12-Aug-2002 The US answer to the SAS gets its first console game The US answer to the SAS gets its first console game
A real-life US Army Black Ops and commando-style fighting unit, Delta Force is shrouded in secrecy with a well-earned hard-as-nails reputation. Delta Force has already been a huge hit on PC and now its Urban Warfare division is sneaking past the guards and onto the PSone.
May the force be with you The movie-style intro sequence captures the horror of a Delta Force Colombian drugs bust that goes tragically up in smoke. You can almost hear the PSone creaking under the strain. Playing as lone wolf Delta Force operative John Carter, one of the few survivors from the failed Black Op, your adventure begins in Tijuana, Mexico, on the trail of a drugs baron. Soon the plot fans out to embrace a terrifying scenario involving terrorists and nukes.
Considering the graphical limitations of the PSone, Urban Warfare could never hope to aspire to the gorgeous looks of Medal Of Honor: Frontline or the tactical intricacies of PC Delta Force games. In terms of gameplay it's much closer to the Syphon Filter series.
Urban Warfare is tough, gritty and hard, just like the real-life Delta Force heroes. But while PSone owners may be happy, for a classy shooter, everyone else should opt for Frontline and Deus Ex on the PS2.
Maura Sutton
// Overview
Verdict
Making allowances for the graphical limitations of the PSone, this is a challenging and intelligent shooter.
The missions are well-paced, with a good mixture of very long and short. Usually you are outnumbered ten-to-one, so there's plenty of emphasis placed on stealth in order to gain a tactical advantage, although you'll also get plenty of chances to let rip with your impressive arsenal of weaponry.
After sneaking through a Swiss bank crawling with guards without the use of lethal firepower...
...you're plunged into the middle of a frantic stand-off against the terrorists, with bullets flying
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