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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword vs Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena SwordAn intense tactical shooter expansion continuing the Raven Shield campaign.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven ShieldStrategic tactical shooter where teamwork decides the mission.
Overview
Description

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword is an official expansion pack for Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield, taking elite counter-terrorism operatives to new global locations. Players must meticulously plan and execute missions against dangerous criminal threats across a variety of complex new maps. The expansion builds upon the critically acclaimed tactical gameplay of its predecessor, introducing new weapons, multiplayer maps, and a challenging new single-player storyline designed for fans of realistic military simulations.

Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield puts players in the shoes of elite counter‑terrorism operatives, demanding careful planning and precise execution. The game blends realistic weapon handling with a deep planning phase, letting you plot routes, assign equipment, and coordinate squads. Set across global hotspots, the title offers a robust single‑player campaign, split‑screen co‑op, and online multiplayer modes that reward communication and strategy. Its gritty realism and tactical depth have made it a benchmark for the genre.

Pricing
Paid (One-time)
Paid (One-time)
Category
First-Person Shooters
First-Person Shooters
Best for
Tactical shooter fans and military simulation enthusiasts
Tactical shooter enthusiasts
Specifications
General
msrp
$19.9960%
$49.99
release date
2004-03-09
2003-03-18
Specifications
developer
Ubisoft Milan, Red Storm Entertainment, Ubisoft Red Storm
Red Storm Entertainment, Ubisoft Montreal
publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Ubisoft Entertainment
age rating
PEGI 16, ESRB M
ESRB M, PEGI 16
multiplayer
Single player, Multiplayer
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
critic score
80/100
82/100+3%
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Adds a substantial number of new maps and missions to Raven Shield
  • Maintains the deep tactical realism and planning elements of the series
  • Includes exciting new weapons and equipment options
  • Robust multiplayer offerings extend replayability significantly
  • Deep strategic planning system
  • Realistic weapon behavior
  • Strong emphasis on teamwork
  • Varied multiplayer modes
Cons
  • Requires the base game Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield to play
  • Steep learning curve can be punishing for casual shooter fans
  • Dated graphics by modern standards
  • Steep learning curve for newcomers
  • Limited graphics by modern standards
  • Multiplayer matchmaking can be slow
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
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User rating
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Rainbow Six: Covert Ops Essentials

Experience nine all-new tactical missions and comprehensive combat training in this standalone expansion.

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Critical Hour
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Critical Hour

Return to tactical roots with classic maps and strategic warfare.

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear - Urban Operations
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear - Urban Operations

Lead elite counter-terrorist operatives through intense metropolitan combat scenarios.

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SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle
SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle

Tactical police action with realistic SWAT team command

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas

Tactical action meets high‑stakes Vegas heists.

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Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon

Lead elite squads in realistic tactical warfare across the globe

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword

An intense tactical shooter expansion continuing the Raven Shield campaign.

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield is the core game offering full single‑player, co‑op, and multiplayer for a one‑time $49.99 price; Athena Sword is an expansion that adds maps, missions, and weapons for $19.99 but requires Raven Shield to play.

Key differences

  • Athena Sword needs the base Raven Shield to run, while Raven Shield is standalone.
  • Raven Shield includes split‑screen co‑op for two players; Athena Sword does not mention split‑screen.
  • Athena Sword adds new single‑player missions and multiplayer maps, expanding content beyond Raven Shield's original offering.
  • Price: Raven Shield costs $49.99 versus Athena Sword’s $19.99, but Athena Sword’s value depends on owning the base game.
  • Both have similar graphics quality (dated by modern standards), but Raven Shield’s destructible environments are highlighted.
DimensionWinner

Gameplay & fun factor

Raven Shield offers both campaign and split‑screen co‑op, providing more varied play styles than Athena Sword’s expansion‑only content.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield

Platform availability

Both are listed for the same platforms (implied by shared developers/publishers); no distinct platform advantage noted.

Tie

Price & value

Athena Sword is $19.99 versus Raven Shield $49.99, but only adds value if you already own Raven Shield.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword

Multiplayer / co‑op

Raven Shield supports up to 16 players online and split‑screen co‑op; Athena Sword only mentions online multiplayer.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield

Content & replayability

Athena Sword adds numerous new maps, missions, and weapons, extending replayability beyond Raven Shield’s original content.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword

Difficulty & accessibility

Both share a steep learning curve; no difference in accessibility is specified.

Tie

Graphics & performance

Both are described as having dated graphics by modern standards; no clear graphical advantage.

Tie

Choose Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword if…

Buy if you already own Raven Shield and want extra missions, maps, and weapons for less cost.

Choose Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield if…

Buy if you want a complete standalone tactical shooter with co‑op and no extra purchase needed.

Common questions

Do I need to buy Raven Shield to play Athena Sword?

Yes, Athena Sword requires the base game Raven Shield to run.

Which version includes split‑screen co‑op?

Raven Shield includes split‑screen co‑op; Athena Sword does not mention this feature.

Is the lower price of Athena Sword a better deal?

Athena Sword is cheaper ($19.99) but only adds value if you already own Raven Shield; otherwise you need both.