From the get-go, First to Fight presents a stereotypic view of military training. The voiceover, which guides you heavily in training, is a dead-on perfect representation of how most people imagine a military briefing would sound. Your nameless instructor will take you through the basics of the controls and the general concept of the squad-based combat that is the game's format.

At the same time, you'll be treated to visuals that do an exceptional job of looking like, again, what most people expect modern warfare looks like. The colors, the level of detail, the movements and the environments are all presented in a way the seems to blend war footage with war movie footage. The resulting mix of all the presentation elements is an experience that will not win any awards for textures, art style or a host of other things that don't matter. But it does a superb job of putting the player in the mood and right frame of mind to enjoy the game. Games of this type are often described as "gritty," "strategic," or "realistic," but few pull it off and those are usually euphemisms for "mediocre graphics." Other games make attempts at realism by being the bloodiest or by showing the ugliest sides of war – and they miss the point. First to Fight hits the nail on the head – it's not just the content that's drastically different, it's the entire experience.

The story revolves around the city of Beirut, Lebanon. The city has been war-torn once again, and the Marines are part of a U.N. force sent to help restore order. You'll be leading the way for a group of four marines as you approach and infiltrate hostile areas. Objectives include various forms of search-and-destroy, hostage rescue and target elimination that span six complete missions with many levels and sublevels throughout.

Your team will do quite a bit without you telling them anything. They do a good job of covering your back and flanks, supporting you when you're exchanging fire, and moving with some common sense. When you send them to a certain spot for cover, they'll arrange themselves around it so they cover a 360 degree arc. When you need to, they'll suppress areas, clear rooms, and eliminate targets with precision. They're pretty good shots, too. There are times, when the team responds to surprise enemies outside your immediate view, for example, that they'll notice and eliminate targets without you doing anything at all.

But, of course, there are instances when the computer isn't that bright. First to Fight does a good job of mixing up the environments between city streets and closed-in fights in buildings. When the bad guys are just a room away, you have to pay very close attention to what everyone's doing. Your men may get to a point or inside a room and not know what to do next before it's too late.

The bad guys have their flighty moments, too. There are certain areas where they just keep going to the same place over and over so, if you're patient, you can pick them off one at a time as they start piling up – with none of them getting wise. This isn't the norm, however. Usually, the enemies are challenging and strategically placed. It is their city, after all.

The online gameplay supports up to eight players in team deathmatch, but the player limit is disappointing. The co-op is a lot more fun, probably because the game requires teamwork by default. You can play any of the missions cooperatively, and even if you've been through them once, going through them again with someone new is interesting.

When it comes right down to it, First to Fight will have a tough time competing for your time and money when compared to other, flashier games. But it's got a strong identity and satisfying gameplay. It's certainly no glitchier or disappointing than a host of other games that get a lot more attention. If you enjoyed Counterstrike, Rainbow Six or Full Spectrum Warrior, you'll probably have a lot of fun with First to Fight.