Rainbow Six Siege Operation Shadow Legacy Review

Rainbow Six Siege Operation Shadow Legacy brings a classic Ubisoft character to the forefront of one of their most popular games. Not only that, it revamps another old map. This expansion, just like the last one, provides players with a way to completely mix up any situation. It also opens up the field for new tactics and dynamic moments in well-trodden ground.

Zero

As you undoubtedly know, Rainbow Six Siege Operation Shadow Legacy adds in Zero as a new Operator. It’s unusual for an expansion only to add one new playable character, but this one is such a presence in themselves that it makes sense. You see, Zero is, in fact, Sam Fisher.

That’s right. Splinter Cell has seen yet another crossover. No, it in no way makes up for the lack of a new release in the series. Honestly, though, Zero really is a fantastic Operator, one that changes the battlefield in so many ways.

In terms of lore, Zero is more of a leadership role. He’s been brought in to mentor some Operators but also keeps others in check. I think that Sam Fisher is the perfect character for this role, and wouldn’t accept anything less.

See Everywhere

Zero is a straightforward Operator to use. He’s not the fastest or even the most powerful, but his gadget is what makes him incredible. The Echelon is a dart pistol with three shots. Those darts can penetrate certain surfaces, but they’re so much less than lethal. That isn’t where they come into play though.

The advantage of the Echelon gadget is that it allows Zero to see through a camera on the darts it fires. Those darts can switch between facing inside the room behind the surface they’ve penetrated or back outside to where they were shot from.

This is a two-way camera that provides unprecedented surveillance over the enemy. While they can be shot out pretty easily, I never found that anyone bothered. That’s a big mistake though, because they’re equipped with a single-use laser that will finish a downed enemy off.

See Around Corners

While seeing into a building through the Echelon is extremely useful, there’s another element to this tool entirely. I found that firing a dart onto a surface and using it to see around corners or into rooms that I was about to move into was the best use for this gadget.

Yes, being able to finish enemies off is great. It’s also convenient that you can peer into rooms without risking your life. However, it’s the power to see around those hidden corners that make Zero such a powerful character.

Suddenly you can run from point to point with confidence. I usually spend so much time worrying where enemies are in a match. But with Zero, I can fire off a dart, quickly check a room, and then rush in before I can be surprised. That level of confidence is something that Sam Fisher would definitely have, and it’s nice to see that confidence reflected in a gadget and the gameplay style of this Operator.

A New Chalet

As with the last expansion for Rainbow Six Siege, Operation Shadow Legacy adds a reworked map. This time around, it’s Chalet that’s seen some action, and it really does feel fresh and new. Only veterans of the game will be put out by the changes made to the map. For the rest of us, this simply feels like a completely new place to run around and learn how to master.

I’ve not played that many matches in Chalet in the past. It does form a core part of the game’s small solo offering though, so to see it reworked did subvert my expectations somewhat. All the usual entry points have been changed, and the interior is very different from what you’d expect. I think the rework is conducive to new strategies and gameplay styles. Hopefully, it also makes it a little easier to go up against a team of friends, all playing together.

Combining Zero with the reworked Chalet is something else entirely. Players are used to moving around this map with Operators that they know and understand. Zero changes everything though. The Echelon makes it almost impossible to surprise Attackers breaking in, providing the player using Zero is playing him right. That laser is also exactly what you need to get shots in when they matter. Usually, when an enemy has darted around a corner at the last minute.

Not Quite up to Par

Despite just how good this expansion feels, with a fantastic new Operator and reworked map, it’s not as good as the rest of the updates we’ve seen this year. I don’t know if the pandemic has forced Ubisoft to pull back on what they can physically get into the game for each season, but Operation Shadow Legacy feels lacking. It’s more than just the fact that we’re only getting one new Operator as well.

Ubisoft rework maps all the time. It usually gets dumped on top of everything else that an Operation adds. This expansion doesn’t feel like it meets the same standards though. It’s the vegetarian meal you’re forced to eat because those sausages you thought you had were actually just carrots that went bad last month. It’s good, but it’s not satisfying enough to keep you happy for long.

Verdict

I love Rainbow Six Siege, but I really feel like Ubisoft dropped the ball with Operation Shadow Legacy. It’s a shame because Zero is obviously meant to be a big addition for fans. While he is amazing as an Operator, the lack of a second one to balance him out feels like a punch to the gut. As someone who paid for the Year 5 Pass, I’m expecting top quality with every expansion. This is the first time in 2020 that I can safely say that the bar hasn’t been met.

I hope that Ubisoft can make up for their shortfalls with this expansion in the next one. If they don’t, then I’m not entirely sure I’ll still be playing on next-gen consoles.