Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 75
  2. Negative: 0 out of 75
  1. May 28, 2012
    91
    Future Soldier finds the perfect balance between the classic tactical shooter experience and the more modern high-octane approach that today's gamers crave.
  2. 90
    The in-game visuals are solid, the sound is just as good, and the single player, cooperative and adversarial multiplayer gameplay modes make Ghost Recon: Future Soldier a must buy for not only fans of the franchise but for anyone looking for a deep tactical shooter to play well into the summer.
  3. May 22, 2012
    90
    GRFS is a solid entry in the shooter genre, and one of the standout third-person shooter experiences on any console. The emphasis on intel and squads make this a must-have for anyone looking to play as a team and work together.
  4. 90
    With all the content on offer there should be something for everyone here to enjoy. It's not a perfect game, as parts of the story, some cutscenes and a few graphical missteps in some of the indoor environments disrupt the picture. But on the whole those are just minor complaints as Ubisoft has delivered a game of the highest calibre in both single and multiplayer.
  5. 90
    Future Soldier's campaign does lose its stealthy way a bit right at the end, and the presentation can be rough at times, just like the throwaway plot. Ultimately, though, the game shines not only for staying true to Ghost Recon's roots, but also for doing so while successfully balancing the memories of old fans with the modern expectations of new ones.
  6. May 22, 2012
    90
    It's one of the best military shooters I've played. It doesn't push the boundaries of what we expect from that genre, but Future Soldier takes an approach that leaves little room for stagnant gameplay or retreading ground.
  7. May 22, 2012
    90
    Ubisoft packaged a great game both for single and multiplayer lovers, fully shifting the series to the cover based TPS domain but keeping intact its tactical soul. Only a dull and generic story prevents it from shining more - something we wouldn't expect from a Tom Clany family title.
  8. May 22, 2012
    90
    A great title... Between the impressive campaign, the myriad of co-op options and the added replayability of the mission challenges, as well as the expansive multiplayer component, it's as solid a package as military shooters provide.
  9. May 29, 2012
    89
    It's challenging the original idea of what Ghost Recon is, providing a new experience, and a new way to tell the tale of a new Ghost team. It works well, with a lengthy campaign and a very deep multiplayer experience. The gameplay is tight and the title's only flaws are some AI quirks and its quality control ,with frame rate drops, bugs in animation, and scripted sequences which can let it down at times.
  10. May 24, 2012
    88
    An admirable amalgamation of all you fave shooters packed into one polished package. [July 2012, p.72]
  11. May 24, 2012
    88
    In the end it's a solid game that Ghost Recon fans can sink into the game and enjoy, the multiplayer action is well worth the price of admission. The single player experience juggles so many different elements; one's opinion may conclude that the designers tried too hard to include several different types of gamers.
  12. May 24, 2012
    88
    This is a good return for the original tactical series of Ghost Recon. Finally we can play a (co-op) campaign a little more slowly where you have to think before you act.
  13. Jun 4, 2012
    87
    While it may not be as "Future" as it was when it was announced 5 years ago, the sum of everything it brings to the table sets it apart from its fellow shooter contemporaries.
  14. May 26, 2012
    86
    This game is very good. A 10-12 hour campaign, that can all be played cooperatively, is supported by a good handful of multiplayer offerings. The "story" seems relative and sets the stage for a great experience, even with it being a bit repetitive.
  15. May 24, 2012
    86
    Future Soldier is an unexpected surprise. The single player campaign is solid and well-paced, and lets the player experience a wide variety of situations. It reaches a modest perfection if played in co-op with 3 other friends.
  16. May 31, 2012
    85
    Co-op as a whole is a superb addition to the Future Soldier package. The entire campaign is playable with four people and some missions feel very different when playing with friends than they do alone.
  17. May 27, 2012
    85
    While it's pretty evident that the campaign isn't going to hold its own versus Warfighter or Black Ops 2 this year, Ghost Recon's multiplayer is a teamwork tour de force that'll hook you hard.
  18. May 22, 2012
    85
    Ghost Recon Future Soldier guarantees many hours of intensive gaming experience. Although Ubisoft removed some tactical elements, the sync shot feature and the AI can plug this little gap providing fun and excitement.
  19. May 23, 2012
    84
    After a long and complicated development, Ghost Recon Future Soldier has resulted in a very good third-person action game. It is recommended for those who are a bit tired of frantic action other titles offer, or classic warfare first-person game. It is not as complex as previous Ghost Recon games, but it is also more accesible and implements great cooperative options.
  20. May 22, 2012
    84
    Future Soldier may not be the sexiest game in the world with some graphical inconsistencies particularly in the cut-scenes and backgrounds, but she handles like a goddamned dream. Friendly AI has totally got your back making it an engaging experience in any mode. The multiplayer offers a solid balance of familiar game modes and a few tasty new treats and Guerilla mode is packed to the hilt with over-the-top frenzied action.
  21. Jun 28, 2012
    83
    Fundamentally, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is a shooter with relatively familiar action game with standard cover-based mechanics. This shouldn't discourage your from giving it a try, because unlike a majority of shooters today, Future Soldier makes you scratch your head a bit before sending the Ghost Team into action.
  22. May 23, 2012
    83
    A very solid, graphically impressive shooter with a lot of content in solo-, coop- and multiplayer-modes. Although the mix of tactics and more offensive shootout plays well, the mix of both leads to some frustration. The cluttered controls make that even more annoying.
  23. May 22, 2012
    83
    If you buy games for the single-player experience it's hard to recommend Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Once you hop online it's a different story as the tactical, objective-driven modes manage to fill the five-year void left since the release of the superior Advanced Warfighter 2. It's heavily reliant on teammates who are willing to play specific roles, but with a group of dedicated soldiers it's a war that you'll want to keep fighting.
  24. Jun 20, 2012
    82
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier looks amazingly bad at times, but the new tactical approach to combat is fun. Some timed events can get really annoying and the rail shooter sequences don't work that well. Co-op campaign is a good addition, even though the lack of matchmaking is a downer. [June 2012]
  25. May 23, 2012
    82
    Future Soldier's multiplayer component is far better suited to the saga's quality level than its singleplayer campaign. Some AI issues and its eventual lack of inspiration on the single player campaign hold it back, but it's still great fun.
  26. Jul 19, 2012
    80
    A surprisingly engaging campaign with a slew of co-op options, let down by okay graphics and inconsistent connectivity. Get some. [Aug 2012, p.66]
  27. Jun 22, 2012
    80
    Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is a fascinating example of how a series may borrow several elements from other games while staying true to its bases.
  28. Jun 19, 2012
    80
    The sharp thrill of a successful synchronised takedown never loses its edge. [Issue#86, p.76]
  29. Jun 15, 2012
    80
    With satisfying shooting mechanics, a great co-op mode and probably the best sound design we've ever heard on a shooter, Future Soldier is a "must have" for fans of the genre.
  30. Jun 10, 2012
    80
    Sadly, in this unforgiving age of Metacritic and the rest of the score-aggregation mafia, one number it's going to have to be. Just keep in mind, if all you're about to do is read this introduction and then scroll all the way down to see the score, that the multiplayer game deserves a better grade and the single-player missions don't.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 280 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 120
  2. Negative: 18 out of 120
  1. False Advertising/Poor Design: The game is advertised with an emphasis on co-op (campaign and a survival mode) but there is no matchmaking for co-op. It's by invite only. Call of Duty, Halo, Gears of War, and numerous others support co-op with matchmaking. It's industry standard and Ghost Recon Future Soldier falls far short. Full Review »
  2. Remember all the "watercooler" set pieces from Gears of War 3? That kind of thing is on display here as well. The problem is that in Ghost Recon, they are all mini cut-scenes that strip you of control every few minutes and sometimes, every few seconds. To make matters worse, often times the most effective thing you can do is have your AI squad do all the killing. Couple that with the fact that you're basically invisible the entire time, and you have a bland single player experience that leaves you feeling that you're just along for the ride. The set-pieces would have been awesome, but this story would have always been ho-hum, been there, done that affair.

    Things get even worse when you switch to live foes in multiplayer modes. Spawn camping seems to be a legitimate way to play this game. I also observed enemy teams camping objectives without capturing them, just so they can rack up kills that seemed cheap and hollow. Kill cams constantly show enemy killers aiming erratically and still getting kill after kill while your own rounds seem to do nothing in spite of seeing hit markers on target. The several games I've played seemed cheap, like they didn't work right, and were no fun what-so-ever. I plan on trying more later. Although I'm sure I have a full understanding of how the game works, the multiplayer games I've played seemed so poorly thought out and pointless, I would hope there's something I'm missing.

    ...But it gets even worse. At a base level, the gameplay in this game will always be broken because the rush/cover function is mapped to the A button. This means you HAVE to take your finger off right stick to sprint or switch cover. If this function was not on a face button, the entire time you're running you could be looking around and planning your next move. It kills me when I realize how fast paced and fluid the game would play if my fingers were on the sticks the entire time. Because of this glaring and baffling game design choice, ALL gameplay in this game feels like it has one foot in a bucket.

    I don't know what these other baffoons reviewing this game have to gain by posting knowingly fraudulent reviews. If they're like me, they're sorry they spent money on it. I suppose the only explanation is that unlike myself, they haven't come to terms with the fact that they will never get that $60+ back, and are either trying to share their misery with others, or trying desperately to convince themselves that this game isn't a shiny, polished turd.
    Full Review »
  3. 10
    I've been playing this game since Saturday and I really like it. I stopped playing military type multiplayer games when COD BlackOps came out. I couldn't take the cheap, run & gun game play style. Calling in nukes is probably one of the stupidest things you could do in a game...makes no sense. A soldier cannot just call in a nuke, or an airstrike. There's certain channels you have to go through in order for both those things to happen. With that being said I decided to get back into social gaming by playing TC GR FS and I don't regret it. It's fun and for the most part, it's tactical. Yeah you could run and gun, but odds are you will get bucked. The game modes are all objective based which I don't mind. The gunsmith feature is really cool. This game is the thinkings man COD and that right there ...is high praise. Full Review »