Rainbow Six 4 Set for Spring

Just when you thought N64 was dead, the six-four suffix returns. (We tried). First screens inside.

Despite the ostensibly silly name, Rainbow Six 3 and its sequel Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow provided some of the best gaming experiences of the past two years, and it's a trend that both gamers and series publisher Ubisoft would like to see continue.

The company announced on Tuesday that gamers would be able to get their hands on fresh teams of Rainbow Six operatives in just a few short months time.

Tentatively titled Rainbow Six 4, the game is in development for PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox by two world-renowned development houses: Ubisoft Montreal, the designers of the Prince Of Persia and Splinter Cell franchises, and current Rainbow Six series developers Red Storm Entertainment.

While the Xbox is obviously the more powerful console, PlayStation 2 owners can take solace in knowing that the designers have built a completely new graphics engine to push Sony's aging hardware even further.

But those looking at the pedigree and assuming that the next game will just be more of the same are in for a surprise.

For this next instalment, the designers have crafted a darker, more involving singleplayer campaign centred on bioterrorism and a plot that turns the tables on Team Rainbow and has the bad guys gunning for them.

Players will be able to play as either group leader Ding Chavez or, for the first time, as team sniper Dieter Webber as they battle through the story mode.

Rainbow Six has become known for more than just its singleplayer modes though; the series has consistently ranked as one of the most popular online console games.

For this new game, gamers can expect an upgraded multiplayer experience, with new maps and weapons, the ability to design custom characters, all the previous game modes and one exclusive online mode each for Xbox and PlayStation 2.

For an idea of what Rainbow Six 4 will look like, check out the accompanying screen shots.

Rainbow Six 4 will be released for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC in spring 2005.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games