Last year Ubisoft feature Ghost Recon Future Solider as a eyes-on only, preview (No Hands allowed- if that wasn’t clear). None of the media got a chance to play the game, but we were privy to a developer walk-through, and an interview that hinted at some of the features we experienced at E3 2011. This year the game appeared playable on both, Ubisoft’s and Microsoft’s show floor. Microsoft’s Kinect inclusion for Ghost Recon features some cool ways to customize your weapons. and also allows you to play through the game making a fist, and practicing you jazz hands. As a Ghost we were tossed into a swamp protected by militants.

One important feature of Ghost Recon Future Solider is the game’s squad controls. Fortunately, your work is almost effortless when giving orders to your squad. The ease of squad management is mostly due to Ubisoft’s unique control setup. Control, is maybe the wrong word to use when describing Ghost Recons play style. Your commands to the other Ghost are done with minimal use of a Hud, and the removal of the old micro solider management. The right bumper on the 360, or R1 on the PS3, will act as your method of issuing commands to the other Ghost. In conjunction with targets or locations you place in your cross hairs. The R1/Right bumper makes the commands you’ll issue to the Ghost become an effortless experience. Ubisoft has taken the grunt work out of managing squad mates by adding some rich and intelligent Ai. The best example of this was the breach of the shack on the creek. Once you’ve picked your breach position, other ghost will set up in a strategic manner base on where you’re posted. From there, the Ghost individually select targets to execute.

Utilizing the new X-Ray technology you can now see through walls, and mark targets for your squad members to execute. Marking targets is a huge part of how you issue commands, and can be done through UAV's, and Drones. Your squads ability to transmit everything they see on the battlefield will directly assists you in making real-time tactical decisions. If you’re on a stealth mission and there’s a guy you haven’t seen but your squad members have, a digital silhouette will appear notifying you where the hidden enemy soldiers located. The new feature changes the directions of your battles, and the decision you make to win them. One of Ghost Recon’s best features has also gone through improvements; the stealth camo.

Becoming complete invisible is no longer you secret super power. The tech that has Ghost Recon looking futuristic, has received some upgrades from last year that slightly restrict the camos ability to keep you from being seen. Damage to you and the suit will play a role, along with the areas you travel through. Dirt, mud, water, and sand all can and will collect on the suit, making you more visible in battle. Though it’s still being improved, the additions to the camo suit have pushed things to a new level both visually and technically. All of which have some cool effects on the gameplay. Last year Ubisoft showed us how motion affects your ability to stay camouflaged, this year they reveal how the camo is deactivated every time you engage in battle.

Though Ubisoft didn’t confirm why they made this choice, it seems to make the most sense for the gameplay styles they are going for. To justify the point further, things wouldn’t be much fun if your enemies couldn’t shoot at you because you're invisible. Also its so much cooler killing everyone after surviving their attacks on you. The future of Ghost Recon is looking bright if the game further delivers on what was played at the show. Ghost Recon Future Solider also uses a tactic that has become common in shooters; the comrade revive. Like in Gears of War, Uncharted, and in almost every other third person shooter, you can revive your downed teammates with a shoot of adrenalin. Our hands on time really increased our hope for series. So, Stay plug in, we will bring you our complete developer interview very soon.