Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
We scout Ubisoft's Paris HQ for all the intel on its Mexican war zone sizzler
As you'd expect, the development team has raised the bar considerably in terms of technical achievements: explosions look so real you want to duck for cover, you can almost feel the heat from fires and gazing at a thick funnel of smoke makes your eyes sting. Make no mistake - GRAW 2's near futuristic battleground is going to look and feel like a real, run-or-you'll-get-a-rocket-up-your-kazoo war zone.
In addition to creating a more palpably tense, dramatic atmosphere, the advancements in tech magickery has an impact on gameplay. Smoke, for example, can conceal enemies and, while using the Cypher is one way to spot guerrillas in the mist, you can also use a helicopter's down draft to blow the smoke away.
Real-time day/night cycles and weather have also been implemented and, again, these have an effect on the overall mood as sun-soaked streets slowly darken as night falls or storm clouds gather overhead. It's worth noting that GRAW 2 will be much wetter, not just from rain but also because of its geographical positioning - after all, the Rio Grande (one of the longest rivers in the US) runs through El Paso.
Above: A newly implemented real-time day/night cycle has a dramatic effect on the ambience of the environment
When all the new elements that we've mentioned - and some that we haven't, like the ability to take up positions on rooftops and the introduction of civilians - are combined, how players tackle missions will be dramatically different compared to the previous GRAW.
Indeed, Ubisoft told us that there will be no right way to play and that players who experiment with their tactics will be rewarded with Achievement points.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
So then, more tactical paths through the battlefield, more boom to the explosions, more power to the AI, more oomph for the firepower - GRAW 2 promises to improve on its predecessor in ways that far exceed our expectations and we salute Ubisoft's Paris team as it powers further into next-gen territory.

After struggling to make sequel-sized changes, fans think Blizzard might retire the '2' in Overwatch's name based on Season 16 leaks

Valve leads considered making a "mediocre" game before Half-Life to build the team up, but original marketing exec said "if you do that, the company will fail"

Take-Two won't begin marketing GTA 6 until it's closer to release: "The anticipation for this title may be the greatest anticipation I've ever seen for any entertainment property"