SWAT 4: Gold Edition

This game was phenomenal when it was released and it still holds up really well. The graphics have definitely aged, but the gameplay is something that has been drowned out by the cover based shooter fair of recent "tactical" shooters. Even so, everything about this game still feels right so right, everything from stacking your team in the right place and ordering a simultaneous entry, flashbangs, gas grenades flying, and you and your team yelling for people to drop weapons, followed by the swift arrest of everyone in the room. Although there's a limit to maps, perps and hostages are randomised, coupled with the quick mission maker and you have many hours of fun. A few recommended ways of playing this- 1) Play the expansion, it has added more depth to commands and loadout than the original plus you can still play the original missions via quick mission maker 2) Use the quick mission maker in Stechkov and create a scenario pack with all the maps in from the original right through to the expansion. That way you can play through everything much more quickly. Don't forget to keep everything as campaign settings. It's a real shame that you can't play online for this anymore, because the multiplayer was amazing (me held as a vip hostage and the douche terrorist team constantly flashbanging while I try to crawl away was oddly hilarious) Get this game, it's probably the last of its kind- a genuine tactical first person shooter, done right.

An excellent simulator from the good old days in which one can spend countless hours agonizing over precarious, randomized life or death situations. The emphasis on the use of non-lethal force ratchets up the tension by forcing the player to always be thinking several steps ahead, as a perp only needs a shot or two to take them down. It's about getting the jump on them before they can do the same in return. Highly recommended, for its simulation value. I tend to call it a simulator rather than a tactical shooter because it is about the simulation of the role of a police officer (role play) more than it is about being able to land precise and immediate head-shots.

SWAT 4 is just a fantastically fresh game, even though it's over a decade old now. A tactical shooter unlike anything you can play today, and for the most part, anything you could play back then. Irrational Games did a fantastic job with the levels, and making each mission feel very alive. Couldn't recommend it more.

I'm so happy they released this. I'm gonna cry lol.

This is one of the last pure tactical simulators of the 00's, one of a kind as well. The deepness, gameplay and the whole 'feel' of it, as far as CQC are concerned, will probably be never topped. Just to give you an idea of what the game is like, your squadmates have about four different ways they throw a grenade, each suitable for the situation at hand. The game focuses on simulation of the mission aims as well, which means you are expected to shoot less and bring people in more. However, a lot of people have already praised the gameplay and system of the game, while the atmosphere and characters deserve a notion as well. The levels are just brilliant, the buildings and districts literally soaked with the live feeling of the scene, and the characters are very believable. 'Hollywood on the move' - you'll remember that phrase for a long time. The game is even more immersive when you play on the elite difficulty, since the AI is good to begin with, your mistakes are barely fixable and your aims are very high. This game will not be easy on any player, but those who love proper tactical simulation will get goosebumps every time they initiate a breach.