Written by Dante Uzel on 04 December 2024 12:22
It’s been over a decade since the last Delta Force game hit the market, but the franchise feels very much at home in today’s FPS landscape. Delta Force attempts to blend familiar elements from a variety of popular shooters, offering fast-paced gunplay, large-scale multiplayer battles, and a more unforgiving extraction mode that echoes Escape from Tarkov. While this approach may seem a bit safe, it does offer some exciting moments, and there’s potential for this game to break through as a standout shooter this holiday season.
===== Gunplay: Fast, Responsive, and Weighty
=====
One of the standout aspects of Delta Force is its shooting mechanics. The weapons feel satisfying and responsive, which is crucial for an FPS. There’s nothing worse than "floaty" guns that fail to convey the right sense of impact, but Delta Force avoids that pitfall. Each shot feels deliberate, with the fast time-to-kill (TTK) sure to appeal to fans of Call of Duty’s multiplayer. If you’ve grown accustomed to the slower pace of battle royales, the fast TTK here might take some getting used to, but for those who prefer quicker, more tactical encounters, it delivers.
The shooting is grounded in solid mechanics, where positioning and outmaneuvering your opponents take precedence over twitchy aim or lucky flick shots. Getting caught out in the open is a death sentence, and while there are light abilities tied to certain classes, Delta Force keeps things simple: your primary weapon is your most powerful tool. This focus keeps the action snappy and engaging.
Tactical Depth: Classes, Loadouts, and Vehicles
While Delta Force doesn’t dive deep into hero-based abilities like Apex Legends or VALORANT, it offers just enough variety to keep things interesting. The game features four main classes—Assault, Support, Engineer, and Recon—which give players slight advantages depending on the mode. For example, the Recon class might give you the edge in sniping, while the Support class can offer fire support and help with objectives.
However, Delta Force doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel with class design. The primary focus is on combat, and each class feels balanced without overshadowing the core shooting mechanics. It’s a simple setup, but it works. Additionally, there are varied operatives you can switch between mid-match. These characters act as a hybrid between basic loadouts and hero abilities, with each offering unique traits that can complement the chaos of a firefight. For example, Luna’s Detection Arrows reveal enemy positions, but none of these abilities are game-breaking. They’re more about supplementing your firepower, not replacing it.
Vehicles also play a crucial role in large-scale combat, adding another layer of strategy. Being able to call in airstrikes or commandeer tanks can turn the tide of a battle, but these are balanced enough that they don’t overshadow the importance of infantry combat.
Modes: A Mix of Familiarity and Innovation
Delta Force features a range of modes that offer a mix of familiar experiences with some interesting twists. The large-scale Warfare mode is where the game shines the most, offering expansive combat with snappy gunplay and strategic objectives. However, there’s a slight disconnect between the aggressive pace of the game and the more military-simulation-like shooting mechanics. The bullet trajectory and the need to lead your shots at longer distances can feel at odds with the high-octane pace of the Attack and Defend mode, where instant kills are common, and every second counts.
That said, the game’s core combat remains solid, and the blend of objectives, vehicles, and player classes provides a nice balance of strategy and action. Delta Force leans into its "jack-of-all-trades" theme, allowing players to tackle combat from multiple angles, depending on the situation.
The Operations mode brings Delta Force into the realm of extraction shooters, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. You and up to two friends can form a squad, enter a map, and complete objectives while fighting AI enemies and other player squads. This mode brings some much-needed variety to the gameplay, with a focus on loot, risk assessment, and tactical decision-making. Do you take the shot on a valuable target and risk alerting others to your position, or do you sneak by and take the more cautious route? These decisions are what make Delta Force’s extraction mode feel engaging and dynamic, even if it follows a familiar formula.
Enemy Variety and Tactical Encounters
The AI enemy variety in Delta Force is solid. As you progress through Operations, you’ll face off against a mix of standard riflemen, snipers, and even enemies wielding riot shields. The game encourages you to think on your feet, whether that means flanking, avoiding sniper fire, or carefully timing your attacks to avoid getting pinned down. These tactical encounters, combined with the potential for human-controlled enemies, ensure that no two fights feel the same.
The Home Base: Black Site and Loadouts
Between operations, you’ll return to the Black Site, your home base, where you can manage your loadouts, upgrade your storage space, and prepare for the next mission. The loadout system is intuitive, allowing you to quickly create and save custom kits for different playstyles. This ease of customization adds a nice layer of depth, making it easier to jump in and out of matches without wasting time on preparation.
Final Thoughts: Can Delta Force Break Through?
Delta Force brings together elements of various popular shooters and distills them into a solid, if not groundbreaking, experience. The gunplay is tight, and the mix of class-based combat, vehicles, and extraction mechanics provides plenty of variety. However, the game can feel derivative at times, and its military-simulation-like mechanics occasionally clash with its fast-paced, arcade-style combat.
Despite these flaws, there’s potential for Delta Force to carve out a niche as the breakout shooter of the holiday season. It may not radically redefine the genre, but for fans of Call of Duty or Escape from Tarkov, Delta Force offers a familiar yet exciting experience that’s worth keeping an eye on.
Tags: Delta Force
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