YOU WON'T HAVE `GHOST' OF A CHANCE AT `RECON'.

Byline: Redmond Carolipio Staff writer

There's one thing you need to know before diving into "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter."

In the words of Chris Rock, you're gonna die. The strange part is, it might be the most fun you have on the Xbox 360.

It takes a special kind of game to transform the act of getting shot at from all directions into an engrossing experience, and this latest addition to the acclaimed Ubisoft military series certainly qualifies.

Fusing brainpower with firepower, "Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter" (GRAW in gamer shorthand) raises the bar for tactical shooters while giving players a harsh taste of urban soldiering.

You play Scott Mitchell, the captain of the Ghosts, an elite squad dispatched to Mexico City to ensure the safety of the president as well as fight an army of renegades. And the Ghosts aren't just good -- they've got cool stuff.

It wouldn't be a Tom Clancy title without serious gear, which the game uses to solidify its think-before-you-move premise. The cornerstone is the Cross-Com, a system which uses satellite technology to deliver all kinds of battlefield info.

At the heart of the Cross-Com is a tactical map of the mission area, which the player can use to coordinate a plan of attack. You can point to a spot on the map or the screen and order your squad members to move there, reminiscent of the Pandemic Studios game, "Full Spectrum Warrior." You can also control airborne scout drones, direct armored personnel carriers and point out targets to choppers offering air support. You'll need them all, because the game is absolutely merciless when it's time to fight.

The renegade army sends everything from truckloads of soldiers to fully armed tanks, all in an effort to annihilate Mitchell and his squad.

Hearing the chaotic pinging of bullets, seeing stone and dirt flying into the air and withstanding the tense musical store are just part of the game's barrage on the senses.

Players have little time to digest everything being thrown at them before they end up taking a round to the chest. It may seem like a mean-spirited approach, but it's also appropriate. Real soldiers rarely have time to react -- why should we?

But the game doesn't exactly leave you helpless. Your teammates are generally good at what they do, and Mitchell is blessed with a bevy of combat-ready skills such as taking cover or crouching behind walls.

The Ghosts are also provided with a top-notch cache of weapons ranging from assault rifles to rocket launchers. The game employs a nifty "zoom" feature, where holding your breath with the left trigger button helps you steady your aim. There are also chopper missions where you have to clean off a enemy-filled rooftop with the machine gun.

However, the true power of "GRAW" lies in its subtle mastery of dramatic elements. While "Full Spectrum Warrior" was blanketed by a fog of constant tension, "GRAW" unleashes the occasional horrific surprise, either in the form of a surge of enemies or something much more jarring, like the U.S. Embassy being rocked by an explosion in during a radio conversation. It was the first time a game scared me in years. As rich as the whole experience is, it's not totally perfect. Sometimes your Cross-Com command menu independently fluctuates between orders in the heat of battle -- one second you can order your team to attack the tank, the next second you can order them to regroup. Time it wrong, and your team could end up wandering into cannon range.

Despite those minor issues, "GRAW" is one of the most complete experiences on any console. If this is what the future soldier is supposed to look like, then the future is bright. Even though I probably wouldn't last two minutes.

TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON: ADVANCED WARFIGHTER - Three and one half stars

Platform: PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360

Rated: T for Teen

Publisher: Ubisoft

Rating: Merciless military fun from Tom Clancy.

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