Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® 3 Gold

About

"Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® 3 Gold" is a tactical first-person shooter game that includes the campaigns "Raven Shield" and "Athena Sword." Assemble your elite counter-terrorism team and prevent hidden terrorist forces from carrying out destructive plans in various global locations. Experience intense missions, strategic gameplay, and high-stakes operations in this immersive and popular series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® 3 Gold screenshot

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,270 reviews

story60 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

Engaging tactical gameplay that requires careful planning and execution.
High level of realism with one-shot kills and permanent death for operatives.
Strong modding community that enhances the game experience with new content and fixes.

AI can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments during missions.
Graphics and controls feel dated compared to modern standards.
Steep learning curve that may deter casual players.

story
458 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
84%
3%
The story in this game is largely a backdrop for its tactical gameplay, revolving around counter-terrorism missions that often involve hostage rescues and bomb disarmament. While the narrative elements are minimal and somewhat generic, players appreciate the depth of mission planning and execution, which requires careful strategy and coordination to succeed without casualties. Overall, the focus is more on the tactical experience than on a compelling storyline, with many players finding satisfaction in the challenge of completing missions flawlessly.
- “Planning your missions carefully and finishing a mission without casualties is an amazing feeling that I, being part of the COD generation, had never experienced from a shooter.”
- “The highly customizable mission planning makes your approach to a mission entirely up to you.”
- “Before each mission, you may choose from a range of multi-national Rainbow operatives to accompany you on a mission.”
- “The story is largely implausible and irrelevant, and cutscenes are so few that you probably take little interest in the story.”
- “After the first few missions, it becomes way too clear that one of the most common mission conditions, such as saving hostages or disarming bombs, is there only to force the player to rely on the terrible AI operatives because it usually requires overwhelming the enemy by entering from multiple angles.”
- “The game would load to the main menu but not let me start any missions.”
gameplay
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay of Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield is praised for its tactical depth and planning mechanics, offering a unique experience that remains engaging despite its age. While the graphics and some mechanics feel dated, the core gameplay is described as intense, methodical, and rewarding, with a high learning curve that encourages strategic thinking and teamwork. However, issues such as inconsistent AI and a lack of thorough explanations for mechanics can detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay alone is unlike most of what came after.”
- “While the AI and shooting would become outdated when SWAT 4 released a couple of years later, this game offers a pretty robust tactics and planning aspect, as well as mechanics that aren't seen in tactical shooters today.”
- “Rainbow Six 3 offers tactical gameplay that remains one of the best in the genre, despite its age.”
- “Although new mechanics allow for more pathfinding and maneuverability, such as the ability to open windows for more vantage points or the implementation of small crawlspaces, the triggers for these mechanics are seldom implemented; each is used on a single level throughout the entire campaign before being completely forgotten by the developers, then reintroduced in the expansions only for the exact same thing to happen.”
- “Some important mechanics have become more streamlined, whilst others have been completely butchered or just straight up removed.”
- “This game just labels itself as a 'tactical' shooter, but has none of the mechanics that allow it to be played as such.”
graphics
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The graphics of this game, released in 2003, are generally considered dated but were impressive for their time, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up reasonably well today. While some players find the visuals lacking compared to modern standards, the core gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable, often enhanced by community mods that improve graphics and AI. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may show their age, they do not detract significantly from the fun and tactical experience the game offers.
- “The graphics show their age, but the level design and environments are well-detailed, and the rendering details are a bit more improved in the expansion packs.”
- “Despite the dated graphics, simply the best tactical shooter from the good old times of Ubisoft.”
- “The graphics may be dated, but the gameplay is still a huge amount of fun.”
- “It does make a few minor improvements over the previous titles, such as resolving the ladder situation and adding the ability to switch characters, but every other improvement seems to be mostly visual, and said visuals don’t even hold up very well in the modern era.”
- “This game is dated; its graphics have aged in a mediocre way, but the gameplay and interesting team tactics are still fun.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
48%
14%
The music in this game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and tension, with a soundtrack that complements the game's themes and settings effectively. Reviewers highlight the eerie ambiance and alerting cues that contribute to immersion, making it a standout feature compared to later entries in the series. Overall, the musical score is considered phenomenal, with many fans expressing a desire for remixes of the iconic tracks.
- “The feeling of the late 1990s and still cold-war-era haunted world also resonates in the soundtrack, which does not push itself into the foreground, but instead underlines the gripping atmosphere.”
- “The music really sets the mood for what difficulties you are going to face.”
- “The musical score is phenomenal!”
- “This is not Rogue Spear, I want it to play the sad music when one of my characters dies, just like in Rogue Spear.”
- “The music often chimes in as an alert when you enter a 'hot' zone to help you, and you do need to pay attention to the audio for enemy movements to signal their approach, particularly on the levels requiring total stealth - although these levels worked less well than the rest of the game, but happily there are few of these moments.”
- “The immersion and music in those early Rainbow Six games were unique, and number 3 seemed to be the last one of its kind.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game boasts exceptional replayability due to its diverse arsenal of weapons, tactical gameplay, and various mission strategies, allowing players to approach challenges in multiple ways. Players can engage in different modes, such as terrorist hunts and cooperative missions, while also experimenting with squad dynamics and strategies, enhancing the overall experience. The high difficulty and emphasis on learning enemy patterns further contribute to its enduring replay value, making it a standout title in the tactical shooter genre.
- “This game has a lot of guns, which makes it very replayable because you can try one mission many times with different playstyles and strategies.”
- “Because of that challenge, this game is imbued with replay value. Beating the game on each difficulty, then without casualties on each difficulty, is the best one has for replay value, that and terrorist hunt, of course.”
- “With its high but fair challenge rating, this game would not really have replay value, so it's honestly just a plus.”
- “There is a lot of replayability as well: you can follow a premade plan, rush it as a lone wolf or with the team, make up your own strategy for the map, and even spectate everything while your team just follows orders.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with players reporting frequent bugs and crashes, particularly related to mission completion and AI behavior. While the game runs smoothly at high frame rates, issues such as screen freezes during planning and glitches in enemy AI detract from the overall experience. Despite these problems, many players still find the game enjoyable when it functions properly.
- “The game itself runs great; I consistently get 180+ FPS at 144Hz/2560x1440p.”
- “The maps are wide, open, and not buggy at all.”
- “Step 3, finally, create an account but again it is not allowed my login... reset password, again, not working... ok, great buggy!”
- “Using Windows 10 (I don't know how the other Windows work) terribly buggy, can't finish missions without crashes due to things like night vision/flash grenades and other effects. Even when I die, the game will crash... really amazing game though, if it works it's probably 9.9/10.”
- “Both Vegas games have their fair share of problems, including bad third-person cover systems, enemies that spawn behind you, nonsensical instant deaths, sound glitches, and (in the case of Vegas 2) a sprint function that makes the multiplayer feel more like a slower Call of Duty than a tactical shooter.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its janky mechanics and poor AI, leading to amusing situations and failures during gameplay. Players find the ragdoll physics particularly entertaining, often resulting in laughable moments as characters crash and tumble. Despite the game's narrative shortcomings, the comedic elements provide a fun and memorable experience.
- “Ragdolls are sometimes hilarious.”
- “It's so funny to see each attempt most undoubtedly end in failure.”
- “And ragdolls look funny nowadays, just crashing onto the floor.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, even when using workarounds like dgvoodoo. While there are some community-created patches and tweaks available to improve performance and fix multiplayer issues, many users feel that the game is ultimately unoptimized, leading to frustration and a negative overall experience.
- “They host mod files to fix the multiplayer, enhance game performance, and add maps.”
- “Install the all R6 multiplayer patch from Mod DB and then install the optimization patch and set your internet to T3 and enter the IP of the server you want to join.”
- “Great game, good fun if everything runs smoothly and no one dies; you actually have to use some brain cells unlike most other games.”
- “There's a workaround using dgVoodoo, but that causes horrible stuttering.”
- “If you do just so happen, the game is not optimized and it will be a waste of money, which is why I have to give a thumbs down on this beautiful game.”
- “There are some tweaks available via modified files when you encounter stuttering during gameplay.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as both heart-wrenching and impactful, evoking feelings of nostalgia and connection to personal experiences. While some players appreciate its depth and uniqueness, others express frustration over external factors affecting the game's community and modding potential. Overall, it elicits a strong emotional response, blending moments of intensity with a sense of loss.
- “It's heart-wrenching without being totally unfair.”
- “There will never be another game like this, and it is absolutely heartbreaking.”
- “This game is a nice wholesome game.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring an unrealistic investment of time. The increasing grindiness, coupled with pay-to-win elements and unresolved cheating issues, detracts from the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But as the skins and operators got weirder and weirder, the game became more grindy and more pay-to-win, while the cheater problem was ignored repeatedly. They decided to build the game wide with more content instead of focusing on important features that Rainbow Six 3 had.”
- “It's essentially just a tedious exercise in trial and error that is not satisfying in any way.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its reliance on numerous microtransactions and the prohibition of modding, which limits player customization and experience. While some players appreciate the potential for increased replay value through mods like Raven Shield 2.0, the presence of ads and lack of unlockable content detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “No ads without mods.”
- “Of course, there are no unlocks or microtransactions; it's a better age for gaming.”
- “Dozens of microtransactions, but modding is prohibited.”
- “Of course no unlocks, microtransactions, a better age.”
- “Dozens of microtransactions, modding is prohibited.”
- “With the addition of ads, iron sights... the game has the most replay value ever.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is heavily influenced by a late 1990s, cold-war-era aesthetic, complemented by a subtle yet effective soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience. Reviewers appreciate the well-crafted setting and serious tone, which contribute to a gripping and enjoyable tactical gameplay experience. Overall, the game is praised for its atmospheric depth, making it a standout in the tactical shooter genre.
- “In summary, still the best single-player tactical shooter I have ever played (maybe on par with SWAT 4), for the price it will give you so many hours of great tactical gameplay and atmosphere.”
- “The feeling of the late 1990s and the cold-war-era haunted world resonates in the soundtrack, which does not push itself into the foreground but instead underlines the gripping atmosphere.”
- “The music is motivating, the setting and atmosphere are well thought out, and though serious, the presentation is fun.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The character development in the game is praised for its realism and authenticity, with players highlighting the impactful design choices and gameplay mechanics that create a deep sense of immersion. The consequences of actions, such as permanently losing squad mates and the deliberate pace of gameplay, contribute to a compelling narrative experience that sets it apart from other first-person shooters.
- “The character development is incredibly immersive, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful throughout the story.”
- “I love how the characters evolve based on the choices I make, creating a unique experience every time I play.”
- “The depth of the characters and their backstories adds so much richness to the gameplay, making me genuinely care about their fates.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity and growth.”
- “The choices you make don't seem to impact the characters in any meaningful way, which diminishes the overall experience.”