decent, as well as the cover system which isn't very common in most f2p shooters. However, the biggest concern I have for this game is very POOR matchmaking. Seriously, beginners are being overpowered by vets, when they haveAlright. I have to say it, I am going to give this game a 4. Ghost Recon Online has quite some style in it. I've been playing for a couple months now. Game play is decent, as well as the cover system which isn't very common in most f2p shooters. However, the biggest concern I have for this game is very POOR matchmaking. Seriously, beginners are being overpowered by vets, when they have only played and won 4 or 5 matches. They immediately get thrown into the advanced player base. Secondly, LACK of MAPS. Can't stress this enough. With this game still in open beta, it lacks a ton of maps. Warframe has a ton more maps and it is still in open beta. You'll be finding yourself playing the same 6 maps over and over and over again with bratty annoying voice comm players telling you what to do. You will get sick of it. Also you cannot choose your own map to play on. It is all based on GRO's matchmaking system. I would hate to predict that Ubisoft will start updating their maps and game modes in the next 3-4 years. They have made very little advancement in this f2p.

    Thirdly, weapon prices are ridiculous. If you are a casual gamer and play for free, it will take you FOREVER to get the last couple guns even after you have reached level 30. Ubisoft is secretly trying to make you pay with Ghost Coins. Anyways, if you do plan on playing this game for a very long time, everything said here will apply. Good luck fellow gamer.    … Expand
  3. Phsic
    Apr 17, 2014
    4
    The facade that this is "skill based" or "free to play" is insulting at best, you have to invest a ton of cash to even compete with the opposing players. This is the only shooter I've encountered where paying more money, makes your bullets do more and their bullets do less. Earning anything overtime is unreasonable, as they charge you the in-game and real money to buy grenades and to keepThe facade that this is "skill based" or "free to play" is insulting at best, you have to invest a ton of cash to even compete with the opposing players. This is the only shooter I've encountered where paying more money, makes your bullets do more and their bullets do less. Earning anything overtime is unreasonable, as they charge you the in-game and real money to buy grenades and to keep your "armor" intact. Just to reiterate, you have to pay money (and not just a little), to do as much damage as the opposing players, there's no way around it. To encourage spending, the guns with the higher prices, are of course better, as well as the armor and abilities.… Expand
  4. nxtDimension
    Feb 8, 2014
    4
    I rated this game a 4 because it has great graphics and controls. GRO could have been an amazing f2p game, but it has many issues.
    []
    People complain about campers, but i feel like the map design and cover system were thoughtfully developed in a way that turns the traditional run-and-gun style shooters on their heads. It makes you carefully plan out what cover you're moving to next, and    I rated this game a 4 because it has great graphics and controls. GRO could have been an amazing f2p game, but it has many issues.
    []
    People complain about campers, but i feel like the map design and cover system were thoughtfully developed in a way that turns the traditional run-and-gun style shooters on their heads. It makes you carefully plan out what cover you're moving to next, and gives a whole new dimension to the use of suppression fire. The straightforward maps force opposing teams into choke points, and only teamwork will get you through.
    []
    This style of gameplay is what drew me into GRO, but after a month or so of playing, i've called it quits. I completely agree with other reviewers when they say that the matchmaking is terrible. Noobs get matched up against pros, and oftentimes teams' numbers will also be unbalanced.
    []
    The absolute worst part of the game is the blatant pay-to-win arrangement. Most FPS' try to keep weaponry somewhat balanced, to make things sporting and fun for all. If you play GRO, you will realize very quickly that the higher-tiered weapons are completely superior. Anything you can earn within a reasonable amount of time without paying can't hold a candle to the purchased guns. Almost every match in GRO is completely one sided, and the winner is inevitably the team with more pay-to-winners.
    []
    It's too bad that a game with such potential had to go this route. I play a lot of f2p online games, and I have spent plenty of money on them, but not until they have earned my respect with their free features. GRO did the opposite. The complete disregard for the free experience made me NOT want to spend any money on it.    … Expand
  5. Cyliann
    Jun 15, 2014
    4
    Terrible game featuring terrible lag (both ping and FPS) that encourages camping by allowing people to prone on borderline miniscule maps while also managing to fail immensively by not having a proper match-making in place.

    The game may turn to a viable source of enjoyment if one partakes in the pay-2-win elements and significant amount of time-spending but other than that, it can be    Terrible game featuring terrible lag (both ping and FPS) that encourages camping by allowing people to prone on borderline miniscule maps while also managing to fail immensively by not having a proper match-making in place.

    The game may turn to a viable source of enjoyment if one partakes in the pay-2-win elements and significant amount of time-spending but other than that, it can be considered a complete failure.    … Expand
  6. Khalkists
    Jul 9, 2014
    4
    In its beginnings, Ghost Recon Phantoms was a unique game with a focus on teamwork and tactical game-play. When the project changed hands, much of their focus seemed to change.

    This was proven again with the recent release of patch 1.2 which changes the game-play in its entirety. The devices [previously balanced well enough to make them useful, but not broken] are recovered in a    In its beginnings, Ghost Recon Phantoms was a unique game with a focus on teamwork and tactical game-play. When the project changed hands, much of their focus seemed to change.

    This was proven again with the recent release of patch 1.2 which changes the game-play in its entirety.

    The devices [previously balanced well enough to make them useful, but not broken] are recovered in a short two minutes. Their role has shifted from a method of turning the tides of the game into a constant barrage.
    The patch brought with it a large rebalance in weapons. Previously, each gun had a variable time to pick it up, depending on the attachments, barrel length, stock, etc. This allowed people to trim down smaller guns for use in close-quarters engagements. With the patch, all weapons have ready times at or below even the fastest SMGs.

    The learning curve was, previously, steep but rewarding. People learned how to move, and how to approach a situation when their weapons would take a second to be ready to shoot. Now, without concerns for ready-times; the game feels like a typical run-and-gun shooter with an extreme pace.

    All in all, it feels like the developers have disregarded concerns for balance or uniqueness; and instead are pushing to draw in the crowd of other, more popular shooters. This may be due to the niche nature of the previous game-play, the rapidly collapsing player base, or the difficult learning curve (which is not reduced with the inclusion of a functioning tutorial)

    Combined with the poor economic state, and the extremely slow progress (which has been further slowed down with patch 1.2), I cannot honestly suggest this game in its current state. If you prefer the quick, twitch game-play, you should consider other sources than Ghost Recon Phantoms.    … Expand
  7. gncnmn
    Feb 8, 2015
    4
    Conclusion : You must pay to win...

    I have spend many many hours to play this game spread to my friends watched pro videos (as a competitive player). Now I rank between "General 1Star - Colonel 5", one of my friend is a total noob he has no idea what strategy aiming or pre-aim camera angle minimap strategy or anything else he just pays and grabs top gear and he is General 4 Star killing    Conclusion : You must pay to win...

    I have spend many many hours to play this game spread to my friends watched pro videos (as a competitive player). Now I rank between "General 1Star - Colonel 5", one of my friend is a total noob he has no idea what strategy aiming or pre-aim camera angle minimap strategy or anything else he just pays and grabs top gear and he is General 4 Star killing people without thinking just rushing forward, it takes me to kill him 5 bullets he kill me with 2... with number crounching you need ~300K AC to get Highest Tier Weapon and 150K AC to get Top Tier armor+inserts 75K AC with your build Devices 150K AC for all devices (they needed for certain situations) "To Max 1 class is about 600K AC with 0 mistake pre-programmed buying..." first 100K AC is easy to earn you can make it in 1 week by playing 1-2 hours a day easyly by leveling 3 classes and spend nothing... then your AC earning / day is aproximateliy 1K/Day you need more AC to repair armor and If you don't count first 100K AC you need 500K AC to max out and it will take about 300-500days if you dont PAY, if you pay its instant...

    This game should be PAID from start. All would be ok and could become a legend like CounterStrike... but its absolutely no FreetoPlay its FreetoDie...    … Expand
  8. Ansatsu83
    Oct 21, 2012
    3
    I can see this game applying to a very small demography of players, this does not include me. Horrible bugs from when I did play, unable to tolerate some of the things that did happen. Camping is encouraged on some maps and getting away from campers is all but impossible. Oh lets not forget that many players prefer to play a sniper, so the teams are typically sniper oriented. Assaults areI can see this game applying to a very small demography of players, this does not include me. Horrible bugs from when I did play, unable to tolerate some of the things that did happen. Camping is encouraged on some maps and getting away from campers is all but impossible. Oh lets not forget that many players prefer to play a sniper, so the teams are typically sniper oriented. Assaults are mostly gimp, machine guns with some of the map layouts make it easier to camp. Etc, I cannot give this game a positive review, I can say their minds are in the right place but their execution is not. I can recommend the original ghost recon, but not much else.… Expand
  9. FINGERINMYANUS
    Mar 21, 2013
    3
    This is by no means Ghost Recon, at least not the one you're used to, except for the name. First is the pay to win, yes there is other options to win, but you can fast track yourself with real life money. You have to pay for grenades with in game credits and you earn more guns over time through play (unless you fork over some cash, then you get it early). I'm impartial to this.

    The bad    This is by no means Ghost Recon, at least not the one you're used to, except for the name. First is the pay to win, yes there is other options to win, but you can fast track yourself with real life money. You have to pay for grenades with in game credits and you earn more guns over time through play (unless you fork over some cash, then you get it early). I'm impartial to this.

    The bad part is, that it is essentially a Ghost Recon themed Call of Duty. You can get powerups that for example puts a shield around you and your team that stops bullets. Now there are some minor powerups that are perfectly okay, but adding things like Juggernaut from Call of Duty is not really the Ghost Recon I know or at least no Ghost Recon I've ever seen.

    Ubisoft is going the same was as EA.. Pay to win and attract the crowds instead of the fans. This game seriously tarnished the Tom Clancy reputation.    … Expand
  10. Alexander452
    Nov 23, 2013
    3
    If you start out playing it...Good luck, there are so few beginner players that you are forced into playing with experienced players that have a of guns and equipment, that you will get killed in a matter of seconds.
    Sure the game-play is good, but the amount of you have to take while playing the matches is unbelievable.
    Not to talk about it still takes forever to find a match while    If you start out playing it...Good luck, there are so few beginner players that you are forced into playing with experienced players that have a of guns and equipment, that you will get killed in a matter of seconds.
    Sure the game-play is good, but the amount of you have to take while playing the matches is unbelievable.
    Not to talk about it still takes forever to find a match while you are playing against experienced players
    You will mostly end up with 3 kills and 16 deaths or so, because nearly everyone is just running around cloaked with sm-g's and shooting you from behind.
    Or they will sit at the same spot for the entire match and snipe people.

    And your team mates aren't good for They all just run around in their on little way, while the enemy team is killing us 1 by 1.

    Now the Free2Play part is not wonderful either, most of the gear is really expensive both with in-game and micro-transactions. Making it a pay2play game really quick, as alot of the items also are micro-transaction only.

    Also at the fact that you earn in-game credits at such a slow pace, you will mostly never experience anything else than the start weapons.

    Play something else is my suggestion    … Expand
  11. orthicviper
    Feb 2, 2014
    3
    First I'll discuss the problems, then discuss what makes the game unique.

    The problems with GRO include things like the pricing. I looked at the rate of earnings and cost of these items and determined it would take years to build up to the most advanced weapons and devices. 2, 3 maybe more, based on playing about 2 hours per day. They've several times increased the grind that must be    First I'll discuss the problems, then discuss what makes the game unique.

    The problems with GRO include things like the pricing. I looked at the rate of earnings and cost of these items and determined it would take years to build up to the most advanced weapons and devices. 2, 3 maybe more, based on playing about 2 hours per day. They've several times increased the grind that must be done. The earliest players played before a new "tier" restriction kicked in that made it much easier to get the best weapons for less, so if you start this game now, which is VERY VERY much pay to win, you will face not only those who've mastered the mechanics, but who already have high end gear. And the best weapon gives a big boost over it's immediate 2nd best. Yes, the gear you have makes a big difference, sometimes ridiculously so. Many complaints about people "sniping" with the SPAS shotgun. The guys who have the best gear have nothing more to worry about than buying grenades, 20% damage boosting magnum rounds, and armor-boosting inserts for the most part.

    As far as nades go, they basically turned the game from a strategic game into a grenade simulator. Especially on the chertanovo level, when people get on the capture point, they can expect multiple players from the other team to throw a grenade storm upon them. Grenades often can not be run away from, and it can be hard to know where they are. They often result in immediate death. They should be limited in how often they can be used (like twice per round), but instead you can use 2 per respawn as long as you have some in your collection. Perhaps this is due to hoping to entice players to put real money in the game for more kills. It may not seem an excessive quantity if you are used to action games, but in a game where you frequently must stay in a specific area, it becomes ridiculous.

    One problem I've seen is that people can often come around corners, and before you can even think "there's an enemy" it is like you die and then they show up, or you died as soon as they came around the edge. I don't know if its something to do with programming for lag compensation or hacking. If you wonder, my internet speed is 20 Mbps and I'm no stranger to pings of 20ms. There was a hacker that had many many players reporting him, even on the official forums, but for many months or a year or more nothing was done about him, but he did get banned after forever. If only the programmers built in a demo recording feature, we could really learn a lot about what really goes on as far as hacking in this game.

    If you want to spend a few hundred dollars on this game, boost my rating to a 7. If they deal with grenades and you have a few hundred dollars, give it a 10. Otherwise, with the grenade spam and excessive factor $$$ plays into good gear, it's not really a game a serious competitive gamer would take seriously. If you play it you play it for fun, you don't come here expecting fairness and the best gamer to win. Grenade luck and good gear just affect victory far too much.

    ---

    This game features a level of significantly gameplay-affecting weapon mechanics I have not seen elsewhere that create a more strategic and uniquely fun experience. There are around 8 different weapons per category of sniper rifle, shotgun, and machine guns. Here's the significance of it all (and it is very important):

    Ready time: How long it takes before your gun is ready to shoot after certain actions like stopping from a sprint (you can not shoot while sprinting), proning...

    Control: the range your crosshair will jitter around when you shoot

    Accuracy: How accurate the bullet will hit where your crosshair is

    Might be some more stuff, but there's also attachments that affect clip size, muzzle flash, silencers, and whatever I might've forgotten.

    You can take cover in this game by pressing a button near a wall. Cover will boost your weapon's control and accuracy.

    The team tactics usually involve little more than people using their microphones to announce enemy locations to others.

    The game has 2 unique devices per class, but only one can be equipped at a time (can be changed upon each death). Recons can scan a large area for enemies that show up through walls even on their teammate's screens, or become invisible. Assaults can run extra fash with a shield to knock down enemies for a couple of seconds or they can use microwaves to nearly immobilize enemies in a large area. Specialists can make a forcefield big enough to protect several teammates (you will often die quickly from nade spam at this point), or they can use blackout to nearly stun enemies and reset their device meter.    … Expand
  12. Himmal
    Feb 7, 2014
    3
    One year ago this game was awesome but now it is a terrible pay to win carbuncle of a game with rampant hacking and outrageous prices. Imagine paying 15-20 euros for a gun... This game can easily cost you 150 euros or many years of game play to get to the top level gear. The matchmaking is terrible with people often leaving games at the start making sides unbalanced. The communityOne year ago this game was awesome but now it is a terrible pay to win carbuncle of a game with rampant hacking and outrageous prices. Imagine paying 15-20 euros for a gun... This game can easily cost you 150 euros or many years of game play to get to the top level gear. The matchmaking is terrible with people often leaving games at the start making sides unbalanced. The community staff are corrupt and vindictive and the community itself is very small.… Expand
  13. RommoR
    Apr 14, 2014
    3
    Pros:
    Free to Play
    Small download Nice mechanic set-up for a shooter with a few interesting slide and cover choices Cons: Many Hackers encounter 4 so far out of 8 matches Gun balancing is terrible Straight up players who have payed to advance to full kits will dominate you even if you play better Maps are checkpoint corridors of chokepoints Personal problems ARs were pointless    Pros:
    Free to Play
    Small download
    Nice mechanic set-up for a shooter with a few interesting slide and cover choices
    Cons:
    Many Hackers encounter 4 so far out of 8 matches
    Gun balancing is terrible
    Straight up players who have payed to advance to full kits will dominate you even if you play better
    Maps are checkpoint corridors of chokepoints

    Personal problems ARs were pointless in comparison to most guns, SMG and Shotguns dropped you or your enemy in insanely little effort, Hitboxing I felt was clunky, small bushes in ceramic pots block your shots, graphics are average at best for 2012 and No match making what so ever to speak of.

    Also with matches you capture one point hold it for the rest of the game and win, no need at all to push any further forward easier to hold and just farm enemy team or it will happen to you.    … Expand
  14. Quejim
    Apr 15, 2014
    3
    Oh my god. This game - I so wanted to like this game. It killed; it was everything I could've hoped for in a multiplayer shooter - it was tactical, smart, you had to rely on teamwork more than your own firepower. It emphasized skill and strategy. It was amazing. It starts you off in a beginner bracket, so that everyone from ranks 1-7 is playing together, and everyone is still figuring outOh my god. This game - I so wanted to like this game. It killed; it was everything I could've hoped for in a multiplayer shooter - it was tactical, smart, you had to rely on teamwork more than your own firepower. It emphasized skill and strategy. It was amazing. It starts you off in a beginner bracket, so that everyone from ranks 1-7 is playing together, and everyone is still figuring out the game like you, while getting better. Those first couple of hours were some of the best multipayer shooter experiences I've ever had, especially with my friend. Probably one of my best free-to-play experiences, period.

    But then, when your class gets to rank 8, you now have to graduate into the "veteran" bracket. There is no in between. So now, you're dancing with these level 30+ guys who can floor you on their own. However, you're also trying to compete with pay-to-winners, because the equipment you can buy can make you nearly invulnerable to just about anything, and the guns... Well, they get ridiculous. You can test them all in the firing range, and trust me when I say that some of those guns are just flat out horrendously overpowered. They are very obviously trying to take a snatch at your wallet, as these weapons cost ridiculous amounts of AC so that you'll probably never be able to earn them, but hey - you can fork over forty bucks and with that GC you just bought, get this assault rifle with the power of a sniper, control of a sidearm, and the power of a close range shotgun - at any range.

    Also, they say the new matchmaking takes equipment and level into account now, but because of how few people are playing, this doesn't make the slightest difference. You will have to fight whoever is available.

    So, because of vets who may have actually earned their equipment and the pay-to-winners who buy everything without developing any real skill, the game devolves from one of the classiest and most advanced tactical TPS games I've ever played, to basically CoD, with impervious tanks-of-a-man's strolling around, poppin' caps and takin' names.

    It is truly sad, as this game looked like it originally was really meant for the real fans, but then became a game that is appealing to the standard shooter demographic of people, specifically the ones who don't "have the time to build up skill", who want to just show up and light up.

    If the game becomes more pupulated, and matchmaking evens out, and you are TRULY getting paired by equipment, so that every match is fair, and the teamwork aspect is brought back, this game will get an 8. Maybe 9. But as of April 15, 2014, for me, this game isn't worth the download, as the sudden shift out of advanced, ghost recon multiplayer tactics into formula shooter just leaves you wanting more, and makes you sad that you can't get more because you can't go back.    … Expand
  15. SirOtilc
    Apr 17, 2014
    3
    This is a great game in a lot of way. its combat is fun and rewarding. game play is smooth and makes its self unique and distinct from other shooters. seriously was a blast to play up to about level 5. this was around the time I started seeing people with higher tier guns that they had purchased to unlock early. normally this is fine with me. if you want to invest to have a slightThis is a great game in a lot of way. its combat is fun and rewarding. game play is smooth and makes its self unique and distinct from other shooters. seriously was a blast to play up to about level 5. this was around the time I started seeing people with higher tier guns that they had purchased to unlock early. normally this is fine with me. if you want to invest to have a slight advantage early on please do. the problem is in Ghost Recon you do not pay for a slight advantage you pay and then are able to rape everyone. this game is the definition of pay to win, thus i give it a 3, simply because if a game is pay to win it means it is clearly a broken game at least from a free to play perspective.… Expand
  16. Cristi12
    Jul 6, 2015
    3
    I think 3 is to much for this game.I started it when it was still in beta and since then,the game simply fell.At first it's fun.you get a 3rd person shooter,a game based on tactics and some cool features like the devices,but after a while,the looses all those things,the matchmaking goes on the idea "OP vs no OP" you might be lucky and get a team with no OP guns and skill against someI think 3 is to much for this game.I started it when it was still in beta and since then,the game simply fell.At first it's fun.you get a 3rd person shooter,a game based on tactics and some cool features like the devices,but after a while,the looses all those things,the matchmaking goes on the idea "OP vs no OP" you might be lucky and get a team with no OP guns and skill against some people who simply payed for this.you get no more strategic fight it's just hit and run.Camping it's also a pain in the a@$,if you are trying to storm a point then you can get killed by a sniper very easily(believe me,i know because i used to kill 4 guys in less then 20 sec,saving my team in the process).The devices are mostly a waste of time because there are **** who are using blackout,there for making you a target,if you are a skilled player,you can get out of this easy,if not,simply pray.And the most crazy thing is that the devs don't really give a f@#% about you,they just want your money,the greed of ubi.They promised new maps but in 3 years they barely got one out,you always play on the same maps over and over again,doing nothing but camping and screaming for a new map(i used to play the same map 6 times in row,knowing it's every point like the back of my hand).
    But this things are nothing,the most stupid thing of them all is that you can get banned for no reason,if you google it,you'll find articles about how people got banned for nothing,getting excuses like you've been banned because you're account was associated with the account of a permanently banned user,something that makes no sense,getting banned for multiple accounts is something else,you can delete your other accounts but the support won't care,telling you that there decision is final.
    In conclusion,you can try it because at first you'll find it fun,but in time you'll get to spend 30-40 euros/dollars a month just so you can get the latest gun(and about that.the guns are nothing but some modded guns that are made to be OP)and after you'll see that is not enough to win,you'll get so angry that you'll either destroy your platform,fight with strangers or friends on the streets,or you'll get to a sanatorium.I'm talking from experience and since i got banned from this game,my life became much more beautiful.    … Expand
  17. CipherBeta
    Jun 17, 2014
    3
    tl;dr: Gameplay+Meta is awesome, economy/progression+bugs/glitches are terrible.

    I've played Ghost Recon Phantoms (originally Ghost Recon Online) since the closed alpha days. And believe you me, it's hooked me. It's still one of my favorite games to play, but that's mostly just because I know a decent amount of the veteran playerbase, and I've been able to accumulate my gear before the    tl;dr: Gameplay+Meta is awesome, economy/progression+bugs/glitches are terrible.

    I've played Ghost Recon Phantoms (originally Ghost Recon Online) since the closed alpha days. And believe you me, it's hooked me. It's still one of my favorite games to play, but that's mostly just because I know a decent amount of the veteran playerbase, and I've been able to accumulate my gear before the economy went all to heck midway through open beta. I'll start off with the positives, which are the only reasons why I'm giving this anything more than a 1.

    First off, the game is highly technical. I've been playing for two years, and I'm still learning about specific spots in the game's maps, different techniques and tricks to use, and the like. The endgame is pretty intense; it's at a level a bit below those "hardcore" (by hardcore I mean entirely technical) shooters like Quake Live, but your performance in the match relies a decent amount on your skill. I say decent, but that's one of the most glaring problems.

    I will say I haven't been around the gaming realm a lot, but I've played a decent amount of games from varying genres and the like. Anything from Korean MMO's to Quake to U.S. racing games to first/third person shooters. I have enough experience to see the economy and such that go into the range of games. And, in that regard, this game fails miserably.

    Any weapon, upgrade, armor, or the like in the game can significantly improve your ability to fight. SIGNIFICANTLY. I've been around long enough to gather everything in endgame, and the difference even between "weapon tiers" is sickening sometimes. The worst part? In-game earnings are often drained by anything from armor repair to consumables, making it difficult to stockpile enough earnings to get a higher tier weapon, let alone a higher tier armor or something similar. However, drop $50 on the game, and you can hook yourself up with endgame gear. Plain and simple. The game completely disregards what they state is "forever free to play". Maybe they meant, "It'll take you forever if you're free to play."

    Either way, that's the most glaring issue. If you download this game, you're probably going to have a lot of fun in the first few matches of the beginners bracket, but the second you step out of the beginner's bracket, you're thrown in with people who have no problems spending $150 on a game right out of the bat, who will tank entire magazines from your low-end weapon and one-shot you with their own.

    Other than that, the other resounding issue is that there are bugs and glitches that have been in the game since closed Alpha that have still not gotten fixed, despite consistent requests from the community. There's little to zilch communication between the team and the playerbase, as compared to other games. If you find a glitch or see broken cover somewhere, good luck seeing it fixed in the next few months. It probably still won't be.

    Clan systems are there but not overly developed. It's a page in the menu that shows a clan, the rankings of those in the clan (soldier, officer, leader), the name, and a avatar that you can give for your clan that looks incredibly generic. Don't expect much if you're a clan guy. Fireteaming is pretty easy, but clan match searches are non-existent. You have to search out the people to challenge them to a clan match. It can be done but it's not the most fluid of experiences.

    But yea. I love the game, but there's a lot of problems with it that are far too detrimental to the playing experience. You're constantly getting bombarded with subliminal messages saying "Buy this!" from anything with the auto-set-to-purchase-with-GC store, to the terrible matchmaking that sticks in lowbie gear with endgame gear.

    Would I recommend it? With all honesty, I wouldn't. If you have deep pockets or extreme patience, go for it, but you're going to either see your patience stretched extremely thin once you go against seven newbies who all dropped $100 on the game for a single class or once the gun you buy is shown to be ineffective against a new weapon that's released a week later that's far stronger.

    The gameplay is awesome. The metaplay is awesome.

    The economy is terrible. The bugs are terrible. The clan systems are mediocre at best.

    If you're up for grinding through the downsides, go for it. It's a fantastic game in the sense of the actual playing of it, but it was ruined by greedy hands and deaf ears on part of the developers. Good luck.    … Expand
  18. Wataru731
    Aug 5, 2014
    3
    I have been playing this game since it was in open beta and overall I think that it's a really good game. While there are some p2w aspects, generally, teamwork is necessary to win games and skill often times will trump OP weapons.

    I would have given this game a higher rating if not for the update they recently released. It completely revamped the leveling reward system to make it more    I have been playing this game since it was in open beta and overall I think that it's a really good game. While there are some p2w aspects, generally, teamwork is necessary to win games and skill often times will trump OP weapons.

    I would have given this game a higher rating if not for the update they recently released. It completely revamped the leveling reward system to make it more new player friendly. However, this update is unfair to players such as myself who have put hours and hours into the game. New players will now have 128,000 credits (which can buy several of the higher tier weapons and equipment) by the time they reach level 10. For reference, I have two level 30 characters and I only made 60,000 credits by leveling up. Unless Ubi$oft creates some sort of compensation system for their older players, I refuse to give it a higher score than this.

    Bottom line: This is a great game for brand new players. Old players, you may want to consider abandoning ship.    … Expand
  19. Videntify
    May 12, 2015
    3
    After playing for 20 hrs. I must admit that this is a good game but still Dev's greed ruins everything.

    for the Pros -really good concept game -well design classes and weapon system the Cons -Pay2Win. The weapon u can buy with 20-40 Euro overkill normal obtainable guns around 2 times vs low tier. -If you try to make it F2P U must spam 300hrs playing to reach top tier in every    After playing for 20 hrs. I must admit that this is a good game but still Dev's greed ruins everything.

    for the Pros
    -really good concept game
    -well design classes and weapon system

    the Cons
    -Pay2Win. The weapon u can buy with 20-40 Euro overkill normal obtainable guns around 2 times vs low tier.
    -If you try to make it F2P U must spam 300hrs playing to reach top tier in every classes and stilll be doomed by 20-40 Euro weapon.
    -the game's free currency is really hard to farm and the even if you pay real money for it u will easily bankrupt by the unbalance sell price and money sucking system.
    -sometime matchmaking takes really long and sometime it sends people into 5-6v8 match
    -very low in change not much update even after I look at it again after half a year    … Expand
  20. ZetarXenil
    Dec 30, 2012
    2
    Mechanics, shooting and everything is fine, but this game has worst matchmaking I've ever seen. No matter if you just started playing you will fight with vets with 500 hours played, clans etc.
  21. fatehasfans
    May 7, 2014
    2
    Coming from a Rogue Spear/Raven Shield background. I demand a little more from shooter games, hence I installed this game. Had my reservations (nearly all modern games, i.e. all hype and no substance have shaped this cynicism) and I was not wrong. Played for about 3 mins, uninstalled without a moments hesitation.

    I won't tell you why this game is piss, because that would require a lot    Coming from a Rogue Spear/Raven Shield background. I demand a little more from shooter games, hence I installed this game. Had my reservations (nearly all modern games, i.e. all hype and no substance have shaped this cynicism) and I was not wrong. Played for about 3 mins, uninstalled without a moments hesitation.

    I won't tell you why this game is piss, because that would require a lot energy, something this game doesn't deserve.

    If you demand more from games and have a shred of self-respect you will know this game is terrible. If you are a child without a brain and think everything is "awesome", then you will no doubt find something good here (I think this kind of sums up the mainstay of the current gaming market given all the 10/10s - I mean wtf is wrong gamers these days? How can so many people just hand out 10 like they're **** candy? Unless they're just seriously stupid, easy to please, or working behind the scenes - now there's an old thought.

    Bottom line:
    If you liked Rogue Spear, Raven Shield, Counter Strike stay the **** away from this dribble. The only reason it gets a 2/10 is because it's free and uninstalls really quickly.    … Expand
  22. meric
    Dec 28, 2013
    2
    At first G:RO was a really nice addition to the pool of free 2 play games. Playing it felt good, it stood out from the rest and gave the genre of third person multiplayer shooters a revival. Then the devs decided to go a way that hurt that game a lot. Severe bugs not fixed for months, lack of content, lags, etc.
    Now a few months later (and a raging community) they fixed some of the long    At first G:RO was a really nice addition to the pool of free 2 play games. Playing it felt good, it stood out from the rest and gave the genre of third person multiplayer shooters a revival. Then the devs decided to go a way that hurt that game a lot. Severe bugs not fixed for months, lack of content, lags, etc.
    Now a few months later (and a raging community) they fixed some of the long overdue things (e.g. weapon flinch), some smaller bugs and brought some new content into the game.
    What still needs to be fixed is the poor performance on some machines, the terrible matchmaking and the very bad economy. Currently GRO is just a big big grind with exclusive p2w items for paying customers. RP players are left behind.
    I wouldn't recommend the game to anyone who is not willing to spend a dime. Without spending at least 10-20 bucks a month you will have a hard time playing it.    … Expand
  23. BryanFurysMom
    Sep 10, 2014
    2
    When did Ghost Recon become Tron with guns? This isn't Ghost Recon at all but rather a slick futuristic shooter with the Ghost Recon branding pasted over it. I have no problem with Free to Play games...when they're done right but this isn't done right at all. The graphics also need work. They don't look as spectacular as they could. This is a PC platform we're talking about, Ubisoft. ThereWhen did Ghost Recon become Tron with guns? This isn't Ghost Recon at all but rather a slick futuristic shooter with the Ghost Recon branding pasted over it. I have no problem with Free to Play games...when they're done right but this isn't done right at all. The graphics also need work. They don't look as spectacular as they could. This is a PC platform we're talking about, Ubisoft. There are other F2P shooters that look and play a million times better than this game and they've been around longer. What does that say?? Ubisoft had to wait until Tom Clancy was dead so that they could rape the Ghost Recon franchise and turn it into this abysmal pile of garbage because if he was still around, he wouldn't have signed off on it.… Expand
  24. SnowFox
    Feb 10, 2013
    2
    So, when I first started off playing this game I thought to myself "how can they possibly make a game this fun?" The cover system was like nothing I had played before and the matches seemed even. That was the first three games. The following few days playing this I had a different experience, being camped. Virtually everyone plays a sniper toon and camps in one spot. So badly in factSo, when I first started off playing this game I thought to myself "how can they possibly make a game this fun?" The cover system was like nothing I had played before and the matches seemed even. That was the first three games. The following few days playing this I had a different experience, being camped. Virtually everyone plays a sniper toon and camps in one spot. So badly in fact that any assault type character has no accuracy while approaching and can not hit them. I think you will see by the other reviews that this is becoming more and more common. Prepare to play teams who don't mind losing every match as long as you are mitigated to only capturing one objective and sitting there. So sad, this game could be one of the greats in my opinion if the assault/specialist characters could fire their weapons accurately and have a chance against the campers. So close yet so far.… Expand
  25. Apikoros
    Feb 21, 2014
    2
    A lot has changed with this game in the past few months. And not for the better.

    First, Ubisoft begrudgingly acknowledged the existence of a speed exploit, the "FSB" exploit as it is called. Many of us knew this existed already, despite many months of Ubisoft denying or downplaying the idea - while happily taking people's money of course. The ensuing FSB discussion led to everybody    A lot has changed with this game in the past few months. And not for the better.

    First, Ubisoft begrudgingly acknowledged the existence of a speed exploit, the "FSB" exploit as it is called. Many of us knew this existed already, despite many months of Ubisoft denying or downplaying the idea - while happily taking people's money of course. The ensuing FSB discussion led to everybody knowing how to do it, and do it they do. It has been suggested that it can never be fixed, being coded into the heart of the game engine. Ubi makes vague noises about banning these people, but their numbers only grow.

    Around that same time (coincidence?) the game became blatantly Pay To Win. Cover based game? LOL, it used to be. But who needs cover now when you can just go to the store, kit up for 100.00 and walk around the map with near impunity? Ridiculous P2W armor and weapons have destroyed what was once the best tactical teamplay shooter around. Players who support the game should get some advantage, but the advantage afforded here is laughable.

    It used to be that your play and your skills could swing matches. That you could, as a Recon, sneak up behind that heavy and headshot him from behind for a kill. No more. Now you will magdump his head, his paid armor will absorb most of the damage and he will turn around and kill you with a 50 dollar gun. It used to be that teamwork could swing games, not so any more. The matchmaker puts Big Boys (based on equipment and rank) on each side of the match, everybody else is just filler for the team, if your best equipped guys suck, you lose, no matter what you do. You are no longer rewarded for getting into perfect position and making the perfect shot, you are rewarded for buying a SPAS from Ubisoft.

    I've put money into the game, more than I care to admit to, but it has simply gone too far - I don't want to win games in the store.

    This is the company that destroyed the original Ghost Recon series, so no real surprise here.    … Expand
  26. Gruni
    Apr 23, 2014
    2
    Back in early 2012, this game was pure awesome-sauce. Today it's a collection of bugs with new paint on a game engine from 2006, that has been heavily modified till late 2011 and since then, it remains untouched.

    Critical bugs, a faulty communication policy from Ubisoft and a massive amount of ignorance and censorship on Ubisofts side kill all the fun of what could've risen like a    Back in early 2012, this game was pure awesome-sauce. Today it's a collection of bugs with new paint on a game engine from 2006, that has been heavily modified till late 2011 and since then, it remains untouched.

    Critical bugs, a faulty communication policy from Ubisoft and a massive amount of ignorance and censorship on Ubisofts side kill all the fun of what could've risen like a phoenix from the ashes of F2P shooters.    … Expand
  27. TIE_Breaker
    Aug 22, 2014
    2
    The number 1 most realistic military shopping sim, where your spending can turn the tide of a battle. With full USD integration and a true bonus for wasting your cash, you'd be hardpressed to get a more realistic AAA wallet-trap anywhere else!

    "WTF?! MY PROFITS?! WHY, UBISOFT? WHY STEAL MY CONCEPT?!" -Whoever the hell made Farmville
    "We've got to have... MONNAYE." -Various YouTube Poop
  28. FearMy3Inch
    Feb 16, 2014
    2
    Alongside all the other issues addressed in other reviews (P2W, ridiculous gun prices, terrible matchmaking, lack of maps, campers, etc.). The game servers are possibly the worst ones I have ever encountered, you get randomly disconnected during the middle of a round (not client internet problem). The game acts as if you were the one who rage quit and it penalizes you for no reason. YouAlongside all the other issues addressed in other reviews (P2W, ridiculous gun prices, terrible matchmaking, lack of maps, campers, etc.). The game servers are possibly the worst ones I have ever encountered, you get randomly disconnected during the middle of a round (not client internet problem). The game acts as if you were the one who rage quit and it penalizes you for no reason. You have to pay for armor repairs, you lose XP/RP, and you also lose your match completion streak. It's absolutely ridiculous for this to be happening, it would be almost laughable how terrible the servers are if it wasn't so frustrating. Overall, the game had the potential to become amazing, but it has become obvious it has been thrown away. Truly a shame, being a Ghost Recon fan since the original, it saddens me to see what this series has come to. Honestly, get your sh*t together, Ubisoft.… Expand
  29. Garfoodle
    Apr 19, 2014
    2
    Cool animations, decent gunplay, and decent graphics. Decent, right?

    Nowp, because its 100% pay to win. More than WarZ, more than Dota. More than Real life.
  30. MWMWMW123
    Apr 22, 2014
    2
    Great game, Great gun and cover mechanic. I have spend over 50 hours on it. However beyond level 10 is basically unplayable due to the pay to win system. It doesn't matter how hard u grind you will never hav the similar level of kid against similar level player who spend hundreds of dollars on it. you will get so frustrated being constantly punished for not mistake of your own butGreat game, Great gun and cover mechanic. I have spend over 50 hours on it. However beyond level 10 is basically unplayable due to the pay to win system. It doesn't matter how hard u grind you will never hav the similar level of kid against similar level player who spend hundreds of dollars on it. you will get so frustrated being constantly punished for not mistake of your own but extremely overpowered pay upgrades and expensive guns. good game, but completely let down by the lack of balancing and levelling up structure. match making systems also rubbish, often placing multiple players with much much higher level kids against low level kids players. try this game if you like being raped by rich kids, otherwise avoid this disappointed.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
43
#43 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. SpazioGames
    May 19, 2014
    65
    It's basically the same game as Ghost Recon Online but with not so many more maps: a third person shooter that aims to be tactical without being able to provide fun for more than a few hours. It deserves to be tried only because it's free and nothing else.
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  2. Edge Magazine
    May 16, 2014
    70
    Classes and skills are well-balanced, and even though you’ll cycle through the small map selection quickly, they offer enough possibilities to stave off fatigue until Ubisoft adds more arenas. With more modes and maps, Phantoms would be a formidable offering, but it’s worth dipping into until then.
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  3. Gamereactor Sweden
    Apr 30, 2014
    70
    Considering this is completely free to play, Phantoms has a lot to offer in terms of tight controls, nifty cooperation and a neat ranking system. Given the fact that it will keep evolving, it looks like fans will have good reason to stay.
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