The third entry in the Delta Force series. Slightly better graphics, the same brain-dead AI… but occasionally lightning-fast reflexes.
I’ve always loved the Delta Force games. I’ve been playing DF1 and DF2 since their release, and they’re still in my regular rotation today. Delta Force 1 was actually one of the first online multiplayer games I ever played. I even joined a few NovaLogic and private tournaments on my trusty 56k dial-up modem.
Let’s get something straight: Delta Force 1, 2, and Land Warrior are far from perfect. They’re linear, the AI swings between incredibly stupid and ridiculously accurate with no middle ground, and the missions often feel repetitive. But somehow, it’s all still incredibly satisfying. You can die after just one or two hits, which adds real tension. The open-field environments were a huge deal at the time, unlike most corridor shooters of that era, Delta Force let you approach objectives from different angles and plan your attacks your own way. And in multiplayer? That’s where the series really shines.
Land Warrior doesn’t reinvent the formula. It’s mostly the same as the earlier games, just with proper 3D graphics by default. (Delta Force 2 technically had 3D support too, but I don’t think I ever got it working right.) Later missions ramp up the difficulty, throwing in double the number of enemies and forcing you to think more tactically.
Overall, I’d say Land Warrior is a solid game. Even if you stripped away the menus and branding, I’d still recognize it instantly as a Delta Force title. It has its flaws, and always did but that’s part of its charm. The Delta Force series has a very specific soul. You either love it or you don’t.
____________________________________________________________________________
Hardware:
Compaq Garcia
Intel Pentium III 1000Mhz
256MB SDRAM
NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX400 32MB
Creative Sound Live!
40GB HDD (IDE)
