Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Elite Forces: Navy SEALs delivers a straightforward first-person shooting experience that caters to fans of classic military shooters. You step into the boots of a US Navy SEAL and are assigned a series of high-stakes missions across three volatile regions: Iraq, Bosnia, and North Korea. Each mission follows a linear progression—navigate tight corridors, clear out enemy positions, and secure mission objectives. While there is little deviation from the “shoot, loot, advance” formula, the mission variety—ranging from satellite recovery to nuclear warhead retrieval—helps keep the pace brisk and engaging.

The weapon handling feels authentic enough to satisfy players seeking a military theme, with weapons modeled after real-world counterparts. You’ll swap between assault rifles, sniper rifles, and explosive ordnance, and you’ll periodically scavenge ammo and gear from downed foes. Unfortunately, the AI remains functional rather than inspired: enemies often sprint directly at your position, and occasional pathfinding quirks can lead to repetitive firefights. Nevertheless, the standard “fire and cover” loop remains solid, especially for newcomers to the genre.

The challenge curve is forgiving at the outset—ideal for players still mastering headshots and movement mechanics—but ramps up decisively in the later missions. Enemy density increases and ammo becomes scarcer, demanding more precise shooting and careful resource management. The lack of multiplayer means every firefight is a solo affair, but the game compensates with mission design that encourages stealthy approaches and tactical positioning whenever possible.

Graphics

Built on the Lithtech engine, the visuals in Elite Forces: Navy SEALs reflect its budget status without feeling completely dated. Textures on terrain and architecture are serviceable, though you’ll notice blurry wall decals and repetitive tile patterns in urban environments. Character models are blocky by modern standards, but the game does a respectable job differentiating between enemy soldiers, officers, and heavy gunners through color palettes and equipment details.

Lighting and shadow effects show the engine’s strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. Flashbangs, muzzle flashes, and simple dynamic lighting add atmosphere to nighttime raids and indoor firefights, but ambient occlusion and realistic reflections are largely absent. Explosions deliver a satisfying screen shake and fragment the environment believably, but debris physics can feel static, with rubble clipping through walls on occasion.

Environments span dusty Middle Eastern towns, war-torn Bosnian ruins, and the snowy landscapes of North Korea. Each locale is distinguished by its color palette and architectural flair, ensuring that levels feel distinct. While you won’t find sweeping vistas or advanced foliage systems, the game’s pragmatic visual approach keeps performance stable even on modest hardware, which is a notable advantage for budget-minded players.

Story

The narrative of Elite Forces: Navy SEALs is concise and mission-driven, framed by briefings that set the stakes for your next operation. You learn about a fallen satellite in Iraq that could tip the balance of power, a stolen nuclear warhead in Bosnia, and the rescue of downed airmen in North Korea. These mission hooks provide enough urgency to propel you forward, though character development and plot twists are minimal.

Cutscenes are delivered via static screens with voice-over narration, giving you essential intel without breaking the game’s pacing. The austere presentation complements the no-frills gameplay, but players seeking cinematic storytelling or ensemble casts will likely feel underwhelmed. Instead, the focus remains squarely on achieving objectives and surviving hostile territory, which aligns with the Navy SEAL ethos of precision and adaptability.

Despite its brevity—most players can complete the main campaign in six to eight hours—the story covers three diverse theaters of operation. This variety lends a sense of progression and scale, even if the plot beats follow familiar military-shooter conventions. For enthusiasts of tactical shooters who prioritize mission variety over narrative depth, the story framework serves its purpose effectively.

Overall Experience

Elite Forces: Navy SEALs excels as a budget-priced, solo military shooter that emphasizes straightforward mission execution. Its linear levels and clear objectives make it accessible, while the uptick in difficulty during later stages tests your combat proficiency. If you’re seeking a complex, story-driven campaign or robust multiplayer modes, you may find this title lacking—but for quick, mission-focused action, it hits the mark.

Performance is a highlight: thanks to the Lithtech engine’s modest requirements, even mid-range systems can run the game smoothly at high frame rates. Load times are brief, and crashes are rare, contributing to a stable playthrough. The absence of multiplayer means you’ll rely on single-player AI, which can be predictable but never breaks the immersion to a serious degree.

In sum, Elite Forces: Navy SEALs offers a competent if unadorned military FPS experience. Its mission diversity across Iraq, Bosnia, and North Korea provides enough environmental and tactical variety to stay engaging, and its straightforward gameplay loop is ideal for players who want instant action. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, the title’s affordable price point and reliable performance make it an appealing option for budget-conscious fans of classic first-person shooters.

Retro Replay Score

5.2/10