Crouching on our knees in dark corners while flanked by three uniformed men isn't usually the kind of thing we go in for here at Official Xbox Magazine. But, in the case of the Tom Clancy tactical shooter series, we're willing to make an exception.

Set during a fictional conflict between a mad North Korean general and the West, Ghost Recon 2 signifies something of a departure from the slow-paced, tactical gameplay we have come to expect from these games. For starters, you can play from an all-new third-person perspective (though you can still play in first-person if you prefer), while the faster, more arcade-orientated action is caught somewhere in limbo between the gritty realism of its predecessor and the Rainbow Six series, and the more forgiving and frenetic skirmishes of Conflict: Vietnam.

But does it work? Well, yes and no. While this new direction may well appeal to a wider audience, its execution is more suspect than a convicted murderer called Bill the Butcher standing over a corpse with a bloody knife crying, "The bastard had it comin'!"

Typically, there are three different types of missions on offer in the campaign. First off are the squad-based infiltration levels, where you and your team must enter enemy-held territory and either blow up key targets or rescue captured/crashed comrades.

Things start well enough as you creep silently through the crumbling, smoke-spewing (though graphically unimpressive) cities of Korea, or its rural locales, your eyes straining in their sockets as you seek to identify the slightest hint of enemy presence in your grainy surroundings.

However, as soon as you take down a couple of enemies, things really start to kick off, as countless more enemies flock towards you and begin raining down a maelstrom of lead on your position, barking orders and warnings to each other as they try to pin you down.

You fight back, taking down enemies with precision shots and watching them slump realistically to the ground, while issuing orders to your squad on the fly with the excellent new context-sensitive command system, or via voice commands with a headset. The battle swings violently back and forth as your men and the enemy intelligently seek out cover and lay down suppressing fire. What's more, if one of your soldiers gets injured you can now heal them on the battlefield. But suddenly, without warning, your entire squad is wiped out by an unseen attacker. You reload. It happens again. And again. Then it dawns on you. You've stumbled upon a spawn point.

Enemies materialise out of thin air, behind you, in front of you, giving you no time to react. Of course this would be bearable if the game's damage model reflected its new frenetic approach. Sadly, neither you nor your men can take more than a handful of shots before you drop, making moments like these utterly infuriating. It also totally negates any carefully planned tactics you may have employed.

Solo infiltration missions are just like the squad-based ones, only even harder (because you have no backup, obviously). In order to level the playing field a little, you're kitted out with the revolutionary Integrated Warrior System (IWS), replete with a machine-gun that lets you fire round corners without exposing yourself and kick-ass grenade launcher. It also proffers you with the added bonus of being able to call in airstrikes.

These missions are the highlights of Ghost Recon 2, oozing tension like a ruptured dam and testing your reflexes, tactical awareness and shot accuracy to the max. With no backup to rely on, you're forced to think about every move and its consequence and, when faced with multiple enemies, a keen understanding of your surroundings will prove invaluable. Especially if you don't want some Korean conscript's niece using your intestines as a skipping rope before the day is out.

Conversely though, the shortcomings of the squad-based missions are amplified here, necessitating constant reloads as seemingly endless waves of enemies charge at you, even when you're well hidden. But the enemy AI isn't consistently this good, oh no, no, no. Sometimes it doesn't see you at all. Even if you're standing right in front of it. Waving a red flag. Dancing the Macarena.

Last and definitely least are the defensive missions. Brainless to the extreme, these task you and your squad to defend a base by moving from one trench to the next while gunning down endless droves of advancing enemies and immobilising the odd tank and APC. It's the kind of archaic, by-numbers, lazy level design that would leave a lobotomised chimp feeling patronised.

Of course if you don't fancy trawling through the campaign, you can embark on single missions in a variety of game modes including Lone Wolf (you're on your own but have access to the best weaponry) and Firefight (kill every enemy in the entire level). But regardless of which one you choose, the same problems still abound.

Fortunately, the rather patchy single-player game is redeemed somewhat by its diverse and entertaining multiplayer options. Cram yourself and up to three mates in front of your TV or link up with up to 15 other players over Xbox Live and revel in the joys of co-operative or competitive play, shouting abuse or praise at each other through your headsets. Ah, the joys of modern technology.

Ghost Recon 2 is a game with a severe identity crisis, clearly trying to appeal to the action-loving masses while attempting not to alienate fans of the slow-paced gameplay of yore. Problem is, it's unlikely to truly grip either group, and may well estrange many core fans. Suddenly, the idea of being stuck in those dark corners protecting our rears simply isn't as appealing as it used to be.

1. The more arcadey action makes for some frenetic battles, though this is offset by the game's infuriatingly unforgiving damage model.
2. Ace selection of machine-guns, grenades, rocket launchers and rifles. The ground-breaking IWS system adds an extra tactical dimension.
3. Enemies regularly display a firm understanding of battlefield tactics, but are sometimes either too aware of your presence or plain dumb.
4. Ghost Recon 2 is graphically weak but does boast some pretty impressive dynamic effects and physics.
5. Intuitive combat system and voice-activated commands that your team intelligently obey make ordering your squad quick and easy.

As frustrating as it is rewarding, Ghost Recon 2 is best enjoyed with your friends, though you'll still have to endure the erratic AI.