The term “first-person shooter” can cover a wide range of experiences. From the spine-tingling horror of games like F.E.A.R. to the futuristic escapades of Metroid Prime, and the demon-slaying madness of Doom, there’s something for everyone. Even when focusing on “military FPS,” the term still encompasses a lot. For instance, it includes the linear storylines of Call of Duty, the massive player-versus-player battles of Battlefield, and the nerve-racking extractions in Escape from Tarkov. Then there’s Delta Force, the latest chapter in a shooter series that’s been around for 26 years. It seems to borrow a little from each of these: massive PvP battles, an extraction shooter mode, and a campaign that’s yet to be released. It feels like the meeting point of a very intriguing Venn diagram. While it’s too early to deliver a concrete review, my first sessions before launch have piqued my curiosity. I can’t wait to jump back into action on the live servers this week.
With this release being labeled as an ongoing “open beta” for a free-to-play game, which in reality implies it’s essentially launched, only two out of the three major modes are accessible now. The campaign is set to be a paid expansion someday. Currently, the Warfare mode shines as Delta Force’s response to Battlefield-style big team combat. Here, 64 players clash in sprawling arenas, vying for dominance. During early access, I mainly experienced the Attack and Defend mode within Warfare, though it seems King of the Hill and other time-limited options will join the fray at launch.
In Attack and Defend, one team is on offense, tasked with capturing strategic zones before their respawns run dry, while the defending team holds these points with unlimited lives. If the attackers succeed, they replenish their respawns, tackling a new map section until either all zones are captured or the defenders halt them. It’s a smart arrangement—initially, the attackers hold the upper hand thanks to favorable terrain and ample vehicles, but balance out as the defenders retreat closer to their base. This ensures each team plays both the aggressor and the defender during the match.
The battles certainly carry an epic feel, which is exactly what you’d hope for. Quick respawns ensure the battlefield remains densely packed with soldiers. As bullets and rockets begin flying, the ensuing chaos and confusion on the ground are electrifying. It’s especially thrilling when you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle, causing havoc on the opposing team. Tanks equipped with full gun crews can dominate, but don’t underestimate the effect of a simple machine gun turret on an armored car.
While the abilities each character has can provide a competitive edge, they’re not so overpowering as to single-handedly win fights.
When I’ve been on the receiving end of a fierce tank assault, I’ve never felt completely powerless, thanks to the variety of operatives you can switch to mid-game. These characters blend a basic loadout choice with a more unique hero role, which suits Delta Force’s all-around approach. Overrun by vehicles? Consider deploying with a rocket launcher. Is it open terrain? Perhaps the dependable sniper rifle is in order. Each operative boasts unique abilities that aid in battle, like Luna’s Detection Arrows that expose enemies temporarily. However, these powers aren’t potent enough to decide a battle or a match on their own.
However, I can’t help but wish the gunplay felt more satisfying. The bullet physics require frequent leading of targets, factoring in bullet arc and trajectory for accuracy over long distances. Combined with a fast time-to-kill, this brings a bit of a military simulation like Arma vibe to the gunfights. That’s perfectly fine on its own but feels slightly out of sync with the brisk pace of Attack and Defend mode. Slow-moving bullets under the sway of gravity, capable of instant kills, feel too much like airsoft for a high-stakes battle over crucial chokepoints.
On the flip side, Operations mode sticks to the familiar extraction shooter premise. You, alongside up to two friends, form a three-person team to infiltrate areas, engage in combat, gather loot, and then make an escape. What you bring back to base can be sold, stored, or used in upcoming attempts, but if you perish or don’t make it out in time, it’s lost. Though Delta Force doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, the quality of the experience more than compensates.
Each environment features an open sandbox teeming with potential missions. Maps clearly mark interest points, such as bounty targets, safes to pillage, and data to decrypt. While this might seem trivial, in a genre where games like Escape from Tarkov often thrive on being opaque, presenting crucial information upfront offers a refreshing twist. I appreciate simply placing a waypoint and knowing what’s ahead without memorizing the entire map.
The mix of foes keeps you on your toes. I’ve watched as my squad tackled groups of riflemen, avoided sniper fire by darting into cover, and adjusted on the fly to outmaneuver shields. One standout moment saw my team pinned by a colossal armored enemy mowing us down with a minigun until we retaliated with grenades from our cover. Another time, we experienced a jump scare when a massive alligator suddenly charged at us while we cracked a safe.
Despite enjoying the enemy diversity, my concerns with the Operations mode focus on its loot system. Across the environment are containers like filing cabinets, coat pockets, or fallen opponents, but after a few sessions, I’ve largely stopped checking them, knowing the prime loot spots. I hope the maps don’t end up feeling too predictable too soon, but they’re already beginning to lose their dynamic edge with each run.
Much of the downtime occurs at the Black Site, acting as your command hub. Here, you buy, sell, and upgrade, particularly in terms of stash space. It’s also where you configure loadouts with ease, enabling quick returns to battle and lessening the sting of failed extractions. You can save several load-out options and with a few clicks, rebuild them using items from your inventory or automatically acquire them from the store.
At the end of the day, these are just first impressions. Grasping the depth of a PvP mode like Warfare takes time, and Operations still have areas I haven’t delved into. Therefore, I’ll reserve my full opinion until I’ve experienced the live servers. Still, the initial stages of the extraction mode are enjoyable, and I appreciate the grand scale of Delta Force’s PvP clashes even if I’m not entirely convinced this style of gunplay fits this action. It’s clear that Delta Force is a solid free-to-play shooter catering to varied FPS tastes. The real question is whether it will maintain its appeal after the initial excitement subsides.
