Police Quest: SWAT

Last updated: January 10, 2026

Overview

Police Quest: SWAT, officially titled Daryl F. Gates’ Police Quest: SWAT, is the fifth installment in Sierra On-Line’s Police Quest series and the first entry in what would become the SWAT tactical simulation franchise.¹ Released in November 1995 across DOS, Windows, and Macintosh platforms, the game marked a dramatic departure from the adventure game format of its predecessors, shifting instead to a full-motion video tactical simulation that attempted to recreate the authentic experience of serving on the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics unit.² The game was developed under the guidance of former LAPD Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, who had created the real-life SWAT concept in 1967.³

The game represented Sierra’s ambitious attempt to capitalize on the multimedia explosion of the mid-1990s, utilizing extensive FMV sequences filmed with actual LAPD SWAT team members and emphasizing strict adherence to real-world tactical procedures.⁴ While the game received largely negative reviews from critics who found its interface cumbersome and its gameplay frustrating, it proved to be a substantial commercial success, selling over one million units by March 2000.¹ This disconnect between critical reception and sales performance became a defining characteristic of the title, with SWAT 3 developer Jim Napier later noting that the original SWAT “received only marginal reviews, [… but] sold like crazy.”⁵

Game Info

Developer: Sierra On-Line¹ Designer: Tammy Dargan, Daryl F. Gates¹ Publisher: Sierra On-Line¹ Engine: SCI 2.1 (Sierra Creative Interpreter)⁶ Platforms: DOS, Windows 3.x/95, Mac OS¹ Release Year: 1995 Series: Police Quest / SWAT Protagonist: Unnamed SWAT Recruit Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Story Summary

Unlike the narrative-driven adventure games that preceded it in the Police Quest series, Police Quest: SWAT eschews a traditional story structure in favor of a procedural simulation framework. Players assume the role of the newest member of the LAPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics team, referred to throughout the game as a “SWAT-Pup.”⁷ The game opens with the player’s induction into the elite unit, emphasizing the team concept that forms the foundation of SWAT operations.⁸

The game is “completely and utterly devoid of an actual story” in the traditional sense, instead presenting players with training exercises and tactical scenarios that mirror real SWAT operations.⁹ The majority of gameplay is spent in highly detailed training exercises that prepare players for actual call-ups, reflecting the strict realism that characterized the Police Quest series.¹⁰ Players must master SWAT gestures, radio chatter, and tactical procedures before being deployed to active missions.⁹

The game features only three actual mission scenarios: a barricaded deranged grandmother, a fugitive standoff, and a terrorist attack.¹⁰ However, these missions are randomized for replay value, with different outcomes and configurations occurring on subsequent playthroughs.¹¹ Players can pursue different career paths within SWAT, including element leader and sniper positions, with scenarios playing significantly differently depending on the role selected.¹¹ The game has no traditional ending, functioning instead as an ongoing simulator where players continue to respond to randomized call-ups indefinitely.¹¹

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Police Quest: SWAT employed a single-cursor interface similar to other SCI2 games of the era, but its implementation received widespread criticism for being extraordinarily cumbersome.¹² GameSpot’s Ron Dulin declared that “SWAT is burdened by one of the most cumbersome interfaces ever devised,” noting that the communication system made commanding team members unnecessarily difficult.¹² The interface required multiple clicks for most actions, with users reporting significant frustration navigating the control scheme.¹³

The game utilized full-motion video extensively for basic gameplay, functioning in a manner similar to Dragon’s Lair-style FMV games but at a slower pace.¹⁴ Most backgrounds consisted of scanned photographs with green-screen actors composited into the scenes, using much of the same technology employed in Police Quest: Open Season.¹ This FMV-heavy approach created what reviewers described as a “COPS-like” aesthetic that was visually impressive but problematic for gameplay.¹⁵

Structure and Progression

The game is heavily reliant on training and following strict SWAT guidelines, proving “rather unforgiving with regards to following correct procedure during missions, referred to in the game as ‘call-ups’.”¹⁶ The structure divides into two primary phases:

• Training Phase: Extensive preparation including small arms training, combat training, sniper qualification, and tactical room entry techniques such as “Slice Pie.” The training modes have no formal completion, repeating indefinitely.¹¹

• Mission Phase: Three distinct scenarios that vary on each playthrough. Players serve in different roles ranging from new recruit to element leader, with missions featuring different configurations of hostages, suspects, and outcomes.¹¹

The game’s linear mission structure disappointed many players, with missions offering limited player agency despite their randomized elements.¹² Players who attempt to skip the opening movie are berated by their sergeant for disrespectful and insubordinate behavior.¹⁰

Puzzles and Mechanics

Rather than traditional adventure game puzzles, Police Quest: SWAT focuses on tactical decision-making and procedural adherence. The game includes a sophisticated sniper qualification system featuring realistic ballistics calculations with wind and range compensation.⁸ Players must master mathematical equations for shooting distance and bullet drop, with the manual providing detailed instructions for these calculations.¹³

The game emphasizes teamwork and proper procedure above action, with violations of SWAT protocols resulting in mission failure or negative consequences.¹⁶ Intentionally killing anyone—including fellow SWAT members or unarmed suspects—results in the Lieutenant charging the player with first-degree murder.¹⁷ The emphasis on procedure over gameplay led PC Gamer Online’s Mike Wolf to observe that “it’s more like work than fun.”¹⁸

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Police Quest: SWAT received mixed to negative reviews upon release, with critics praising its ambition and authenticity while condemning its interface and gameplay execution. PC Gamer (US) awarded the game 70%, with reviewer Mike Wolf noting that “the emphasis on procedure over gameplay brings an intriguing idea to a halt. Only wannabe police officers need apply.”¹⁸ Next Generation gave the game only 2 out of 5 stars in April 1996, calling it “a decent attempt at a police simulation, but your lack of control leaves much to be desired.”¹

PC Zone was more generous, awarding 83/100 and describing the experience as “gun-toting cop fun.”¹ Computer Game Review provided split scores of 62/61/80 from reviewers Frank Snyder, Ted Chapman, and Scott Gehrs respectively in March 1996.¹ The CGR review concluded with “good concept, disappointing execution,” finding the interface “extremely cumbersome” and predicting that “fans of the Police Quest series will be disappointed with the new look.”⁷

PC Games Magazine gave the game a grade of C, with Peter Olafson writing that “Daryl F. Gates’ Police Quest: SWAT is, well… something of a bust.”¹⁵ While praising the cinéma vérité presentation—“You’re right there—providing cover for the unit scouts, checking out possible hiding places, confronting suspects and hostages”—Olafson concluded that “this approach makes for a handsome, COPS-like game, but it’s a mistake in terms of game play. The verdict? Busted.”¹⁵

Modern Assessment

Retrospective assessments have been similarly divided. GameSpot’s official review scored the game 3.7 out of 10, with user reviews describing it as polarizing—some calling it “one of the worst video games ever made” while others praised it as “one of my favourite games mainly because of its authenticy and realism.”¹²¹⁹ User coolermaster123 declared the game “a monumental waste of time,” comparing it unfavorably to Dragon’s Lair and criticizing the acting as being “on the level of a bad police television drama.”¹⁴

Modern players have noted the game’s educational value despite its frustrations. IMDb reviewer euroasiangenetic gave it 10/10, stating “this is a swat simulation not action game, and it’s glorious” and adding “any mistakes I make I learn and I know now thanks to this game what it’s like to be a swat officer and I don’t want to be on their shoes.”²⁰ Conversely, refinedsugar’s 4/10 review acknowledged that “what the game does well is treats the members of these highly skilled units with respect. Explains some of their tools and tactics,” while criticizing the “mix of FMV, unfulfilling gameplay and a harsh learning curve.”²⁰

Aggregate Scores:

• GameSpot: 3.7/10¹²
• MobyGames: 60% (Critics Average, 18 ratings)²
• MobyGames Players: 3.4/5²
• IMDB: 6.5/10¹⁷
• Metacritic User Score: 6.2/10 (5 ratings)²¹
• Steam: Mixed (54% of 61 reviews)²²
• GOG.com: 3.6/5 (39 reviews)³

Development

Origins

Police Quest: SWAT emerged from Sierra’s decision to reinvent the Police Quest franchise following the departure of series creator Jim Walls after Police Quest 3. As Walls later explained on his personal website, “after PQ 3, circumstances developed causing me to decide it was time that I leave.”²³ Sierra turned to former LAPD Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, who had previously served as consultant on Police Quest: Open Season, to lead the franchise’s evolution into a tactical simulation.²⁴

Gates was a controversial figure whose hiring drew significant criticism from civil rights organizations. The president of the Los Angeles Urban League condemned the partnership, stating that Gates “embodies all that is bad in law enforcement—the problems of the macho, racist, brutal police experience that we’re working hard to put behind us. That anyone would hire him for a project like this proves that some companies will do anything for the almighty dollar.”²⁴ Despite the controversy—or perhaps because of it—Sierra CEO Ken Williams reportedly “decided the whole controversy over Gates would ultimately help the game sell better.”²⁴

Production

The game was produced, directed, and designed by Tammy Dargan, a former producer of America’s Most Wanted, who also served as writer.³ Under Gates’ supervision, the game adhered to the stringent regulations of real SWAT training, with multiple video clips filmed on location using actual members of the LAPD SWAT team.⁷ The cast trained with actual SWAT members from the Los Angeles Police Department to ensure authenticity.³

Production took place at Sierra’s studio in Oakhurst, California, outside Yosemite National Park.³ An LAPD SWAT consultant named Ken provided tactical training to the development team, ensuring that procedures and equipment depicted in the game matched real-world protocols.⁵ Actor Scotty Wixel, who played a character sharing his name, later recalled on GOG.com that “it was a blast working on this video game as an actor!!!”³

Development Credits:²

• Director: Tammy Dargan
• Writer: Tammy Dargan
• Producers: Tammy Dargan, Phy Williams
• Art Director: Rod Fung
• Lead Programmers: Randy MacNeill, Sean Mooney
• Lead Artist: Terry Robinson
• Composer: Dan Kehler
• Advisors: Bob Bennyworth, Steve Massa
• Additional Design: Susan Frischer

Technical Achievements

Police Quest: SWAT was built on the SCI 2.1 engine (Sierra Creative Interpreter), the same technology used in Police Quest: Open Season and other contemporary Sierra adventure games like Phantasmagoria and Gabriel Knight 2.⁶ The game represented Sierra’s most ambitious use of FMV technology to date, shipping on four CD-ROMs packed with video content.¹

The game’s technical approach prioritized authenticity over interactivity. As the original SWAT 3 postmortem noted, “our goal was to recreate the SWAT experience. We didn’t want to simply create another first-person shooter.”⁵ This philosophy carried through the original SWAT, which featured realistic ballistics calculations and tactical procedures rather than arcade-style action.⁸

Technical Specifications

CD-ROM Version:²²⁶

• Resolution: 640x480 SVGA
• Colors: 256
• Media: 4 CD-ROMs
• Video Format: Full Motion Video with digitized actors
• Input: Keyboard, Mouse

System Requirements:¹⁸²²

• Minimum: 486/33 processor, 4MB RAM, 15MB hard drive space, SVGA graphics, supported sound card
• Recommended: Pentium processor, 16MB RAM
• Modern (Steam/GOG): Windows XP/Vista, 1.0 GHz processor, 256 MB RAM, DirectX 7 compatible 3D card, 2 GB storage

Cut Content

The game’s scope was necessarily limited by the constraints of FMV production. While the development team intended to create a comprehensive SWAT simulation, only three mission scenarios made it into the final product.¹⁰ The randomization system was implemented to extend replay value, though players noted that the fundamental scenarios remained static even as details varied.¹¹

Version History

Version	Date	Platform	Notes
1.000	November 23, 1995	DOS, Windows	Initial release25
1.0c	April 3, 1997	DOS, Windows	Updated version25
GOG Release	February 10, 2011	Windows (DOSBox)	Digital re-release6
Steam Release	2016	Windows	Digital re-release1

SCI Interpreter Versions:²⁵

Game Version	Interpreter	Type	Notes
Demo 0.001.200	2.100.002	SCI2.1	Windows only
Demo 0.001.300	2.100.002	SCI2.1	Multi-platform
1.000	SCI2.1	SCI2.1	Initial release

Technical Issues

Police Quest: SWAT has suffered from significant compatibility issues on modern systems. The original PC Games Magazine review documented extensive crashes: “Crashed every time clicking gunsight on object during first scenario under DOS,” “almost every time trying to access fourth CD under DOS,” and multiple crashes under Windows 3.11.¹⁵

Modern players on GOG.com have reported numerous issues:²⁶²⁷²⁸

• Save game functionality broken in DOSBox version, requiring manual creation of SWATDATA.000 through SWATDATA.009 folders
• Game crashes when alarm sounds for second mission on Windows 8
• Videos may not play properly without IV50 codec on Windows Vista
• Missing D3dX9_43.dll file prevents startup in some configurations

For SWAT 2, community members identified that “the game is unplayable on ANY operating system except XP and lower” without workarounds, with solutions including downloading replacement movies in XVID codec.²⁹

Easter Eggs and Trivia

• If players attempt to skip the opening movie, the sergeant berates the player character for disrespectful and insubordinate behavior¹⁰
• Intentionally killing anyone results in first-degree murder charges from the Lieutenant¹⁷
• Due to a timing bug, players can shoot a surrendering elderly female suspect, win the mission, and still receive a commendation¹⁷
• The game is listed as “Police Quest 5” (PQ5) in file names and credits, though this numbering doesn’t appear in the game itself¹
• Origin Systems’ internal newsletter editors joked about the controversial Gates partnership: “Talk about hot properties. No confirmation yet as to whether the game will ship with its own special solid-steel joystick”²⁴

Voice Cast

Character	Voice Actor
Narrator	Carol Bach Rita
Sgt. Rooker	Steve Barkley
Militia Member	Billy Bates
Militia Member	Bobbie Bates
Sgt. Pruett	Ken Belsky
Officer Tony Carmichael	Chris Boylan
Officer JD Saunders	L. Peter Callender
Officer Danny Tello	Tom Cassel
Coco Brown	Kettie Massengale Chamlin
Herbert Long	Roy Conrad
Officer Tom Denton	Tom Dryden
Sgt. Pauldon	John Eggold
SWAT Pup	Eric Flom
Lucy Long	Dolores Golightly
Sidney Devon	Keith Kelly
Andy Durham	Brian Leonard
Katie Long	Jeannie McKelvey
Scotty Wixel	Scotty Wixel

Cast trained with actual SWAT members from the Los Angeles Police Department.³¹⁷

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Despite its negative critical reception, Police Quest: SWAT was a commercial blockbuster. The game sold over one million units by March 2000.¹ In 1998 alone, the title sold 253,128 units earning $2.73millioninrevenue,rankingasthe17thbest-sellinggameofthatyearintheUnitedStates.{[}^{r}ef-1]BetweenJanuaryandJuly1998,thegamemoved152,425copiesearning$1,622,405.¹

Sierra’s SEC filing from 1996 noted that the Police Quest series as a whole had sold more than 1.2 million copies across five titles.³⁰ The commercial success of SWAT despite poor reviews demonstrated significant market demand for tactical police simulations, paving the way for subsequent entries in the franchise.

Collections

Police Quest: SWAT appeared in numerous Sierra compilation packages:²

• Police Quest: Collection Series (1997) – bundled with original Police Quest trilogy and Open Season
• Daryl F. Gates’ Police Quest Collection: The 4 Most Wanted (1995) – included with first four Police Quest games
• Police Quest: SWAT 1+2 (1999) – paired with sequel
• Police Quest: SWAT Generation (2003)
• SWAT Career Pack (2000)

Fan Projects

According to GOG.com forum discussions, “back in the 2000s, there were a couple of attempts at remaking Police Quest II, none ever reached completion.”³¹ No significant fan remakes of Police Quest: SWAT itself have been documented, likely due to the FMV-heavy nature of the game making recreation impractical.

Related Publications

• Police Quest: SWAT Manual – Included with game, detailing installation instructions, tactical procedures, and ballistics calculations⁸
• LAPD Police Department Manual (Abridged) – Included in Police Quest Collection packaging along with interview with Daryl F. Gates³²
• Police Quest: SWAT 2 Manual – 210-page guide for the sequel³³

Critical Perspective

Police Quest: SWAT occupies an unusual position in gaming history as a title that succeeded commercially while failing critically. The game arrived during the “multimedia explosion” of the mid-1990s when CD-ROM technology enabled unprecedented use of full-motion video, yet “suffered the same fate as most ‘interactive movie’ style games released during the so-called multimedia explosion.”¹⁰ Unlike many such titles, however, SWAT found its audience among players seeking authentic tactical simulation rather than traditional gaming entertainment.

The game’s emphasis on procedure over gameplay proved divisive, with some viewing it as innovative realism and others as tedious simulation. Jim Walls, creator of the original Police Quest games, later reflected that “the payoff came with the fan mail. When the letters came in, with some of the kids saying they wanted to grow up to be cops, we knew we were on the right track.”³⁴ This educational dimension extended to SWAT, with GOG.com reviewers noting that “many law enforcement agencies used the series as a training tool.”³⁵

The title “truly did signal the end of the franchise” in terms of adventure gaming, marking Police Quest’s permanent transition from point-and-click adventures to tactical simulations.⁹ While this evolution alienated adventure game fans, it established a template that would prove highly successful for subsequent SWAT titles, culminating in the acclaimed SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle in 1999.⁵

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• GOG.com – Police Quest: SWAT 1+2
• Steam – Police Quest: SWAT

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive – Police Quest SWAT Disc 1
• My Abandonware

Manuals & Extras

• Police Quest: SWAT Manual (Archive.org)
• German Manual (Archive.org)

Series Continuity

Police Quest: SWAT represents a pivotal transition in the Police Quest franchise, shifting from adventure gaming to tactical simulation. While technically the fifth mainline Police Quest title, it abandoned the Sonny Bonds character and Lytton setting that defined the original trilogy, instead placing players in a realistic Los Angeles SWAT unit.²³ The game established the template for the SWAT spin-off series, which would continue through SWAT 4 in 2005.¹⁰

The first two SWAT games were released under the Police Quest name before the series branched into its own franchise.¹⁰ Daryl F. Gates was dropped after the first SWAT game, with subsequent entries developed by different teams at Sierra.²⁴ The franchise is currently owned by Activision following their acquisition of Sierra properties.³⁶

• Previous: 1993 - Police Quest - Open Season
• Next: 1998 - Police Quest - SWAT 2

References

Footnotes

1. Wikipedia – Police Quest: SWAT – release dates, platforms, review scores, sales data, technical details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵

2. MobyGames – Daryl F. Gates’ Police Quest: SWAT – credits, ratings, technical specifications, genre classification ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

3. GOG.com – Police Quest: SWAT 1+2 – product description, user reviews, Gates biography, actor testimony ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

4. Internet Archive – Police Quest SWAT Disc 1 – game description, technical info, SCI2 engine details ↩

5. Gamasutra – SWAT 3 Postmortem (Archive.today) – Jim Napier quotes, development insights, sales figures ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

6. PCGamingWiki – Police Quest: SWAT – engine version, system requirements, release dates, technical specifications ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

7. Computer Game Review (March 1996) via Wayback Machine – review scores, SVGA specifications, SWAT-Pup terminology ↩ ↩² ↩³

8. Police Quest: SWAT Manual (Archive.org) – gameplay instructions, tactical procedures, team concept philosophy ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

9. Nerds That Geek – Police Quest: SWAT Review – story criticism, FMV praise, franchise assessment ↩ ↩² ↩³

10. Police Quest Omnipedia – Police Quest: SWAT – mission descriptions, training structure, multimedia explosion context ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸

11. GOG.com Forum – Does Police Quest SWAT 1 Ever End? – game structure, randomization, career paths ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

12. GameSpot – Police Quest: SWAT Review – Ron Dulin review, interface criticism, 3.7/10 score ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

13. GameSpot – User Reviews – user gameplay experiences, ballistics calculations, technical issues ↩ ↩²

14. GameSpot – User Review by coolermaster123 – Dragon’s Lair comparison, acting criticism, FMV analysis ↩ ↩²

15. PC Games Magazine (March 1996) via Wayback Machine – Peter Olafson review, crash documentation, cinéma vérité praise ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

16. Giant Bomb – Daryl F. Gates’ Police Quest: SWAT – gameplay description, procedure emphasis, genre shift analysis ↩ ↩²

17. IMDB – Police Quest: SWAT – cast listing, trivia, rating, production notes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

18. PC Gamer Online (March 1996) via Wayback Machine – Mike Wolf review, 70% score, system requirements ↩ ↩² ↩³

19. GameSpot – Police Quest: SWAT Reviews Page – aggregate ratings, user score polarization ↩

20. IMDB – Police Quest: SWAT User Reviews – euroasiangenetic and refinedsugar reviews, educational value assessment ↩ ↩²

21. Metacritic – Police Quest: SWAT – user score, game summary ↩

22. Steam Store – Police Quest: SWAT – system requirements, user review percentage, product description ↩ ↩² ↩³

23. Adventure Gamer Blog – Police Quest: Open Season Introduction – Jim Walls departure, Gates controversy, Tammy Dargan role ↩ ↩²

24. The Digital Antiquarian – Gates controversy, Urban League criticism, Ken Williams decision ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

25. SCI Wiki – Police Quest: SWAT – version numbers, interpreter versions, release dates ↩ ↩² ↩³

26. GOG.com Forum – Police Quest SWAT Save Problems – save game bug, DOSBox issues, folder fix ↩

27. GOG.com Forum – Police Quest SWAT 1 Crash at Second Mission – Windows 8 crash bug ↩

28. GOG.com Forum – SWAT 2 Will Not Start – DirectX dependency issues ↩

29. GOG.com Forum – Police Quest SWAT 2 Error – MEM_RESIZE_FAILED error, XVID codec solution ↩

30. Sierra On-Line SEC 10-K Filing (1996) – Police Quest series sales figures ↩

31. GOG.com Forum – Police Quest Fan Games – fan remake attempts ↩

32. MobyGames – Daryl F. Gates’ Police Quest Collection: The 4 Most Wanted – collection contents, manual information ↩

33. GOG.com Forum – Police Quest SWAT 2 Manual – 210-page manual reference ↩

34. Wikipedia – Police Quest Series – Jim Walls USGamer interview, series history ↩

35. GOG.com – Police Quest 1+2+3+4 User Reviews – law enforcement training tool usage ↩

36. Sierra Fandom Wiki – Police Quest – Activision ownership, franchise timeline ↩