Instead, gameplay takes place over a series of mostly unconnected deployments of the player's SWAT team, as they are sent to apprehend criminals, terrorists, gangs, and cults in and around Fairview.

In SWAT 4, players control a police tactical unit as they are deployed to handle situations such as arrest warrants, hostage-takings, bomb threats, and shootouts.

A significant aspect of SWAT 4's gameplay is the rules of engagement (RoE), which dictates the player's acceptable actions and use of force.

Violating the RoE results in penalties for unauthorized use of force, which may influence the outcome of the mission; examples of such violations include killing or incapacitating a hostage or officer, killing an unarmed or fleeing suspect, not marking evidence (such as dropped weapons or objective items), and not handcuffing hostages and suspects.

Players can also equip their officers with bulletproof vests and combat helmets that offer varying degrees of protection.

[1] On a computer game sales chart compiled by NPD Techworld, it claimed tenth place for the week ending April 17.

Though the frame rate gets chunky at times, and there are a couple of irritating bugs and quirks, the AI delivers on most counts in a game that is designed with great replayability.