Gameplay Round Rundown of Rainbow Six: Siege

Three rounds - I played it last week at E3 and it was quite the delight. According to my unrivaled and almost-always-right-but-not-always memory, here's how a round goes down in Rainbow Six: Siege. Bold for emphasis on super serious time.

Preparation Phase

Players will be split up into even teams: the Rainbows (self-sacrificing, ultra-stellar task force responsible for saving damsels in distress) and the Enemies (bad guys). Before the phase begins, players choose from three different classes with various tactical equipment. Once the phase starts, players will have a short amount of time to...well, prepare.

Rainbows

Present outside of the target building. Spawn locations dependent on the map. Players vote on which side of the building to infiltrate, based on a majority-vote system.

Goals

  • Scout for Hostage
    Players will control a fast surveillance drone that can pass underneath doors, barricades, fences, and other obstructions. Drones that find the hostage will mark his or her location on the map.
  • Locate Best Point of Entry
    Recon's great for figuring out where those jerks on the other team will flank. Also, a great opportunity to force the enemy to waste their (very precious and limited) ammo.
  • Hide Drone for Later Use
    Drones are available for use during active gameplay, given the enemy has not destroyed them yet.
     

Enemies

Doing what they do best: being bad guys. Inside the building and responsible for making the Rainbows incapable of entering the building. Players vote which room to spawn in, based on a majority-vote system.

Goals

  • Fortify Building
    Enemies will have a short time to place wall barricades and shields. These will slow down the enemies from breaching with charges and gunfire. 
  • Setup Equipment 
    Some equipment found in the game:
    • Deployable Shields
    • Barbed wire
    • C4 (not in demo, but pictured in class selection)
  • Kill Any Drones
    Rainbows will use drones to recon the building. Destroying these drones by gunfire will ensure ease of movement around the map.

Active Phase

Rainbows

Objectives

  • Infiltrate the Building
    Players need to infiltrate the building without getting shot. Whether on top of the building, jumping through a window, or blowing up the garage door...get in and get in fast.
    • Rappel
    • Breach Charges
  • Use the Drones
    Drones will be your eyes and ears. Dead teammates will also be your eyes and ears, as they have access to the drones when they're dead. Enemies can destroy the drones, so use wisely.
  • Extract Hostage
    Hostage will sit in one position until you grab him/her. You can harm the hostage by accident (you bastard), so be mindful where you shoot.
  • Kill All Enemies
    I really hope I don't have to explain this to you. Shoot? Bang bang? Throw a shoe at the other dude's head? Yeah, be that guy.
     

Enemies

Objectives

  • Continue Fortifying
    Preparation phase is extremely short and, shown during the demo, buildings have many windows and vantage points to cover. Up to the player whether to spend more time protecting the structures.
  • Check Cameras
    Enemies will have direct access to cameras everywhere in the building. It's a necessary lifeline to keep track of when the Rainbows are breaching.
  • "Guard" Hostage from Extraction
    Hostage will sit in one position, unless moved. It's your job to make sure he/she stays alive, doesn't get shot, and doesn't bleed out.
  • Kill All Rainbows
    You're a bad guy. You're sooo bad. You harm those around you with rebellious fury. Look at you, Mister Badass, you.
     

Win State

There's more than one way to skin a cat. Actually, that's pretty gross. More than one way to win! Rainbows or enemies...it's all about the W.

  • All Enemies Dead
  • All Rainbows Dead
  • Hostage is Dead
    • Shot to death
    • Bled out
    • Exploded
    • Any other gruesome idea you have that can be performed in this highly destruction-based engine

And the round ends. Players will switch teams for the following round. And the cycle continues...

Want to know more about Rainbow Six: Siege? Take a look at my latest video on Siege, diving into the different perks and chokes of Siege. Warning: profanity and very frank commentary that's not listen-friendly for virgin ears. (It's a "M" rated game, in case you haven't been informed.)

GamesAsheRainbow Six: Siege, Ubisoft, Ubisoft Montreal