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

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. PunjiStick
    Sep 7, 2012
    10
    This is a game with a STEEP learning curve. GR:O is almost completely reliant on tactical game-play, teamwork, and unit-cohesion to win games. Currently in open beta at the time of this review, Ubisoft is doing a fantastic job moving Ghost Recon: Online in the correct direction.

    This game is DEFINITELY worth a try, especially given it's a free to play game. Most players will attempt it,    This is a game with a STEEP learning curve. GR:O is almost completely reliant on tactical game-play, teamwork, and unit-cohesion to win games. Currently in open beta at the time of this review, Ubisoft is doing a fantastic job moving Ghost Recon: Online in the correct direction.

    This game is DEFINITELY worth a try, especially given it's a free to play game. Most players will attempt it, not understand it, and get frustrated. It's not your typical CoD knock-off shooter, and takes some adaptation and patience to really be competitive in-game.    … Expand
  2. 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
  3. berkay1122
    Dec 19, 2014
    10
    Alright this reviews are out dated. game is completely changed from A to Z. specialy graphics. because it looks perfect right now. also gameplay is still unique itself. i really enjoying with this. its not pay to win but if you pay like around 50-60 dolar you can start with better weapons and gears etc. BUT the fact is at some point a free to play player can reach that level too (10 levelAlright this reviews are out dated. game is completely changed from A to Z. specialy graphics. because it looks perfect right now. also gameplay is still unique itself. i really enjoying with this. its not pay to win but if you pay like around 50-60 dolar you can start with better weapons and gears etc. BUT the fact is at some point a free to play player can reach that level too (10 level = 3 or 4 days depend your activity) and this is not a mmorpg game so gear doesnt mean everything. SKILL > MONEY this is another fact. so give a chance and play. trust me this game is fun.… Expand
  4. LQTLKT
    Jun 28, 2014
    10
    Probably the best tactical shooter ever made. Outstanding! Everyone should give it a try. Even people that usually dont like TomClancy games (as i ) should give it a try. Especially movement and cover functions are very unique and unseen in shooter games.
  5. Zyos11
    May 8, 2014
    0
    This game is amazing!! Until you reach lvl 8
    GO TO THE STORE
    SELECT A WEAPON
    TRY IT OUT
    THIS GAME IS JUST THE TRUE DEFINITION OF PAY 2 WIN
    Im doing 17 damage from mid range with a tier 3 support weapon...the other guy kills me in 3 shots with his PKM a guy that has More Hp Damage mitigation etc..... DO NOT INVEST MONEY ON THIS CRAP
  6. ccam
    Aug 12, 2014
    8
    This game, free to play, it might be the successor of Counter Strike; tactical and teamwork based. Controls and graphics are really nice.
    Recommended.
  7. sdoust2014
    Aug 31, 2014
    5
    I'm writing this because I am absolutely appalled at the level of money-grubbing and content-splicing in the current state of the game. Phantoms has by far the worst implementation of micro-transactions and "DLC" I have ever seen. Let me list a few brief reasons:

    1. GC costs per gun are completely out of control. For example, a Tier 7 assault rifle costs roughly 1800GC. 1800GC is 8$.    I'm writing this because I am absolutely appalled at the level of money-grubbing and content-splicing in the current state of the game. Phantoms has by far the worst implementation of micro-transactions and "DLC" I have ever seen. Let me list a few brief reasons:

    1. GC costs per gun are completely out of control. For example, a Tier 7 assault rifle costs roughly 1800GC. 1800GC is 8$. For ONE gun?! Please ask yourselves if this is reasonable because I can't see how it could be.

    2. Your "DLC" is nothing but more microtransaction packs which, in my opinion, are grossly overpriced at $19 and $25. Usually DLC includes actual content such as maps or new game modes. I'll remind you that the last letter of DLC stands for content. Start making some and we'll support it.

    3. AC sinks such as armor repair and grenade replacements. Completely absurd and pointless; you are making us pay for grenades and durability as if this is an MMORPG.

    4. The amount of cash shop elements on the front screen which includes a button that flat out says BUY AAA (a monthly subscription service that offers absolutely ZERO value unless you enjoy being able to pay for new guns first!). It’s almost subliminal in how shameless it is. Other pointless cash shop elements: item storage (this is a tactical shooter?), cash shop button on main screen, random treasure chests for 3-4$ (hope you don’t get special ammo!),cash shop links within inventory menus , first in-game screen says “GET YOUR AAA PASS” in large text, cash shop link in scrapyard menu, etc. Please grow some respectability and a sense of subtlety.

    5. There is actually a $99 “DLC” bundle. Worse yet, they claim it contains $180 worth of items. Are you out of your minds with this one? This game is not worth $180 I’m sorry to inform. Plus, this $99 bundle isn’t even the complete package; you know more guns are coming in future.

    Once again I have to say that I really like the game and play it often and also I did put a bit of money into it. However, I do not honestly feel satisfied with that purchase because $25 gets you basically nothing in this game.

    One last thing: this game IS PAY TO WIN: you can buy “special ammo” that does more damage, you can buy a tier 7 gun and attachments from the start, and you can buy better armor from the start. Finally, you can’t buy everything with the earned (not paid-for) currency and I hope you earn 5,000 points a game because if not, you’ll be waiting a while to unlock basic things.    … Expand
  8. koolaidthered
    Jan 5, 2016
    1
    This game is heavily P2W, even looking at the leaderboard and the store(to buy other P2W stuff) cost money, quite ridiculous.

    On a completely unrelated note, the servers are a ghost town now these days, but even if tons of people were playing I would still give this a 1 due to the insane amount of P2W this game tries to shove down your throat.
  9. 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
  10. ComputerKid2000
    Apr 17, 2014
    1
    This is not the Ghost Recon we grew up with. I remember Ghost Recon having expansive maps with planning and strategy being a must. That kind of creative game design merited the original GR a "Game of the Year" award from several industry-leading publications.

    Today, the series is nothing more than a cash grab for Ubisoft. In Phantoms, teamwork is nonexistent, and matches just become    This is not the Ghost Recon we grew up with. I remember Ghost Recon having expansive maps with planning and strategy being a must. That kind of creative game design merited the original GR a "Game of the Year" award from several industry-leading publications.

    Today, the series is nothing more than a cash grab for Ubisoft.

    In Phantoms, teamwork is nonexistent, and matches just become a camp-fest for snipers. After being slaughtered several times as a support character, I switched to a recon with a sniper rifle loadout and immediately killed 5 in a row. After experiencing that, plus the notion of pay to win, I'll be switching back to CSGO now.    … Expand
  11. larrystanke
    Apr 21, 2014
    5
    Well the idea is really great, and i played for couple of days and I really enjoyed it. But the first thing i noticed, autobalance is awfull. It might be true or not but it looks like a marketing idea in these f2p games. So here it goes - automatch is always unbalanced so you would think that gear is esential to wining (and it obviously is) so then you would spend money if youre hooked upWell the idea is really great, and i played for couple of days and I really enjoyed it. But the first thing i noticed, autobalance is awfull. It might be true or not but it looks like a marketing idea in these f2p games. So here it goes - automatch is always unbalanced so you would think that gear is esential to wining (and it obviously is) so then you would spend money if youre hooked up on the game. By unbalanced I mean ( i have played less than 100games) theres always one team who is winning/owning other team. And no comeback was seen in all of those games i've played, sometimes i was in the winning team sometimes it was opssosite.

    This is the only thing that completely and i mean completely let me make up my mind and stop playing this game which had a great potential amongst player who would like a bit more tactical shooter than games these days in the market. Because it is great run and gun does not work, i''ve tried many tiems and failed many times, slow tactical approach using covers is what you need to succeed. Customization is great, i really liked the idea that oyu can try any gun or attachement in the firing range prior to buying it, that was really great idea.

    Maps suit the game, but variety was awfull all i did was played in 3 or 4 maps all the time, and they are completely symetrical. Graphics are not good, and it was lagging on my laptop, but i guess its just getting old.

    My score is not great though i wont give it horrible score also, because I did enjoyed the game for a few days. 5    … Expand
  12. 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
  13. French_Antoine
    Mar 19, 2014
    0
    Big fan of Ghost Recon. Biggest hater of this game. How on earth do they even dare thinking that this game would work ?

    That's pretty simple, basically, in this game, 99.9% of the "players" I've met in my 3 hours playthrough think "Scr*w the objectives, they just help me camping." AND THAT'S IT. There is no fun in this game. And the worst part of it is that I didn't see anyone    Big fan of Ghost Recon. Biggest hater of this game. How on earth do they even dare thinking that this game would work ?

    That's pretty simple, basically, in this game, 99.9% of the "players" I've met in my 3 hours playthrough think "Scr*w the objectives, they just help me camping." AND THAT'S IT.

    There is no fun in this game. And the worst part of it is that I didn't see anyone playing with free weapons ! If you just think you will play for free, you'll see your progression not advancing (at all), and the best you'll get in a headshot is 37 damage at close range ??? WTF ???!!!

    If you have a minimum of self-love, or reason, or both, just say no to this piece of junk. Seriously, you'll be doing yourself a life saving gift.    … Expand
  14. kelbear
    Feb 20, 2014
    0
    Pay to win design.

    Pay to receive half health, and deal quadruple damage.
    They charge you for each grenade (seriously, not even kidding).
    Bought the top tier equipment? They release a higher tier of equipment for you to buy to stay competitive.

    Want to earn it by playing? Expect to put in years into this game.
  15. M3ZZ4N1N3
    Apr 16, 2014
    1
    Ok so lets just start off by saying that someone put "some" effort into making this game half way decent. However where this game falls super short is it's over the top pay to win structure. This game is fun, but has very little maps, the tactics are non-existent. The game becomes boring very fast because of the lack of upgrades. Honestly the menu system and selection of items you can getOk so lets just start off by saying that someone put "some" effort into making this game half way decent. However where this game falls super short is it's over the top pay to win structure. This game is fun, but has very little maps, the tactics are non-existent. The game becomes boring very fast because of the lack of upgrades. Honestly the menu system and selection of items you can get are very small and seems like it's still in beta. Also I've noticed that 80% of players go recon because they like to cloak, pop up, and snipe people the whole game. This makes the game a bunch of snipers behind cover popping shots back and forth, there really isn't an aggressive push for objectives without playing with people you know personally. I'd say the biggest thing this game has going for it is that it's free, the thing that it has holding it back severely in my book and many of my friends who are veteran shooter players is the pay to win system. It's just too outright annoying to put up with and I won't be a part of it anymore. I'm annoyed to no end. I've played every Tom Clancy branded game out there, and this is a shame to his name. Don't waste your money, for the love of gaming.… Expand
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. ironsides00
    Jan 31, 2013
    0
    Don't let those tom clancy fanboys fool you. This has got to be the WORST game design I've ever seen in my life (speaking as one involved in game design myself). It is a model of creating levels in a game but ignoring them for match making purposes, pitting low levels against high levels, and a steamroll in nearly every match. Once in a blue moon there is a good game that is somewhatDon't let those tom clancy fanboys fool you. This has got to be the WORST game design I've ever seen in my life (speaking as one involved in game design myself). It is a model of creating levels in a game but ignoring them for match making purposes, pitting low levels against high levels, and a steamroll in nearly every match. Once in a blue moon there is a good game that is somewhat close. But the fact is, higher level characters will faceroll you on every factor. There is no balance whatsoever until you reach level 30, which will take eons if you started playing the game after beta, because those who already started can 1 shot you with a p90 for 150 dmg noncrit in the toe, insta-killing you before they even decloak, meanwhile your lmg, ar, or shotguns do 1-2 dmg per shot in the head due to their massive armor mods which you cannot counter until you reach higher levels since higher level equipment is insanely superior to lower level equipment. No balance though they claim there is balance between the stats. But the stats on equipment are not weighted properly at all. Since you cannot get kills, you cannot gain xp, and hence you will be stuck for a long time grinding those levels. Unless you enjoy sitting there and getting slaughtered without actually being able to play, avoid this game. Lag issues are so horrible, more than half the time you seem to get shot through walls before the enemy has shown themselves yet. In addition, only less than 35% of projectiles even show up on max settings. So often you will die from invisible fire you didn't even know were being shot because the visuals (including impacts on the wall) and sound neglected to initiate. Had high hopes for this game, but was a let down in every conceivable way.… Expand
  19. Caholbahey
    Jun 25, 2013
    6
    This game has an incredible intuitive interface and the best way to use cover I've seen yet in an FPS. The problem herein lies in how impossible it is to contain camping and produce a satisfying game continuously. The main problem here is that matches are nearly never full, meaning the maps that would be great for 20 people, just become a flanker's paradise with 12. Add in the fact thatThis game has an incredible intuitive interface and the best way to use cover I've seen yet in an FPS. The problem herein lies in how impossible it is to contain camping and produce a satisfying game continuously. The main problem here is that matches are nearly never full, meaning the maps that would be great for 20 people, just become a flanker's paradise with 12. Add in the fact that soldiers have far too many hit points, and this becomes annoying. It takes 3 sniper body shots to kill assault class guys and I've lit up people with 6 bullets only to die quickly. Given its free to play nature as well, some of the higher level guns will just eat you up once you arise out of the beginners ranks.

    Basically, it needs a more tiered system, but doesn't have enough players to even fill normal matches at this point. If you have a fireteam of 3 friends that you're voice chatting, it can be great, but just know that an enemy right over the wall that you shoot 5 times may be harder to kill than that guy crawling across the map.

    Final verdict: Worth it if you can play with a couple of friends, but needs tweaking to become a great game otherwise.    … Expand
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. AngryUserr
    Mar 7, 2014
    0
    Mega broken FPS shooter, you can't play this if you dont pay 300 euros for month, this is not FREE shooter, this is payed shooter masked like Free-FPS-online-shooter. But it's not, if you dont pay, they ban you. if you give opinions they ban you. Ultra broken game graphic, FSB exploiters, hackers, full with pay2win users.
  27. Bahger
    Sep 7, 2012
    9
    This is an absolutely superb PvP shooter, with really strong weapon handling/performance, map design and movement and cover mechanics. It is also very well-managed and not pay-to-win. It's not for everybody, though; hardcore, steep learning curve, much humiliation until you get in the groove. Best online shooter, either coop or PvP that I've played in years.
  28. FreedomTaker
    Sep 7, 2012
    8
    This game is an unbelievable amount of fun. When you get a good team (and good opponents), a Control Points match can become a heated battle that gets your heart racing and forces a smile onto your face, and in Attack and Defense there is rarely a sure thing. Everything goes so smoothly- sliding into cover, activating a device, pole vaulting over a bit of cover- the animations are smootherThis game is an unbelievable amount of fun. When you get a good team (and good opponents), a Control Points match can become a heated battle that gets your heart racing and forces a smile onto your face, and in Attack and Defense there is rarely a sure thing. Everything goes so smoothly- sliding into cover, activating a device, pole vaulting over a bit of cover- the animations are smoother still. The graphics are high quality but don't require a high-end PC. The sound is great (nothing quite as satisfying for the ears as gunning someone down with an SMG), although in-lobby music is boring and repetitive. Fortunately, thanks to a growing player base and recent work on matchmaking, you won't have to stay in the lobby for long. As a game, it's great. Weapons are fair, gameplay is objective focused, and while there are few maps (so far) they all allow for everyone to play in their chosen style.
    Unfortunately, it's these chosen styles that can turn a potentially great match into a dull one. Many people decide their play style is simply to camp. This is made all the more easy with powerful sniper rifles being available at a cheap price. This means that people can just hang back while a small handful of soldiers move forward to capture the point and get into actual, incredibly satisfying fire fights (thankfully though, I've noticed less and less people camping in recent times).
    All in all, a great game with great gameplay, that is occasionally (albeit very rarely) let down by camping soldiers, sitting at the back and expecting their team to finish the game. Thankfully, when people aren't camping, this can be one of the most intense and satisfying games that I have played in a long time.    … Expand
  29. Tully__
    Sep 8, 2012
    8
    This is easily the most pleasant online shooter experience I've ever had. The gameplay is smooth, weapon balance is good, maps are well crafted and work well for both teams. There is a lot of challenge to do well and the rewards system is carefully crafted to reward and encourage team play.
    Players new to tactical shooters will find they have a lot to learn, but supporting your team and    This is easily the most pleasant online shooter experience I've ever had. The gameplay is smooth, weapon balance is good, maps are well crafted and work well for both teams. There is a lot of challenge to do well and the rewards system is carefully crafted to reward and encourage team play.
    Players new to tactical shooters will find they have a lot to learn, but supporting your team and playing aggressively without being careless will see you winning matches fairly regularly.

    The game is still in its early days and could do with a few more maps and a firing range to try out weapons and attachments before purchase, but on the whole I've found the entire experience to be very rewarding.    … Expand
  30. 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.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »