As I've explained before, I like the games that have outdoor settings. If I'm going to sit inside and play video games, I want to roam the landscape, not some oversized, computer-generated bathroom where I play deathmatch with 16 teenagers who have glandular hyperactivity and sniper-rifles. Please my eyes, and make me want to explore the area, is my cry to game makers.

So when I was plopped into the desert sands of Egypt, with my primary objective being the "big pyramid" way off in the distance, I was excited. Who and what would I encounter on my journey? And with all of these weapons I have, what would I do to them, or it? Turns out, not much. Because DFLW, the demo, is not too much to get excited over.

You start this mission as Sgt. Cole Harris, also known as "Gas Can," which is a peculiar name but not a real interesting guy. He has a southern drawl and when he pulls out the Combat Knife (one of my favorites from DF1), he says (to you apparently, since there is no one else around) "What am I suppos' to do wit dis? Clean a catfish?" This wasn't even funny the first time I heard it.

Gas Can is one of 5 characters you can select (who are all different in their specialties) in the full version of the game, which is a clever idea, but somewhat stupid. In the previous Delta Force games, you already select your weapons load-out before the mission begins, so why should they have specialties? It would seem that whatever load-out a player selects, should be their specialty. Whatever.

Your objective in the demo is to recover some biohazard stuff that is being held in one of the pyramids. Swarms of terrorists are trying to protect it, apparently. Although they aren't too serious about it as you will find, as the AI is pretty weak, just like the previous DF games.

You've got some weapons at your disposal, including an OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) which is a lot like the M16 over/under grenade launcher from the earlier DF games. There's also the SOCOM SD .45 Silenced Pistol, which is essentially worthless, but still worth noting. Throw in the MM-1 Grenade Launcher (rotating cylinder, just like the real thing) and the Frag Grenades, and you've got yourself a bit of firepower.

What I don't like about the grenade launching stuff is that you no longer have to aim high to gauge your trajectory or anything, you just point and shoot and it seems to drop right in there perfectly. I'm guessing this is all part of the Character Specialty aspect, since Gas Can is a "grenadier" but I still don't like it.

But where - oh where - is the Pancor Jackhammer automatic shotgun or the H&K PSG-1 Sniper Rifle? The two weapons are brand new according to the Novalogic web site, but I suppose they need some revision before they are released in the full version. Not to mention, that Gas Can, with all of his talents, is an expert with the MM1 Grenade Launcher, which can be sweet, even though the MM1 apparently can't take out any trees in the area without expending most of its ammunition.

Popping the top off of palm trees with the M249 SAW was one of my favorite things with the original game. Since Gas Can is some blonde goatee wearin', crawfish eatin', MM1 firin' madman, I expected a lot more fun out of this demo.

Unfortunately, Novalogic hasn't done too much in the realm of FPS expansion. Granted, this is just the demo, but the demo is worth 20 minutes of gameplay, tops. There are several different strategies you can take to conquer the terrorists and capture the Bio-suitcase, but you'll find they are all pretty weak, and without much flair.