As a battle-hardened veteran of countless late-night gaming sessions spent immersed in the trenches of Battlefield 3 and 4, I must say that Delta Force: Hawk Ops has stirred a sense of nostalgia in me that’s been dormant for far too long. The adrenaline-pumping combat, the satisfying recoil, the readable tracers – it all harkens back to those halcyon days of tactical FPS glory.
It’s clear that the Battlefield series isn’t as great as it used to be in its heyday, with games like Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3. The talented creators who made those classics have mostly moved on to other teams or initiatives, such as Embark’s THE FINALS project.
The Entertainment Arts (EA) continues to maintain the game series, indicating it’s not completely done yet. However, an earnings call suggests that its past glory has diminished, and there seems to be a void in the market for first-person shooter games focusing on team-based, intense warfare. While our Editor-in-Chief remains among its dedicated fans, it’s clear that the series has seen better days.
Try out “Delta Force: Hawk Ops,” a revival of a shooter game from the early 2000s, which came before both Battlefield and Call of Duty. This updated version is brought to you by Team Jade and TiMi Studio Group (a Tencent subsidiary). The closed alpha testing phase has begun for this title, and despite its resemblance to the DICE franchise, it could be the most authentic Battlefield-like game we’ve seen in more than a decade.
What’s mine is yours
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but acknowledge the significant influence that Battlefield has had on Hawk Ops. If I’m truthful, the similarities are quite striking – so much so that, at a glance, you might even mistake the user interface of Hawk Ops for that of Battlefield.
In Havoc Warfare, as a thrilled participant, I find myself engaged in an intense battle between two teams. Our objective is to either assault or protect designated points scattered across the map. To capture these points, we need our soldiers positioned within a specific capture zone.
As a long-time Battlefield player with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the new Carbon Copy mode in Battlefield 2042 is truly reminiscent of classic gameplay styles, especially Rush which has been a staple of the series for a long time. The fact that it retains the same team composition – two teams of 32 players – adds to its nostalgic appeal. What sets Carbon Copy apart, however, is the sheer scale and complexity of the maps on which it is played. These expansive battlefields are not just vast in size but also feature verticality, intricate terrain, and even destructible buildings. This level of detail brings a new dimension to the gameplay, making each match feel epic and immersive. Overall, I’m excited to see how this mode evolves over time and how it will shape my gaming experience in Battlefield 2042.
Introduce an array of military vehicles such as tanks, LAVs (Light Armored Vehicles), and helicopters armed with air-to-ground missiles, and the scenario suddenly resembles a battlefield straight out of the Battlefield video game series. Interestingly, this storyline is also set in the year 2035, just seven years before 2042, and it incorporates technology that is not too far removed from what we have today.
Delta Force’s Operators also have their distinct counterparts in the game Hawk Ops. Unlike conventional soldier classes, this game offers various character options, each with special skills. For instance, one assault-oriented character increases his speed by pumping up adrenaline. Another support character brings a healing gun that can automatically lock onto teammates and mend them from a distance. A recon character equips a combat bow with sonar arrows, ideal for marking enemies for your team.
Anything you can do, I can do better
As a dedicated Battlefield fan, I must admit my excitement when I first witnessed Team Jade’s work. Although it appears they’ve taken significant inspiration from our beloved franchise, I can’t help but feel that this won’t dampen the enthusiasm among us fans – except perhaps in the EA boardrooms.
If you consider the shooting scenes, they seem to blend elements of Call of Duty and Battlefield. They have a solid yet slightly arcade-like feel, and defeating opponents gives an immensely rewarding sensation. A subtle visual kickback enhances realism, while clear tracer lines indicate where each bullet is hitting, making the combat both realistic and easy to follow.
Let me also praise the map designs; they’re simply stunning, reminiscent of the legendary maps from the golden age of Battlefield in the closed beta. My preferred one is where attackers invade a D-Day style beach and push inland to seize an outpost by advancing up the coastline.
Moving further back, we ultimately set up camp within an indoor base tucked inside a colossal mountain, introducing a high degree of vertical play to the gameplay. This location also presents several bottlenecks similar to Operation Metro and Operation Locker. While excessive explosions can be irritating at times, numerous routes for flanking ensure the combat remains orderly rather than chaotic.
In my gaming escapades with Delta Force: Hawk Ops, I’ve often been transported back to my youth, reliving countless hours engrossed in Battlefield 3 and 4. This game offers a striking resemblance in loadout options, and the map layout encourages daring flanking moves that seem almost supernatural when successfully executed. It’s thrilling to know that our team is progressing, thanks to the strategic decisions made by my squad during gameplay.
Halfway there
If you’re craving a game similar to Battlefield, Delta Force: Hawk Ops might be something you’d want to check out. Yet, there are certain aspects where it falls short compared to other games in its genre.
As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of online gaming, I must admit that I remain skeptical about this latest trend, known as the ‘Operator’ movement. While I acknowledge its purpose as a means to introduce fresh seasonal content and perhaps even generate revenue through cosmetic skins, my experience tells me that it falls short when it comes to gameplay synergy compared to a well-crafted, balanced class system.
As it stands, most of the Operators are one-man bands, perfectly capable of functioning as lone-wolf players. This leads to squads rarely operating as a single unit – because they simply don’t need to. I think the gameplay would be far more satisfying if we went back to basics and had an Assault player to deal the bulk of the damage, a Support player to provide the Ammo, a Recon player to provide intel, and a Support to keep everyone alive. Having the option to request ammo and health from players, like Battlefield Hardline had, would also go a long way here.
In terms of sound design, Delta Force seems to lack the necessary depth at the moment. The gunfire doesn’t have the impact it ought to, and the war environment doesn’t fully envelop you, making it feel less authentic. This might be an unfair comparison considering DICE’s exceptional work in the audio field, but when put side by side, Battlefield clearly outshines Delta Force in this aspect.
Beyond this aspect, there are minor elements characteristic of being an established FPS studio, which seem reminiscent of early Call of Duty days. For instance, during gameplay, you can’t alter your loadouts dynamically; instead, you switch between preset configurations. Moreover, the in-game chat automatically shuts off immediately after a match concludes, eliminating opportunities for post-match greetings like “GGs”, which previously fostered camaraderie among Battlefield players.
Absolutely, the project called Delta Force is at the alpha phase as of now and won’t be fully released until 2025. This gives Team Jade ample opportunity to incorporate many of these planned features in the final version before launch.
As a long-time gamer with a penchant for tactical shooters, I find myself quite intrigued by the upcoming release of Delta Force: Hawk Ops. Given my extensive background in the gaming world and my personal preference for games like Battlefield, this free-to-play title seems like a goldmine of content at no cost. The multiplayer mode, extraction shooter, and single-player campaign inspired by Black Hawk Down all sound incredibly appealing.
If, just like you, I’ve missed the good old days of Battlefield and felt disappointed by its recent developments, then I strongly recommend trying out Delta Force. It may not be flawless, but it undeniably brings us closest to re-experiencing the nostalgic thrills of my all-time favorite game from childhood.
EA? Your move.
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2024-08-09 18:13