Perhaps you like to casually pop in and out of online shooters and are looking for something to immerse yourself in a game like "Call of Duty" a few times a month. This is not that kind of game. But if you're looking for something that will make you jump out of your monitor and smack your face around in a frenzy if you can, you've found the right battleground; Squad is a game that's all about crushing your hand.

The fact that Squad roamed Early Access for almost five years before its official release may tell you something. Like many games released to the public over a long period of time, the final version is something of an awkward, sharp-edged puzzle for those new to the game. There is a tutorial and a large area to play with the system, but you won't be able to figure it all out without a wiki, a YouTube video, or a crash course from a friendly veteran player.

From a distance, the fundamentals appear simpler than they appear. There are several game modes, but they all basically boil down to attack and defense. The most popular mode (by far) concerns the comfortably familiar concept of two teams fighting to occupy and hold a control point on the map. Success or failure depends on the squad's ability to play as intended.

The two 50-man teams are divided into squads, each of nine men, which are initiated and named by the players. There is also a commander, elected by vote, who is responsible for directing the actions of the entire team. This is similar to the "Red Orchestra" series.

Let me say at this point that, aside from the relatively close quarters (and unpopular) Skirmish mode, the squad's map is huge. Huge. Dare I say, a little too big. This is just one of the many reasons why attempting lone wolf is unwise, unfair to the team, and doomed to failure.

Unless you want your soldiers to get a great aerobic workout, you will be working with other soldiers to take advantage of rides (which are few and far between) in the right places. If you are brave enough to sit in the driver's seat, you will find that, as in "Battlefield," land vehicles are tricky but manageable. On uneven ground, however, they are prone to roll over. Oddly enough, unlike "Battlefield," for all its emphasis on realism, even minor environmental elements such as trees and fences appear indestructible and can leave tanks stranded. As for helicopters, let's just say that if you struggle with helicopters in "Battlefield," you definitely don't want to be a squad pilot.

Teamwork is essential. Equally important is communication in general. I usually keep my headset a safe distance from my mouth and ears during online play, but I use it constantly during Squad play. This helps both myself and my team. When playing as a squad leader, I can communicate with my squad members as well as the commander and other squad leaders. Even when you are playing as a lowly squad leader, you can literally be a lifesaver and, most importantly, you can add to the atmosphere.

Death comes quickly and easily in this game. Expect to be killed repeatedly by players you have never seen before. This was one of the first things I learned, so I was not surprised when, as I was carefully creeping through some trees, someone from another squad came up beside me and asked if there was any danger nearby. I warned him about the sniper and he thanked me. There are many similar little moments in the match that organically create a tense and unpredictable atmosphere.

It is unlikely that Squad shoots many shots in a match, but when they do, there is little room for error. Ballistics lean heavily toward realism, and if you are attacked from a distance and have only iron sights, the best you can do is to take cover and flank (or flee heroically). Anti-tank rockets will also be ineffective if you are too close to your target. Weapon handling is tough but fair, and each kill brings great satisfaction.

More often than we would like to admit, we are killed for not being careful enough or reacting too slowly, but there is one serious problem that leads to unfair and frustrating deaths. As one might expect, teammates are identified by their usernames, which are displayed above their heads. However, the display is frustratingly inconsistent. While the name of the teammate in front of you disappears, the name of the teammate across from you is visible, and vice versa. They appear and disappear at random. Added to this is the fact that it is very difficult to distinguish between friend and foe based on character models alone. You will not be surprised to hear that in every Squad match I have played, there have been many team kills (usually not by me).

The idea that players always know where their allies are, combined with the use of maps and effective communication, would also be acceptable were it not for the fact that squad leaders are identified by icons that are visible from a distance and are bright green stars for heavily armed wiseguys teams to follow could have done.

Despite this, I still get a lot of enjoyment out of it and frequently come away with new anecdotes. Kills are usually the least important element of a match, and this is reflected in the weighting of the score. If you kill an enemy and do not revive him, you have lost one ticket for the opposing team. However, actions such as occupying and defending points, helping build structures, demolishing enemy structures, and recovering and reviving teammates can result in the loss of tickets for the opposing team (or the gain of tickets for your own team) and a big score. Not only are the leaderboards divided by team, but teams are ranked by squad rather than by individual player (though still a source of bragging rights within the squad).

There are so many variables in a squad that I have not even touched the surface here. The most important thing to understand is that this is a game that only works, and indeed is fun, the first time you act as part of a team. Nervously crossing the street in the presence of a sniper, reviving or healing a teammate when under fire, or helping to establish a new base are all thrilling and intensely satisfying. If only identifying the enemy were as easy as in other online games I've played: ...... experience could have been much improved.

The ruthlessness of the gameplay is both Squad's greatest strength and its greatest weakness. While some may be put off by its refusal to meaningfully guide players through a labyrinthine system, the same system offers an experience like no other. If you can crawl through the long, uncomfortable trenches, each battle will reveal itself in a unique battlefield.