Desert Strike - Return to the Gulf
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reggie wrote:
Desert Strike – Return to the Gulf, or simply Desert Strike, is a well-known shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Electronic Arts (EA) in 1992 for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Later on the game was ported on other platforms, including Amiga's home computer.
The story of the game was inspired by the real Gulf War and follows the conflict between the United States and an insane Middle Eastern dictator. The player control an Apache helicopter in order to destroy the enemies' weapons and installations. The player has also to rescue hostages, capture enemies and manage fuel and ammunition supplies.
The lead designer, Mike Posehn, had no video development experience prior to Desert Strike, but did a very good job by using 3D modeling to generate vehicle sprites. Those were later on touched up on the pixel level.
The game follows the story of Kibaba, who controls an unnamed and fictional Gulf state, as a dictator. The United States are forced to send a helicopter to destroy Kibaba's army, and the helicopter is assigned to the playable character. A bit after the game release the press stated the unnamed country is Iraq, and the fictional dictator is Saddam Hussein.
The player pilots an AH-64 Apache helicopter. The game has lots of strategic elements, though it is mainly a shoot 'em up video game. The game happens in multi-directional scrolling levels from an isometric perspective. The player views the helicopter from outside, and not from the cockpit.
There are several missions in the game, based on destruction of enemy weapons and installations, but also including hostage rescue and enemy personnel capturing. The helicopter has machine guns, Hydra rockets and Hellfire missiles. However, if the player chooses to have very powerful weapons, he will not be able to carry on many in the helicopter. The player will have to choose the right weapon for each mission.
If the helicopter is hit and its armor reaches zero, the machine will be destroyed and the player will lose a life. It's the same with the limited amount of fuel the aircraft can have. However, the helicopter can refuel by picking up fuel barrels.
The video game was a fantastic commercial hit, topping the best seller charts for Electronic Arts at that time. Most of the critics offered favorable reviews, and some publications even offered ratings as 9 out of 10. The game was enjoyable, mixed action and strategy and offered great graphics and sound.
However, some were not happy with the release of the game happening right around the end of the Gulf War. The real-world War focused on the US sending aircrafts and helicopters to destroy enemy weapons, exactly like in the game. One magazine even reported veterans burning copies of the game. Nevertheless, Desert Strike was a hit on the market and a great game to play in 1992.
Game Reviews
Created by Mike Posehn, John Patrick Manley, and Tony Barnes, this 1991 through 1997 series of releases by Electronic Arts had greatest success for the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis platforms. These multi-directional shooter games allow the player to take control of an Apache helicopter equipped with three ammunition types with limited fuel and defense capacity. Search for scattered parts throughout the map and you can more easily repair armor by capturing and delivering POWs or allied soldiers at a drop point. However, beware of your fuel and armor level, because if either reaches zero – your helicopter crashes and you loose a life. Desert Strike is the first game in the Strike series. In this game, a self-styled General takes over an Arab Emirate and threatens to start World War III with Western enemies – the United States. Your job as the player is to stop the General and his terrorist army and prevent him from launching a nuclear attack on the world. Fly you AH-64A Apache through missions as you destroy power plants and perform rescue attempts. While searching for the enemy’s plans take out his defenses and blow apart missiles.
Game Series
Desert Strike - Return to the Gulf
Desert Strike is a helicopter game. There is a wide variety of missions including destroying targets, rescuing prisoners, capturing an ambassador, stopping an oil spill, and taking out SCUD launchers.
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
Desert Strike is a helicopter game. There is a wide variety of missions including destroying targets, rescuing prisoners, capturing an ambassador, stopping an oil spill, and taking out SCUD launchers.
