SWAT: Urban Justice is set in Los Angeles in 2006, which just happens to be the year that the city of is preparing to celebrate its 225th anniversary. As the case often is, it seems as if some people just can't leave well enough alone and they have to steal the spotlight for themselves. Three gangs in particular -- Compton 187, Loco Riders, and Krazy Boys -- are stirring up trouble in the streets of LA in the days leading up to the celebration, and the scene in Los Angeles has become even bleaker than the sun through all the smog.

That's where you come in. You're the element leader of an up-and-coming LA SWAT team whose job it is to go into and control situations when they go beyond the normal scope of law enforcement. Notice that the "PD" is missing from the end of "LA." This time around the development team at Sierra is branching out away from locking the player in the role of a LAPD SWAT member. "We felt the LAPD license limited us in what we could do with the franchise," senior producer Rod Fung explained, "and we want to be able to give the players a lot more options about where they go and what they do this time around."

So what exactly does this mean for you? Well, for starters, your five and ten-man teams won't always have to go by the "book" since you're not locked into the role of a police officer, so you can do things like take your opponent's guns if you happen to be out of bullets or dish out a few taps with the butt of your rifle to pacify a pesky bad guy. In addition, Urban Justice will allow for women to be part of your SWAT team, something that currently isn't an option for the LAPD SWAT. And you'll also be able to utilize hand-to-hand tactics and maneuvers in the game as well as have access to a much greater range of weaponry and items than in Close-Quarters Combat.

Speaking of weapons, the arsenal in SWAT: Urban Justice includes such arms as the AK-47, AK-74U, AN94, Gemtech Quantum .22, HK 69A1 40mm break open rocket launcher, H&K; G3, H&K; G36C, M4A2, M4RIS, MP5, MP5K, MP5PDW, MP5SD, P90, Serbu Super Shorty 12 gauge, Steyr Aug, Super 90, UMP45, and even more guns than I could write down as Rod was naming then off. In addition to just the shear amount of firepower you have at your disposal, you can customize your weapons to your liking by adding various grips, stocks, optics, magazines, and noise suppressors, as well as changing the fire rate of your weapon of choice. And as if all this wasn't enough, you'll be able to pick two side arms this time around, from a list which includes the Beretta 93R, Colt 1911, FN57, Glock 19, Glock 21, M9, and USP 40, and like the assault rifles, you can pick custom options for each. Also expect your normal compliment of concussions grenades, gas masks, goggles, Kevlar vests, and pads with which to outfit your team. And this time around players can opt for a riot shield, which is another piece of equipment not in use by the LAPD SWAT team. See, un-membership has its advantages!