As a long-time fan of the Delta Force franchise, which was originally developed by NovaLogic, I must admit that I'm approaching the news of a new installment with some skepticism. The announcement that Tencent's new team is reviving the series, now titled Delta Force: Hawk Ops, raises questions about its ability to stand out in today's crowded market, dominated by giants like Call of Duty and Battlefield. Can it really hold its own?
Tracing the Journey from NovaLogic’s Niche Gem to Tencent’s Revival
Before diving into Delta Force: Hawk Ops itself, a bit of context is essential to understand my hesitation. Delta Force was first launched by NovaLogic back in 1998, a developer with a history stretching back to 1985. However, its debut year was particularly challenging, with competition from titles like Rainbow Six and the release of blockbuster games such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, StarCraft, Half-Life, and Xenogears.
Despite releasing nine games between 1998 and 2009, Delta Force remained a niche series in the West, overshadowed by the rise of franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield, which captivated larger audiences by pushing the boundaries of what was possible in gaming at the time. Interestingly, while the series remained niche in the West, it was a major success in Chinese internet cafes. This makes it less surprising that when NovaLogic shut its doors in 2016, and THQ Nordic acquired its assets, the Delta Force IP eventually found its way to Chinese mega-corp Tencent. But I digress—how does Delta Force: Hawk Ops actually play? Quite well, in fact.
Battlefield Fans Will Feel Right at Home
If you're familiar with the Battlefield series, you'll find yourself right at home in Delta Force: Hawk Ops, at least from the perspective of the Alpha. The game currently offers two modes: Havoc Warfare, an attack/defend scenario reminiscent of Battlefield's Rush mode, and Hazard Operations, a mode similar to DMZ/Tarkov. I spent most of my time in Havoc Warfare, where two teams clash in a series of objective-based battles, with the fight moving deeper into the map as objectives are captured.
In terms of map design, I generally enjoyed the two available maps. They're visually appealing, spacious, and have some strong elements. However, they could use some adjustments. The maps attempt a traditional three-lane design similar to Call of Duty, but on a much larger scale. While this concept is sound in theory, its execution could be better. After several days of playing Delta Force: Hawk Ops, I can't help but feel that the built-in bottlenecks give the defending team such an advantage that it becomes nearly impossible for the attackers to win. The restricted play areas heavily favor defenders, and this is an aspect I hope the developers revisit.
Both teams have access to a limited selection of vehicles—sometimes Tanks, LAVs, Assault Vehicles, and Attack Helicopters—though on a much smaller scale than in Battlefield. In the Alpha, each team typically has one Tank or LAV, an assault vehicle, and perhaps a few four-wheelers, with different vehicles available on each map. Vehicular gameplay is, therefore, a smaller aspect of Delta Force: Hawk Ops compared to traditional Battlefield titles. Introducing too many vehicles would lead to chaos due to confined play areas.
A Convoluted Mix of Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Battlefield
Delta Force: Hawk Ops features a roster of operators, each with a limited selection of weapons and unique abilities. These operators blend influences from Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and traditional Battlefield classes. While the idea of unique operators is interesting, it currently feels somewhat convoluted. Personally, I prefer a more straightforward experience rather than having to master various operators with different abilities. The game's appeal so far caters primarily to Battlefield fans, and if Battlebit Remastered has taught us anything, it's that simplicity often trumps complexity.
Some of the operators' abilities are well-designed, while others seem oddly placed. For example, the medic has a healing gun that shoots darts to heal allies over time but it doesn’t allow for reviving fallen teammates. You must remain stationary for the healing effect to work effectively, making it more useful for self-healing rather than aiding teammates. While it offers the convenience of simultaneously having a healing and ammo box, this may not be necessary with multiple medics on a team.
Take Hackclaw, one of the two sniper operators. Her ability, Signal Decoder, detects nearby enemy signals and vaguely points you toward them, but it’s challenging to use effectively without risking exposure due to the screen effect. She also has a flash drone that blinds enemies and a throwable knife with uncertain additional effects. Despite these abilities, her role seems misaligned; she’s labeled as a sniper class, but her skills and equipment—such as a flash drone and a knife—are more suited to an assault role than recon. Although you can equip an assault rifle, the selection is limited since her primary weapons are sniper rifles and DMRs. This contradiction raises questions about the design choices and how they align with the intended class roles.
Smooth Mechanics, Balanced Gunplay, and Sniper Rifles That Need Work
Delta for Hawk Ops Alpha delivers a fast-paced, action-packed gameplay experience with smooth mechanics and balanced gunplay. The player movement is fluid, without the clunkiness that can detract from the experience.
In this regard, Delta Force: Hawk Ops feels less like an Alpha and more like a polished, finished product. Gunplay strikes a nice balance, blending the best elements of Call of Duty and Battlefield. The time-to-kill (TTK) feels adequate, although it could use some fine-tuning, possibly due to netcode issues; I noticed the TTK felt much faster on the first day of the Alpha compared to later days, which might be due to developer adjustments.
Recoil is manageable, and the ability to customize your weapon to adjust various stats to suit your playstyle is a nice touch. Personally, I focused on control as my primary stat, which, according to the in-game icons, reduces vertical recoil—and so far, it’s working out great for me.
Sniper rifles, while serviceable, could be better. Headshots are one-hit kills, but the weapons themselves feel somewhat underpowered. This is partly due to the recoil and sound effects, which make them feel lighter and less impactful than one might expect from a sniper rifle. Though they don’t deliver one-hit kills with body shots, they still feel too light, with minimal recoil and a lack of the fierce sound one typically associates with snipers. However, the ballistics are reminiscent of Battlefield 3 and 4, providing consistency and satisfaction when you land those long-range headshots.
Overall, Delta Force: Hawk Ops delivers a very Battlefield-like experience, evoking memories of Battlefield 3. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Alpha and have high hopes for the game moving forward. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised.
