While I am still waiting for that 'next big game' (and it seems nowhere to be seen as yet!) I have been dusting off a few of my older games to keep me entertained. Among these is the expansion pack for EA's Battlefiled 2 called 'Special forces'.

I never fully understood why the expansion packs for BF2 weren't more popular than they were, but at the time of their original release there was a huge amount of groaning an whining among BF2 players about the way EA decided to do the BF2 expansions. Personally, I thought they were good value for money, and added some very nice touches to the original game to keep it fresh and exciting. But, sadly, the actual effect was to splinter the BF2 community, and eventually - to all intense and purposes, the expansions were largely ignored and forgotten.

Having said all that, there was always a hard core within the community who recognized that 'Special Forces' was one of the better expansions, and that it added some really nice maps and features. Because of this there has always been a underground following if you look about the servers.

So what's so different about Special Forces?

The main differences between vanilla BF2 and SF were - of course -  the maps, locations and 'armies' that were added. For a start and for the first time, British players now had the chance to actually play British forces, in the guise of the SAS!

Armies added: British SAS, Russian Spetsnaz, US Navy SEALS, MEC Special Forces, Russian Rebels, Middle Eastern Insurgents

Kit wise it all seemed to be something of a mixed bag, with two steps forward and two steps back! There were some nice unlocks, but the unlock system seemed hamstrung because the inventory didn't actually provide you with all the weapons that you had in BF2. But, it did add some excellently amusing bits of kit, like the grappling hook, zip wire and - my favourite - tear gas.

Above: Two of the more exciting vehicles deployed in Special Forces; the Russian Hind and the American Longbow. What a pity they didn't retrograde the vanilla BF2 with these fantastic helecopters!

But best of all were some of the maps. Two in particular have become firm favourites within the BF2 community; 'Ghost Town' and 'Warlord', and these remain very popular on the servers today.

I was a little amazed that the unusual night map - 'Devil's perch' - which featured in the very impressive movie trailer of Special Forces was so heavily criticised when the expansion was released. I found it a very exciting map myself, but night vision just seemed to turn a lot of people off.

What's it like today?

Well, obviously, BF2 is now getting a little long in the tooth graphically (comparitively speaking). But having said that there are enough very well modeled pieces of kit and unusual locations in Special Forces for you to forgive it's ageing visuals (compared to, say, CoD4) and to not let that detract from the quality of play.

I was actually amazed in how much play style differed between the vanilla BF2 and Special Forces. I am not a bad player (not terrific either), and I would expect these days a game score of around 100 points in a BF2 game. So imagine my surprise when I was absolutely thrashed in my first game of SF, and even now - after a dozen games or more, I still think myself lucky if I break 40 points.

Part of this is the unfamiliarity with the maps, part of this is the fact that I'm working alone and not in a familiar team, but most of all it seems to be to do with the speed of the play.

Special Forces just seems to be a faster game to play in. There seems little of the thoughtful and measured tactical pushing that you can get in BF2. Instead there is a manic, full speed ahead rush - and sometime a game ends before I feel I have played any really significant part. This *may* be to do with the fact that on the servers I have played SF on so far I have not seen a lot of team play or teams. It seems to be more of an individual battle for points - with little importance placed on supporting a team win - that seems secondary and a side effect rather than a main objective.

I am sure team games do go on in Special Forces - I just haven't seen any yet! (Compare that to a vanilla BF2 server like UKSF for example, where on most days you can see small cohesive squads forming, and some semblance of teamwork tactics in play.)

However, having said all that, I did enjoy my re-visit to 'Special Forces'. There are enough unique parts of this game to make you feel a refreshing buzz about playing it. And if nothing else, you have the added novelty of being able to play a British force and earn some new badges (if that's your thing)!

Recommended servers:

= 22nd = SAS Regiment 24/7 Warlord - 193.93.47.91 - Infantry only

= SPM = Special Forces 24/7 Ghost Town - 84.244.186.87 - Infantry only