The first of the series which also should have been the last.
However, this game is marred with lots of problems in conjunction with it's strong points. For starters, the graphics. For the time they're actually good (especially dealing with such large maps), but a possible trade off of having the power to generate such maps. If you've read my other reviews and see my ratings, you should know that graphics are the last of my concern, but in this case it hinders the game. Why? The maps are huge, and enemies literally turn into a pixel in the distance.
To remedy this, just use a weapon with a scope. It helps a lot, but this basic fault makes have of the weapon load out useless. Granted, with practice you can hit said pixel without a scope while straining your eyes, however that statement said enough.
Another remedy to this is just get closer to the enemies. This leads to the next bad point: the AI is stupid and very inaccurate most of the time. While you can technically play this game "run-'n-gun" style, it is like flipping a coin, sometimes the enemy cannot hit you, and other times you die flat out. It isn't a matter of positioning, skill, timing, whatever, the AI sometimes is capable of success, but more often than not fails. These odds increase in favor of them shooting you the closer you are... most of the time.
Even from a distance, the enemy will start shooting at you, and will keep shooting even if you're no longer in view. Perhaps it is a means of simulating suppressive fire? I doubt that, simple because the enemy will shoot directly into a wall or tree stump for an extended period of time with a motivation of redecorating the walls (though there are no bullet hole marks), or trimming the plants.
Now combine the two previously stated problems: bad graphics and "what the hell is going on"-AI. You've got huge maps, lots of enemies (and depending on the mission, not all are visible on the map), you'll hear the sound of gun fire often, sometimes the ground being hit around you, but most often they're just shooting the hill that you're on the other side of.
This combination can be seen as both good and bad (somehow), because it does make you a little paranoid, but more often than not, there is no reason to be because 95% percent of those shots from the distance will miss as long as you move a little each time. And thus, the "tension" is broken, and though it is kind of a pain to have to go pixel hunting to get them, it isn't too difficult.
With that said, the shooting aspect isn't too bad as it is kinda fun having to lead and adjust the height for elevation, and shooting the same looking enemies over 40 missions... some of which use the same maps, with just a few minor details changed (a river with water in it now!).
The missions are "varied" but all play the same. Kill all enemies in a base, kill all enemies except the general, kill all enemies and take a intelligence item, kill all the enemies including the general and then take the intelligence item, kill all enemies and rescue the hostages, pick up the black box from a crashed plane, shoot the convoy, and shoot the helicopters. And while it can get tiring, if you really think about it, that's how all games are. Though the last mission is the best, with it's "going prone" enemies, and hanger clearing, it is a shame that you need to play through 30ish boring missions (with a few memorable ones in between)
Delta Force isn't a terrible game, far from it, simply because of the lack of restriction in movement (though, unfortunately a stealth approach is a waste of time and impossible). Walking a kilometer to a vantage point taking out sentries, then going to the other side of the base and doing the same is kinda fun, but makes the game a little too easy. It also makes your team mates (Alpha and Charlie squads) mostly useless (more so than they already are). This is because most of the time, if you deviate from your path (it is nice that you can at least), you most often won't set off any triggers that will make you team mates leave their insertion points, leaving you to to everything yourself, but...
That is the case anyway, you (Bravo team) do pretty much everything anyway, for not only is the AI for your team also really dumb, the radio insists that you do all the work while Alpha and Charlie "provide over watch." This translates to occasionally killing a few enemies, and distracting them from shooting at you (sometimes). Like the enemies, they shoot a lot, but hit not very often (but slightly more than the enemy) so battles between AI can be extended because both parties miss quite a bit.
Dumb AI, graphics that hinder you ability to see distant targets, and somewhat generic mission types. Offset by somewhat enjoyable shooting mechanics and for at least trying to be different among a pack of the "same shooter with a different title" template, but in the end the game begins to resemble whack-a-mole (but don't a lot of shooters feel like this anyway?).