Review by: Jonathan Houghton
Published: January 23, 2001

The art of war makes a great subject for a game. From the dawn of recorded history, mankind has been engaged in brutal struggles that involve nothing more than one man killing another. When you boil away all of the external motives, this concept remains. Some people seem destined to end others’ lives. At certain points in our past, watching people slaughter each other has even been considered a form of upper class entertainment. This tradition continues into the new millennium with titles like Quake III: Arena and Soldier of Fortune being snatched up by eager players.

As the tactics of war evolved over time, so also have the different virtual offerings. Following the release of basic shooters like Doom and Quake, we began to see the integration of realistic war scenarios in Rainbow Six and Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way. When the Delta Force series was first introduced, it used a software rendering technology known as Voxelspace for the 3D environments. This technology enabled the creation and exploration of vast terrains where players could see for miles. The price attached to this technology was a lack of support for the latest 3D hardware acceleration, resulting in pixilated graphics that made most gamers nauseous when trying to differentiate the enemies from the landscape. When Delta Force 2 was released, it offered limited 3D acceleration, but still leaned heavily on software rendering to depict its environments. Delta Force: Land Warrior is the first title in the series to take full advantage of the latest features graphics card manufacturers have to offer. Using a 3D accelerated version of an engine used to train U.S. Army recruits, the newest Delta Force sequel takes the formula of its predecessors through a refinement process that ends only when you complete your missions — or die trying.

Land Warrior deviates slightly from past offerings by integrating a cohesive storyline that develops throughout the game. As you progress through the first few single-player missions, it appears that trouble is stirring in the Middle East. Arabs from several countries have banded together into a terrorist organization bent on undermining the activities of the United States. You will soon discover that the Arab group is only a drop of water in a bucket, as you face a much larger terrorist organization in a conflict of staggering proportions. This group of extremists, calling itself New Dawn, has an agenda regarding the U.S., and will not rest until every man, woman and child exists in a perpetual state of suffering. Needless to say, you are going to need some of the toughest grunts the U.S. military has ever produced to safeguard liberty for the unsuspecting inhabitants of democracies around the world. Fortunately, NovaLogic has provided you with the kind of people who can get the job done.

In Land Warrior, you take up the mantle of a member of the covert Delta Force team, a cadre of U.S. military elite who are trained to step in where regular soldiers dare not tread. Delta Force does not, however, merely limit itself to covert military ops. Anything from drug interdiction to hostage rescue is fair game for these experts. As you assume command of the Delta Force team, you will need to know the various strengths and weaknesses of your members.

The Delta Force team consists of five individuals, each of whom has a special designation and a unique set of capabilities. The leader of the squad is codenamed Pitbull; he prefers to use assault rifles to eliminate his foes. Gas Can Harris is the demolitions expert of the team; he loves to play with incendiaries and is by far the most belligerent member of Delta Force. Erika “Mako” Swift, the aquatic expert, prefers the cold comfort of a river or lake to sneaking about on dry land, while a fourth member, Snakebite, sneaks up behind enemies and gives them an ear-to-ear smile with her combat knife. These two make up the team’s female component and are just as deadly as their male counterparts. Finally, the most heartless and foreboding member of Delta Force is Daniel Lonetree, codenamed Longbow. This guy is the sniper of the squad and can easily take out any target foolish enough to pop up from behind even the best of cover.