'Black Hawk Down' becomes shoot-'em-up computer game
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
Perhaps you've read the book or seen the movie. Now you can play the game. "Delta Force: Black Hawk Down," which has enjoyed strong sales since Operation Iraqi Freedom began, drops players into Somalia with military missions loosely based on the 1993 "Operation Restore Hope" and "Task Force Ranger" operations.
But fans of modern warfare computer games that require calculated planning and stealthy execution may not want to enlist in this title from NovaLogic.
Players control elite military units in "Delta Force: Black Hawk Down."
While the game appears to be cut from the same cloth as deep tactical games such as "Rainbow Six III: Raven Shield" or "Operation Flashpoint," "Delta Force" requires more firepower than brainpower. That said, it's still a fun and attractive action game with plenty of solo and multiplayer missions.
"Black Hawk Down" follows members of four elite groups — the Army's Delta Force, Army Rangers, the Army's 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and the Air Force's Night Stalkers — as they partake in raids against Somali warlords in and around the coastal city of Mogadishu. Some missions require close-quarters fighting such as in the city itself, while other objectives take place in rural areas with fewer places to hide.
The game is played from a first-person perspective, and players have access to an assortment of weapons and equipment, such as assault and sniper rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, night vision goggles and radio detonators. In some missions, players can take control of the heavy weapons mounted on a Black Hawk helicopter (or other vehicles) to mow down enemy forces.
Review: 'Delta Force: Black Hawk Down'
(out of 5)
"Delta Force" includes several multiplayer options where up to 16 players can duke it out across the Internet in "Deathmatch" and "Capture the Flag" game types. Armories are peppered throughout the game maps to change your character's weapons and specialty. You can play the multiplayer games free at NovaWorld (www.novaworld.com), NovaLogic's own online game service.
The "Search and Destroy" multiplayer game option is one of the most enjoyable. Team members must enter an enemy headquarters and destroy specific targets in order to win the game.
It is the heavy focus on weaponry that gives "Delta Force" a more arcade-like feel than some players might prefer.
In some scenarios, it's easy to accomplish mission goals by destroying everything in sight instead of mapping out a tactical approach.
That said, during some single-player missions, gamers must give orders to squads of soldiers. But that doesn't mean they'll always listen. This is one of the artificial intelligence niggles in "Delta Force." Others include too many "friendly fire" casualties, enemy soldiers who just stand frozen until they see you or enemies who don't respond even when nearby soldiers are taken down by sniper fire.
The game's system requirements are fairly rigorous. You'll need a relatively high-end Pentium III PC, but a 1.4 MHz Pentium 4 machine or better is recommended. A 64-megabyte video card is recommended.
A free demo of "Delta Force: Black Hawk Down" is a available at www.novalogic.com/games/DFBHD.
