In 1993, a military operation was conducted in Mogadishu, Somalia with the goal of capturing two lieutenants of warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Known as Operation Gothic Serpent, it became a rescue mission after two Black Hawk helicopters went down, trapping their passengers behind enemy lines. What ensued was a bloody, intense firefight that ultimately sent reverberations beyond military boundaries.
Now, the free-to-play shooter Delta Force has a new co-op campaign that will drop you and your squad into the thick of that battle. Called Black Hawk Down, it draws inspiration from the iconic film of the same name and reimagines the original campaign of 2003’s Delta Force: Black Hawk Down.
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the campaign has been rebuilt from the ground up. The city of Mogadishu and the enemies within it are now much more detailed, making the setting more immersive and the action more visceral. And make no mistake, that action is intense and will test the skills of you and your squadmates.
You can play the campaign solo, but it will be extremely difficult if you do. The objectives and enemies don’t give you a break just because you’re alone. The developers recommend using a co-op squad of four, which is the max allowed, and you’ll need everyone at their best. This isn’t a shooting gallery where you’re just competing with each other to see who can get the most kills. This is war, where every time you turn a corner, you’ll be met with fierce resistance. You’ll need to move as a unit and work together as a team.
The campaign is split into seven chapters, with your host’s unlocked chapters determining which are available to start with. Completing a chapter will unlock the next for everyone in the squad, and upon completion, you’ll get a letter grade based on how well your squad performed.
Each chapter has its own unique challenges and goals. In one, you’ll act as the vanguard of a convoy escorting injured personnel through chaotic streets. In another, you’ll need to reach a crash site to conduct emergency rescues. Another will see you navigating blockades as you attempt to escape the city.
In each instance, you’ll need to prioritize objectives rather than just killing enemies. However, you shouldn’t rush into areas without taking time to observe first. You and your team members will need to stay alert and cover each other. Blindly and recklessly running into a new area is a good way to get ambushed and see your run prematurely end.
Every member of your squad will choose a class and customize their loadout before deploying. Each class has its own strengths, and an optimized loadout can enhance those strengths. Some classes come equipped with medical supplies or ammo kits that can help their squadmates. And no matter what class you are, you can revive downed allies. So make sure to have your allies’ backs.
As you make your way through the campaign, you’ll unlock rewards for your account. When you successfully finish your first chapter, you’ll get a rare calling card. Completing all chapters will net you an epic calling card and badge. Getting an S rank on all chapters in co-op will net you a second badge. And if you really like a challenge, you can get another badge by getting an S rank on all chapters solo. Best of luck on that one.
Black Hawk Down is available now on PC and is free for all players. The system requirements and recommendations are in the image above. For more info on the development of the campaign, check out our interview with two members of the dev team. You can download it directly from Steam, through the in-game Black Hawk Down menu, or through the Black Hawk Down tab in the main game’s launcher. For more information, you can visit the game’s official website or join the community on Twitter or Discord.
