Here we get the information on the mission along with the ability to check the background on individuals and organizations relating to the mission. This ability can be very useful in deciding on how best to undertake the mission and which operatives/equipment to use for the action phase.
 

We are also able to get news feeds which may give a slightly different angle on what the situation is in the eyes of the world. Much of the briefing is written with a little audio for the main part of the initial brief. It would be nice to have some video in here but for a 1998 release game it is my opinion that Redstorm did a fantastic job.

​Although the briefing phase is there, it is really up to the individual player whether they want to look at all the available information of just plough on into the fight (let me take this opportunity to let you in on my dark secret, “I like to plough on into the fight as quickly as possible and make my own rules”).