Delta Force Black Hawk Down Review - PC Game Reviews

Delta Force: Black Hawk Down Review

For those who missed the movie, here’s a brief intro to the events in the game. In early 1993, the U.S. sent troops to Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope, to save the country from famine and civil war. The greatest threat to the mission was Mohammed Aidid, the leader of the largest Somali militia group.

On October 3rd, 1993, Task Force Ranger launched a mission to capture several of Aidid's top men in Mogadishu. At the end of the mission, the U.S. had lost two Black Hawk helicopters, 18 soldiers had been killed and 84 others were wounded. The game’s first ten levels are set in the months leading up to this mission with the next five levels actually dealing with the events of October 3rd. There is also a bonus mission in which you can try to kill Mohammed Aidid.


During the game, you get to play as a number of different soldiers. In the first few levels you work with the 10th Mountain Division, defending supplies and escorting UN convoys during Operation Restore Hope. You eventually move on to Task Force Ranger before ending the game serving with Delta Force. Missions vary from destroying a bridge, to protecting a convoy or capturing enemy leaders. There are even missions where you get to man the machine gun in a Humvee or Black Hawk chopper. You often receive fresh orders during a mission, you might be about to finish your objective only to be told that you are needed elsewhere. Thankfully, you are provide with a GPS compass that directs you to your next objective and even shows you the position of enemy fire. It’s important not to kill civilians as this can end your mission. Enemies include armoured jeeps, militia with guns and even soldiers with mobile rocket launchers that can kill you with one well placed rocket. This can get frustrating as the game only allows you limited saves.


The levels of DF-BHD are beautifully rendered and true to life as the developers have taken great pains to ensure realism. You feel as though you are really fighting for your life on the streets of Somalia. Buildings are broken down or damaged by fire, rubbish and burnt out cars are everywhere, and the towns are a maze of huts and small houses. A modified version of the Comanche 4 graphics engine has been used and this ensures great smoke and fire effects, coupled with amazing reflective water.


Unfortunately the game is a little difficult in places. Health and ammo boxes are limited, you are greatly outnumbered and your allies seem to be completely brain dead. Any mission objectives have to be completed by you alone as these idiots can barely protect themselves, let alone watch your back. Thankfully, this rarely becomes frustrating and actually adds to the tension in the game.
After you’re done playing alone you can log on to Novaworld and team up with three friends to complete the single player missions in co-operative mode. There are also the usual deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag and king of the hill modes. As in the single player mission, vehicles are available, though you cannot control them.
All in all, this is a competent effort by Novalogic which has captured the tension and atmosphere of the admirably. If you loved the movie, buy this game.

HIGHS: Great Graphics, Fast-Paced Action.
LOWS: High System Requirements, Poor A.I.
NUTSHELL: Recommended