Not only does DF:BHD spin a compelling narrative around the events of ten years ago (this stuff really happened) but it is also the latest update in a (now) long running series of Delta Force games. Our review of the last Delta Force release was far from favorable - let's be honest, that game was complete and total crap. Fortunately (and let's get this out of the way early), this one is not.

The general gist of the game will be familiar to all but the FPS (first person shooter) newbie. You are presented with a first person view, as seen by the random soldier that you control. You will participate in a series of missions (in this case, set in Somalia during the 1993 conflict) during which you will manipulate a series of real-life weapons against a series of "bad guys" as you attempt to complete your various missions and save the world. It's all good - neat real-life scenarios that change as you participate in them, presented via a simple yet very effective interface. The various civilians that mill around asking for help really contribute to the "we are here, saving the day" feel that the game strives to present. It's very slick in this regard.

As you can imagine, US forces hardly ran off by themselves in the real conflict. They had teams of people to tackle each mission - this is well represented here. Most missions start with you as part of a column or in support to a team, often mounted on a Hum-Vee in the gunner's position. This part of the gameplay basically requires you to locate and blast apart any enemies you might face, as the actual driving of the vehicle is handled by the AI. Pay attention though, there are plenty of bad guys and most of them have the ability to turn your day into a bad one. Stay sharp, shoot first.

Once you disembark from the standard level-entry vehicle, you will be part of a ground-force team - made up of a good assortment of different types of troopers. They react to how you play, so keeping them alive is largely down to you - charge ahead without clearing a room, for example, and you may not leave that room with the squad you entered it with. This is particularly imperative, because the AI is (mostly) pretty awful. It really is quite impressive how consistently bad the AI in the DF games is - it seems likely that after so many iterations of the game that they would have accidentally stumbled across some decent AI routines. This game is proof positive that this is simply not the case. Expect to see your squad mates standing side by side with the bad guys - neither noticing (or caring about) the other. It doesn't happen super often (thanks to clever design that sees levels played out in such a way that the enemy don't really get that close to you) but when it does, it really rips apart (and then stomps on) any realism previously instilled by other parts of the game.

The weapons you have at your disposal are perhaps the coolest feeling weapons yet seen in a game. The models of them are fine, no real beef with them, but the way they feel (largely, no doubt, thanks to the excellent sound) is insanely powerful. You really do feel like you are firing a very powerful weapon at the legions of bad guys. The bullet impacts kick up dirt in huge spurts, the guns kick up your aiming reticle and all the while, sound thunders through your speakers. Just simply awesome. Blindingly good fun. Six thumbs up here.

Interestingly, as you navigate the various levels, you will occasionally stumble across health and ammo packs. Typically seen in a more action-focused shooter, they are a surprise addition to a title (and series) that tends to focus on realism. Let's face it, you'd hardly expect a wounded soldier to stumble across a first aid kit and suddenly feel a lot better out the the real battlefield, now would you? That said, they are definitely a welcome addition - the game is far from easy and you are restricted to the number of saves available.

Multi-player is excellent. The combination of vast (seeminingly endless) outdoor environments, buildings scattered around, cool weapons and vehicles makes for some fantastic multiplayer action. The more the merrier - if you have access to a LAN that can handle (and attract) a decent number of people (8+ for maximum enjoyment), this game is hard to beat. Its mix of realism and classic multiplayer gaming (deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag etc) makes for a real blast - especially if you are all in the same room. Top-notch stuff that will boost the enjoyment at any LAN - no matter how much fun you were having to begin with.

Graphically, it's a mixed bag. Clumsy animations and (largely) low resolution textures on a vast (seemingly infinite) and highly detailed world make for an unusual mix. It's mostly pretty good, always obvious that the developer comes from a "flight Sim" background and occasionally brilliant - just not consistent. Not stunning but certainly good enough.

The sound, however, is awesome. It's not over the top (there's no sound "for the sake of sound", so to speak) but when it's there, it's very impressive. The thump of the guns, the explosions, the sound of a chopper burning overhead to take out a target - this is all very, very good stuff. It adds to the atmosphere in a way that makes you think "Oh my - the sound in that game was amazing!!!" like very few titles before it. Spectacular.

So, at the end of the day - what have we got here? A title with pretty good atmospherics, average graphics, dreadful AI and amazing sound. It doesn't sound compelling when broken down like that, but if you can handle occassionally wanting to throttle the AI, you'll enjoy it. The scripted events (a helicopter swooping over your column as it blasts a hidden enemy position and saves your bacon needs to be seen - and heard - to be believed), the fantastic feel to the guns and the really cool mix of gameplay seen in the levels really is worth putting up with mediocre (at best) AI.