Delta Force: Hawk Ops Could Shake Up the FPS Landscape

The modern military shooter scene is in a state of flux. Battlefield is still recovering from the disastrous launch of Battlefield 2042, while Call of Duty, despite the success of Warzone, struggles to find its footing with its mainline series. This turmoil has opened the door for new contenders, and Delta Force: Hawk Ops could be the game to truly shake things up.

This free-to-play shooter, based on the iconic series that predates both Battlefield and Call of Duty, is currently undergoing a month-long Alpha testing phase, offering players a glimpse into two of its three planned game modes.

Havoc Warfare, the first mode, draws heavily from the Battlefield formula, offering a large-scale attack and defence experience similar to Rush mode. Attackers must capture a series of objectives, while defenders attempt to hold them back, relying on a pool of lives to push through the opposing team.

The gameplay mirrors Battlefield in many ways, featuring Operators with roles similar to Assault, Support, Medic, and Recon classes, and a focus on squad-based play with mobile spawn points. Players can also utilise a diverse array of vehicles, including tanks, APCs, and helicopters, making for spectacular and chaotic combat.

While not entirely original, Havoc Warfare excels in its execution. The player movement feels fluid and responsive, the familiar arsenal of weapons is satisfying to use, and the gameplay boasts a clear focus on player-driven action, with explosions and vehicle mayhem constantly unfolding across the map.

Hawk Ops also introduces a twist on the familiar Battlefield formula with its class system, offering more depth and strategic options compared to its predecessor. The Recon class, for example, can be played as a traditional sniper but also utilises a bow and arrow to tag enemies, providing valuable information and facilitating faster reinforcements for the team.

The map design also stands out, particularly the Ascension map, which offers a unique and memorable experience. Players fight over a mountaintop fortress on a volcanic island, engaging in intense firefights as they navigate rocky landscapes, interior spaces, and coastal defences.

Tactical Turmoil, the second mode, takes a different approach, drawing inspiration from extraction shooters like Hunt: Showdown and Escape from Tarkov. Players, solo or in squads of up to three, infiltrate a large, open map, gathering loot and attempting to extract at designated points before the timer expires. Death results in an instant game over, and players lose all their gathered loot, adding a heightened sense of tension and risk to the gameplay.

This mode places a greater emphasis on teamwork and tactical awareness, rewarding careful movement, communication, and situational awareness. The AI enemies, while present, are less numerous and more strategically deployed, creating a less chaotic environment than Havoc Warfare. Sound plays a crucial role, with footsteps and gunfire audible from a distance, adding to the tension and creating opportunities for strategic deception.

While Tactical Turmoil offers a unique and compelling experience, the inclusion of the class system from Havoc Warfare feels a bit incongruous, adding a layer of complexity that clashes with the mode's aspirations towards authenticity. The presence of class-specific abilities in an extraction shooter setting feels somewhat extraneous.

Despite this minor critique, Hawk Ops' Alpha offers a promising glimpse into a potentially game-changing experience. With its combination of familiar, yet well-executed large-scale combat and innovative extraction gameplay, it has the potential to capture the attention of gamers seeking a fresh take on the military shooter genre.

The addition of a full single-player campaign, set during the Black Hawk Down incident, further strengthens its appeal. If Hawk Ops delivers on its promise of a compelling single-player experience, alongside its engaging multiplayer offerings, it could very well become a serious contender for the throne currently occupied by Battlefield and Call of Duty.