Delta Force has always been considered a "light" tactical shooter. Though it had realistic elements, it was never on a par with the likes of Rainbow 6, Swat 4 or Ghost Recon. It walked the line because tactical and action.
Black Hawk down retains elements of the original, weapon load-outs, 1-3 hit kills, lean/crouch/prone, multiple stage objectives and large outdoor levels. Where it differs, is in an increased intensity, a conscious attempt to pump up the action. Whereas in the originals you would pick off enemies at a distance, here it is largely close quarter combat with an increased enemy count and tighter, linear scripting with added arcade elements in the form of health and ammo pickup's.
Comparative to what became the standard - Call Of Duty, it still offers a larger amount of freedom. There are no chest high walls tightly funneling the player, no scripted sequences constantly removing control and no glowing objects obnoxiously directing the player. Though linear, with on-the-rails shooting sections, it still affords the player enough of a sandbox to make combat interesting, while remaining focused. It's a better implementation of a now redundant formula Call Of Duty so succefully popularized.
Where the game stumbles is in it's implementation of difficulty. A dichotomy forms between it's realistic intentions and frantic arcade aspirations. The player is barraged with hundreds of enemies to shoot per a level, yet the die almost instantly. This leads to frustrating deaths thanks to a obtuse, bizarre save system.
Instead of simply hitting an F5 key to save, the player is limited dependent on difficulty. Even on easy, the level length and difficulty isn't consistent, ending in multiple instantaneous deaths both at close range and at a distance requiring reload after reload. Arguably this intensifies the game-play by removing save-scumming to skip through via trail and error, but it also creates frustration that potentially puts those without a strong disposition for tolerence off the game completely. I'd recommend playing on easy, if only for the extra save slots.
Visually the pc version had aged reasonably considering it's age. The steam version however, as is the case with many games, is simply games with no thought of facilitating for the buyer. In my case, changing the graphical settings, at all, means an entire reinstall. The resolution without user made patches means no wide screen. Multilayer is also dead thanks to the insidious NovaWorld. It's a pity, the game is renowned for it's multiplayer, taking no effort to adapt to steam more than smacks of laziness, marring an otherwise excellent game.
Sounds is acceptable though not as good as it could have been, typical rock and roll booming to signify you are the good guy kicking butt coupled with melodic Middle Easten themes to signify this is a bad troubled land. Voice acting largely consists of military jargon being spouted than any attempts character development, depending on your point of view, this is a good thing. The environmental effects do a good job of lighting up passive sequences with eruptions of firefights without ever reaching the obnoxious levels of Call Of Duty - your ear drums are safe.
The game on a whole rather than a cohesive plot is segmented into selectable missions acting as bite sized experiences typical 10-20 minutes long. Whether you enjoy this is subjective, for myself, aside from Brothers In Arms, I've never found them effective enough to care, it's only ever bogged down the game-play with unwanted narrative. Black Hawk down cuts to the core of the game immediately allowing for bite sized sessions without feeling obligated to consume the entire package.
AI is hit and miss, sometimes the enemy can one hit kill the player from half a mile away, other cases multiple enemies will stand in front of the player looking blankly into space. Vital spots are non existent, vaguely hitting in the direction of an enemy is an instanous kill. Flashbangs can be useful in mitigating the hoards of enemies piled upon the player and sniping rather than close range weapons are preferable, it does the job, but is spotty at best.
Your own team mates have commands but rather than the substance of Rainbow 6, it's novelty. Useless. The friendly AI operates on it's own, occasionally being helpful without the need for player input.
The weapons lack the realistic oomph of something like Arma and he arcade slickness of Call Of Duty, sitting somewhere in-between the two, they are never satisfying as they should be. Again, they do the job.
Mission structure itself is extremely good. The perfect balance between freedom and linearity. Jumping from an on the rails section, immediately to a maze of city streets, always in a changing state to keep the game engaging. It's well thought out and execution puts Call Of Duty's iron-grip handholding to shame.
Overall, coming back to this I liked this game more than expected, given the bombardment of military shooters through the years I expected to drudge through it, instead I found an engaging experience with just the right amount freedom to stop monotony setting in. It's drop in drop out style of design is great for short gaming sessions. If you can tolerate it's flaws both within the game itself and it's lackluster treatment as a sold product, you'll find a rewarding and surprisingly fun experience, even if you are sick of military shooters.
The expansions are a mixed bag, very rough compared to the main game, wouldn't recommend playing them. Likewise multiplayer is dead. Still worth a pick up when it's on a steam sale for the single player.
