The release of Delta Force from Team Jade marks the return of the franchise for the first time since 2009’s Delta Force Xtreme 2. This new entry in the long-dormant is making the return as a new free-to-play shooter, that looks to have the DNA of several popular first-person shooters. However, in a pool with super popular FPS titles, with fans who tend to not jump ship unless there’s a compelling reason to do so, does Delta Force have what it takes to attract an audience or will it be gone in a flashbang? Well, that’s the question I’ll be answering, after spending an considerable amount of time with the game.
Game Name: Delta Force
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and Mobile
Developer(s): Team Jade
Publisher(s): TiMi Studio Group
Release Date: December 5th 2024 (PC), coming to other platforms later
Delta Force combines several traditional game modes and one that is something you’d encounter while playing Destiny’s raids. While adding a level of realism often reserved for only the most hardcore simulation-based shooters. The game is currently in beta on PC, with a mobile version launching in January 2025. Right now, players can only access the multiplayer modes but a campaign is in development.
Let’s start with what I liked about the current offering of Delta Force. The operations mode, and more specifically the raids, which in my opinion, are a lot of fun.
Operations mode on the service is an extraction mode, you and your team go into a map with whatever gear you bring with you. If you die and you lose the gear but extract successfully, you’ll at least bring back whatever you find. Different maps are unlocked based on player level which is increased by playing and being successful. Throughout operations, you can find weapons, items for base upgrades, and things to sell. There are two currencies in Delta Force, one is in-game only and can be used to acquire better armour, weapons, and so on. The second currency can be purchased using real money, yes there are microtransactions. That being said, I must praise the team as from what I can see so far, this is not a pay-to-win game. Microtransactions only seem to be used for cosmetic items.
Raids, on the other hand, are simultaneously tougher and more forgiving which makes them great for playing with others; Multiple part special missions that have a cinematic flair. I’m yet to complete a raid but getting to the last stage of any raid results in a boss fight of sorts. One I played with my colleagues Scott and Keith, involved us needing to destroy a tank while also fighting off a a bunch of incoming NPCs that were non-stop. We unfortunately died, however, if you die in a raid you don’t lose any of the items you are carrying. I can’t wait to play more raids, it’s a shame that they are only accessible at specific times, like an in-game event.
If a multiplayer shooter isn’t for you but you enjoy a story campaign. Delta Force is set to get a single-player campaign called Black Hawk Down sometime in 2025. It’s inspired by Ridley Scott’s movie of the same name and 2003’s Delta Force: Black Hawk Down by NovaLogic. Sadly, this wasn’t accessible in the beta, so there’s nothing for me to report on here regarding this.
Yes, You Need to Bandage that Wound
I also have to mention the injury system, which looks to simulate real injuries requiring certain items to heal properly depending on how severe things get. These injuries will also have an impact on your ability to perform different actions. While this isn’t new, Delta Force handles it in a more forgiving and easily explainable way. In turn, the system is more fun in the moment-to-moment compared to more simulation-based shooters.
But it also encourages you to bring healing items with you, since if you get banged up in a mission, and don’t have anything to fix yourself up with, you’re pretty much screwed. Taking a rocket to the face or being shot at, does have consequences that will hamper your movement or worse.
Time will tell if players who are used to playing games that don’t punish you in this style of gameplay will like this or not.
Frustrations and Issues
The Warfare mode, on the other hand, is a mode that feels confused. Part Battlefield, part Hero-Shooter, and part Call Of Duty, that leaves us with more of a traditional first-person shooter multiplayer mode that lacks any sort of identity.
Delta Force takes inspiration from nearly every first-person shooter of the last decade. The problem is that this leaves an otherwise very solid game lacking a defined identity. Finding unique mechanics or ideas in the FPS genre is going to be hard given how many games are released in that style. Delta Force doesn’t need to do anything drastic as the foundation is there. They just need to decide what they want to be and concentrate on that, instead of trying to be all things for everyone.
Themed classes, such as medic and assault combined with the size of maps give on-the-ground gameplay more of a Battlefield feel which isn’t a bad thing on its own. Until you realise each role gets a few unique abilities or gadgets more like a Hero-Shooter. The result is a game where everyone plays as the same classes and doesn’t do their role justice.
The maps are also a bit of an issue for the most part, as they allowed for certain classes **sniper** to be abused, and spawn points sometimes can land you right in front of a sniper who’s been camping at the same place for the round. And when you try to sneak around objects that protect you, you’re told to get back onto the playing field. What? Why is the protecting just out of bounds? Or the chokepoint that’s smack in the middle of the map? There’s no flow here, and addressing those issues on some maps would go a long way.
There are vehicles such as helicopters and quad bikes to use. This adds to the experience in some maps but is useless in others, and it makes you wonder why those vehicles are even included. Vehicle handling has a similar feel to Call Of Duty Warzone, it’s not the best but does the job.
Speaking of being for everyone, as someone with a disability that has some impact on my ability to play using mouse and keyboard. I am disappointed by the lack of controller support currently, some people can’t use the mouse and keyboard at all. In 2024, I would expect controller support to be the bare minimum of built-in accessibility, especially in a shooter like this. This is not a slower-paced RTS game where you can click one button at a time. Shooters require a level of dexterity and reaction speed that some people can not have on mouse and keyboard. For many people who love shooters, Delta Force is currently unplayable just due to this.
The Future
While it may seem like I’m being overall negative about the future of Delta Force, I still feel that it has a promising future. They have laid the groundwork for an interesting competitor in the free-to-play FPS space. With continued support and a bit more of a focused approach, this game could be a major player. Right now, if you can play on Mouse and Keyboard it is definitely worth a shot. Being free-to-play means that you have nothing to lose if you decide to jump in and checking out the game.
I am excited to return to Delta Force in the future, not only to see what improvements they’ve made, but also to playthrough that Story Campaign.
