I will never forget playing Rainbox Six (on the PC where it was first released and best played. I still have it handy. Far more replay value than most games.) It was a break-through in modern gameplay at the time. A thinking man's shooter. When I played it, it was like "this is what I have been waiting for!" It remains my favorite game of the series. (I've actually purchased it multiple times as it was bundled in later editions as well.)
At the time, nothing like it existed or had been seen before. I will never forget the first time I got shot, was spun around by the impact and found myself lying on the ground looking up at my squad mates. For the first time, I felt like I was playing a realistic game and had some idea of what it might be like to be shot for real. It was truly dramatic. The realistic, simulation type game play really rocked.
Yes, it was hard at first. But I imagine taking down a bunch of terrorists is also hard. It felt real. As I learned and got better, there was a great deal of satisfaction in seeing my strategic ideas and tactics succeed. The environments were grand for their time (and are still fun) and gave the game a great atmosphere. The pre-assault planning aspects gave it a nice feel. Over time I learned there were many ways to play. You can skip the planning and just dive in or take your time and enjoy the more detailed aspects.
This is one of the few games I have ever played through more than once to the end. The amount of fun to be had made it one of the best ever. Although I still have my original, I will probably buy it again from GOG just for the convenience and nostalgia. I hope they will add some of the others in the series as well. I tend to like the earlier titles in the series the best, anyway.
Though the graphics are a bit rough around the edges, the creativity and artistry are still apparent. Yes, there are some quirks and bugs, but they are minor and there's plenty of fun to be had. What I like about this game is that real life tactics work and stupid run and shoot wildly tactics do not. Stealth is important and sniping a tango is very satisfying. ;)
If something does not work, you retreat and try something different. You will die a lot in your early games if you have not played any RB6 type games before, but it's all good. Once you get the hang of it, you will have a lot of fun and feel a true sense of accomplishment as you progress through the game. The levels are all very different and interesting. The setups before each level are cool and a welcome break from the tense action. The feel is gritty and real. Music and sounds are good. Controls good. Depth and replay value - super.
This game broke ground in many areas. If you never played it, especially on the PC where it thrives, do yourself a favor and give it a shot! Be prepared for many, many hours of rewarding gameplay. For a twist once you get into it, try leaving your squad mates at the insertion point and completing the levels solo. ;)
Enjoy!
P.S. Tip - you really need to do the training scenarios, but don't get discouraged. The training scenarios are actually much harder than the game itself. Use them to learn to handle your weapons and the controls, move around, peek and shoot, and so on. They can be tough, but the game levels are a lot more fun by contrast and you will appreciate that the training has prepared you well for your tasks. Again, very realistic.