Spec Ops: Covert Assault is a PS1 game, and this should be kept in mind as we think of the graphics. And believe me, they do represent a past age. You can almost count the pixels on the character's bodies. Enemies will blend into the landscape from far away, forcing you to almost run straight into them to find them. The missions take place in a variety of places, but they lack the visual variety (not to mention quality) present in most recent games, and even some old PlayStation games. Even the urban areas look sort of like cardboard cutouts, making this game seem all too much like a PlayStation launch title instead of a fifth (or is it sixth?) generation title.

The sound could have been better, but it's not much to complain about. You'll mostly be hearing the noise of gunfire, and when that's not filling your speakers, the music in the background will take over. The music is a mixture of patriotic and warlike tracks that will remind you of old movies like Navy Seals or Sniper. Not all that bad, but definitely not all that good.

Spec Ops: Covert Assault revolves around Army Rangers, the Army's elite combat units, and you making use of their killing powers. You go out in teams of two on a variety of missions and must complete the specified goals for each mission. You get to choose between five different Rangers, each specializing in a different fighting category such as sniping or close combat. You can also load them out with various weapons and extra equipment to your liking, but the decisions you make should reflect the nature of the mission.

Once in the mission, orders are received via one of your soldier's cell phones. You can easily switch between both soldiers, and ordering the other one around is quite simple given the nature of the game. Telling your partner to move up or give you a covering fire becomes second nature, and he's not there for looks; he'll save your hide many a time. Navigating the map might be a little difficult at first, as it lacks a conventional compass rose, but a little practice will solve this problem in no time.

Where the game hits a wall is during the firefights. Although situated in a 3D environment, aiming is done in 2D. You have no way to control the direction of your gun without moving your entire body. This makes for some very difficult aiming, as you and your target must be facing each other on the same plane, no matter how close you are. Even your buddy, as they refer to him in the instruction book, will have a hard time hitting enemies. Sniper Rifles come equipped with a scope and offer the most maneuverability for aiming, but even they have a limited area of movement.

Besides the Single Player mode, there is a cooperative Multiplayer mode that offers a little more replay and entertainment. Split screen, it allows two people to take on all of the single player missions. This is about the only replay value in the game, so cherish it while it lasts.

As the norm dictates, there are three different difficulties to choose from, ranging from easy to hard. However, the real difficulty comes from trying to aim. It's not as strict in the easier modes, allowing you to point mainly in the general direction of your target, but as the difficulty progresses, you must be more accurate. Apart from that, the settings don't affect the overall difficulty that much. It really shouldn't be called difficulty levels, but frustration levels, as you will be throwing the controller to the ground when you can't hit people that are two feet in front of you.

The controls for Spec Ops: Covert Assault are easily implemented, and don't require all that much practice to master. Giving commands to your buddy simply requires a combination of shoulder and face buttons, as does switching between weapons. Throwing grenades could very well be the hardest thing to control in the game, and with a little practice you could probably land the little buggers in the middle of a group of guys from maximum range.

This game isn't that much fun, and it bothers me because it mainly lacks quality in one area, but it is oh so vital. If it wasn't for the constricting aiming handicap, Spec Ops: Covert Assault could have been a good game. Yet this one flaw has set it apart from all other good games, leaving it reaching for greatness but coming up destitute.