At any rate, those who already have SWAT3 should log on to the Sierra site immediately and download the patch, which contains five new missions, as well as new weapons, and even level and scenario editors. Gamers who haven't yet given this series a try, or at least not in its latest incarnations, and who have an interest in squad-based tactical gameplay should certainly give this game a serious look. The first-person action rivals the gaming of the Rainbow Six/Rogue Spear franchise and offers the same intense experience. The primary differences remain that SWAT personnel don't usually have the time to plan the same level of assault that their colleagues in military anti-terrorism usually have, and as a result SWAT3 is more about the execution and less in the planning – which is really half the gameplay in Rainbow Six. SWAT3 is about showing up, issuing the “go order” and trying to adapt to an ever changing situation.

Real world SWAT teams also don't have the same variety of high-powered weapons as the military and some gamers did note their displeasure with the lack of weapon options in SWAT3. The Elite Edition has beefed up the arsenal and added a few more high-profile (and high-powered) weapons including the ever-popular AK-47 and more varieties of the M16/AR15 family.

The Elite Edition includes all of the original Los Angeles locations as well as those five new aforementioned settings, which are fictionalized recreations of real-world places and include Whitman Airport, the Los Angeles Subway and even the City of Angels Hospital. The settings are impressive and this is one area where SWAT3 really outshines Rogue Spear, as this title features much more diverse locations for players and more in a single package. The environment is equally reactive but in all honesty both series have a way to go before being totally convincing. SWAT3 wins points with this reviewer by including more “clutter” (e.g. the natural type of stuff that we see in the real world but seems to be missing from games – after all most developers need just look around their messy offices to see “stuff”).

All things considered, it is the multiplayer elements that will probably be of most interest to players and these include five different game types including co-op, deathmatch, last man standing, team deathmatch and even paintball for less violent variations.