This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the role of police officers tracking down gangs and drug cartels from California to Mexico. Players infiltrate hideouts, locate specific targets, and engage in gun battles with armed thugs; some missions involve stealth operations such as planting bugs or stealing weapons. Players use pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers to shoot and kill enemies; some sequences result in the death of unarmed civilians—though this can negatively affect players' progress. Realistic gunfire, explosions, cries of pain, and large splashes of blood accompany the frenetic firefights, and battles are sometimes highlighted by slow-motion effects. A handful of sequences depict close-range beatings of enemies (e.g., grabbing by the throat, pummeling). The main storyline involves drug trafficking, and players' direct involvement is sometimes required (e.g., selling drugs to earn money and experience points). As players set a marijuana field on fire, dialogue such as “Yeah, let's get out of here before they get the munchies” can be heard. Some storylines also contain sexual material and dialogue: a woman sitting on a man's lap as he reaches up her skirt—the camera cuts away to the couple caressing and kissing; brief instances of nudity, including a depiction of a topless female dancer; and dialogue such as “A four-way's gonna cost you a little more cash” and “For twenty I can take you to heaven, honey.” Language such as “f**k,” “sh*t,” and “a*shole” can be heard in dialogue.