The first campaign mission is set in a war-torn Kosovo town, and it's a dark and stormy night that matches the mood of the ruined buildings very well. The rain falling around you patters on the stone, and combined with the cold breath blowing out of your operatives' mouths, the graphics set the mood real, real fast. In addition to the Kosovo town, there is a desolate Russian wharf, a vast Czech opera house, and an abandoned Siberian radar station. Probably the most anticipated new level, a 747, was not included on the press Beta release. The actual playing environments are much more interactive than before.
Grenades leave lasting damage to the environments.
All of this is greatly improved over the original, although I have to say I still wish you could shoot out exterior lights. Speaking of lighting, lighting effects in general are very well done so far. Computer screens cast a nice glow, lanterns provide a low light in dark rooms, and exterior lights do a good job of creating shadowed areas. The character animations in RS are also much improved. Movement is more fluid, realistic, and believable.