Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Phantoms

A free-to-download shooter on PC from Ubisoft which relies on a microtransaction-based pay system. A Wii U version was formally announced at E3 2011 but never materialized.

Overview

Ghost Recon Phantoms (formerly Ghost Recon Online) is a free to play multiplayer third person shooter for the PC developed by Ubisoft Singapore, was in Open Beta from 2012 until its final release on April 10, 2014.

The Wii U version however, initially announced and demoed at a developer roundtable during E3 2011 as one of the first Wii U titles, was put ‘on hold’ as the developers were focused on ‘doing the PC version right.’ Since this version never materialized after many years of silence, it is presumed to have been canceled.

Gameplay

Much like Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Ghost Recon Phantoms is a third person cover based shooter. You have the choice of three different classes each with their own strengths, weaknesses, specific weapons and specialized abilities.

To complete your objectives you have an array of weapons and accessories available, including weapon attachments and consumables such as grenades.

Due to the free to play nature of the game everything is microtransaction based, each weapon, accessory and consumable can either be bought with ‘RP’ earned as rewards for doing well in games, or you can purchase ‘GC’ that let you buy items at a reduced cost.

Game Modes

There are three game modes available in GRP, all game modes are based on capturing and holding objectives until the timer runs out. Rounds can be won by either capturing all the objectives or defending the objectives until the round timer expires.

Conquest

Conquest is a take and hold game mode, around the map are five capture points labeled A through E, both teams start opposite the central objective (point C) and when the round starts both teams advance on the objective, once the objective is captured by either team the attacking team spawn moves forward one point and the defending team moves backwards one point, so if the attacking team takes point C then the attacking team spawns at point C and the defending team at spawn E.

The round ends when a team has either captured all of the objectives, or the round ends and the team that has the most objectives held.

Onslaught

Onslaught is a two round attack and defend game mode, each team has the chance to attack and defend once the round changes. The defending team has to hold two objectives, once the attacking team has captured both objectives a third objective opens up and the attacking team has to capture the final objective to win the round.

Holdout

Holdout is a two round defend game mode, each team must take and hold a central objective until the timer runs out, if the attacking team capture the central objective then time is added to the timer and the defending team must now attack to recapture the point.

Teams switch sides after the round ends and the winning team is the one that captured and held the point the most or longest.

Classes

Like most games the player has a choice of classes which each of their own strengths, weaknesses, weapon types and abilities.

To ensure victory each team must have the right mix of the classes and abilities, each class can choose from two primary weapons of which you can only use one a time, a pistol, armor, grenades and abilities.

The player must choose the class before entering a match but once in a match then the player cannot change the class only his weapons and abilities.

Assault

The front-line class, with a choice of assault rifles and shotgun the Assault class has the most armor but is also the slowest of the three classes.

The Assault class has a choice of two abilities, HEAT and Blitz. Heat causes a directed microwave affect wherever the device is pointed causing disorientation and small amounts of damage to the enemy behind cover making them move position. Blitz is a ballistic shield ability, once activated allows the player to rush forward with the shield and knock enemies over, it also has the added bonus of storing the shield on the players back giving them added protection from the rear.

Recon

The sniper, with a choice of sniper rifles and sub machine guns is the lightest and fastest of the classes but also the lightest armor, the role of the Recon is to provide long range support and intelligence for the team.

The Recon class also has a choice of two abilities, Oracle and Cloak. Cloak is an invisible camouflage ability and allows the player to move about for a short period of time undetected. Oracle is a radar like system that detects enemies and shows them on your team-mates HUD.

Specialist

The Specialist class can choose from Light Machine guns and Shotguns. With medium armor gives them a balance between speed and protection, the role of the specialist is to support the Assault classes with their unique abilities.

The specialist can choose from two abilities, Aegis and Blackout. Aegis is a force shield bubble that extends around the player which team mates can take cover under, Aegis provides protection from both bullets and grenades. Blackout is a chargeable EMP effect which stuns enemies and stops them using abilities, the longer you charge Blackout the further its area of effect range, if you get shot while charging the effects are directed back at the player.

Weapons

Each primary weapon has three configurations to fit the play style of the player, close, medium and long range. Weapons can also be customized with attachments such as scopes, laser targeting, high capacity magazines, muzzle breaks and suppressors. Through repeated use each weapon can level up giving you added chance of giving a critical hit to the enemy.

Assault Rifles

M27 C
M27 D10RS
M27 D20
As Val
As Val C
VSS
Mk 16 CQC
Mk 16 SV
Mk 16
Sar-21
Sar-21 C
Sar-21 SD
ACR
ACR C
ACR SV
AR-21
AR-21 C
AR-21 SV
F2000
F2000 SP
F2000 SD

Sniper Rifles

M24A2
M24 SV
M24 C
SRS
SRS C
SRS SD
Sentinel SR-1
Sentinel SR-1 SV
Sentinel SR-1 SD
SR-25
SR-25 SD
SR-25 SP
MSR
MSR C
MSR SD
M-200
M-200 SD
M-200 SV
SVD
SVD SV
SVDS

Submachine Guns

MP5A2
MP5SD-N2
OC-14 4A01
OC-14 4A02
OC-14 4A03
PP2000
PP2000 C
PP2000 SD
MP7
MP7 C
MP7 SD
PP-19
PP-19 SD
PP-19 SP
MP9
MP9 C
MP9 SD
P90
P90 C
P90 SD

Light Machine Guns

Mk 3 SP
Mk 4 C
Mk 5
M96
M96 C
M249
MK 46 Mod 0
M249 Para
L86 SV
L86A1 IW
L86A1 LSW
MG4
MG4 C
MG4 SP
MG36 K
MG36 KV
MG36
6P41
6P41 SP
6P41 SV

Shotguns

M500
M500 C
M500 SV
Pentagun
Pentagun SP
Pentagun SD
PM5
PM5 SP
PM5-350
M1014
M1014 C
M1014 SD
NS2000
NS2000 C
NS2000 SP
Model 10a
Model 10a C
Model 10a SP
KPS-12
KPS-12 C
KPS-12 SD

Handguns

P250
USP 45
TR-1
FiveSeven
P-45
Redhawk
PX4

Attachments

Scopes

Reflex

Reflex have no magnification but offer the widest field of view for quick target acquisition

Assault

Assault scopes have close to medium range magnification at the cost of some field of view

Sniper

Sniper Scopes have medium to long range magnification but have the most restrictive field of view.

Stocks

Stocks affect recoil and weapon ready times switching to and from the weapon.

Magazine

Upgraded magazines offer higher capacities and larger pools of ammo

Bottom Attachments

Bipod

Bipods stabilize weapons when in cover or prone, giving improved accuracy and reduce recoil at the cost of reduced mobility.

Vertical Grip

Grips are best used in close quarters giving improved accuracy recovery and reduced recoil at the cost of long range accuracy

Side Attachments

IR Laser Designator

Allows the player to set waypoints and designate enemies that show up on team mates HUD

Muzzle Attachments

Silencer

Silences eliminate muzzle flash, improve accuracy and greatly reduce noise at the cost of reduced damage.

Muzzle Break

Muzzle breaks greatly reduce weapon recoil and slightly reduce muzzle flash

Flash Suppressor

Flash suppressors significantly reduce muzzle flash and slightly reduce recoil

Consumables

Consumables are limited use items gained by purchasing, rewards for accomplishing objectives or picking up via the loot system.

Armour Inserts

Armour comes with slots so the player can insert armor plates that have special attributes, the player can purchase better armor that have more slots. Each insert has a unique ability that boosts the players attributes.

There are four types of inserts each with four levels of increasing effects.