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SWAT 2 by Sierra is the sequel to the orginal great SWAT game. According to Sierra, it is the only police tactical simulation game on the market. Created by retired chief of police Darryl Gates, Swat is an exiting, action-packed game about the real LAPD SWAT teams.

In this game you can use sniper rifles, machine guns, grenades, entry explosives, K-9s, booby traps, hooligan tools, helicopters, flashbangs, tanks, gas, battering rams and gasoline barrels, and engage in hand-to-hand combat. According to Sierra, a 16-year SWAT team veteran said that this is exactly what he does in real life. I also find this game fun because you do not have to wait for your turn. If the enemy has some big plans to carry out, you can thwart them right away and not have to wait for other players to take their turns first. SWAT2 is turn-free and made totally for action.

Here’s how the game is played. First you choose to be either a SWAT team or a group of terrorists. Each side has 15 missions. Before going off on each mission you view a short video about it. Some missions are in the desert, some in the city. You can also set up your own missions with a map constructor. This is an awesome way to design the ultimate battleground. You then decide whether you want to have campaigns (play several games in a set) or play single games. Whichever you chooses, you still have to clothe your officers and terrorists before each mission. If you are a terrorist you can cause riots, commit random acts of destruction, or just take multiple hostages. If you are a SWAT officer, you can calm riots, stop bank robbers and save lots of hostages.

SWAT2 is rated Teen because of all the violence and blood and because it is slightly complicated to play. The way that it is complicated is that each SWAT officer or terrorist acts like a Duke Nukem 3-D game. Each has different weapons and items. You have to select the weapon or item to activate it. Also if you have a sniper in the prone position, he cannot shoot behind himself, so the enemy can just get behind him and shoot him. The first mission in a campaign is a training mission. Subsequent missions are based on real SWAT call-ups.

On the SWAT Web page (www.swat2.com), you can look up the FAQ for help if you need it. You can also order the game from the Sierra Web site (www.sierra.com).

One of the best things about this game is that now I actually know what SWAT means: special weapons and tactics!