Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
| Developer: Electronic Arts | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Electronic Arts | Sound: |
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| Year: 1993 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Shoot’em up | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
8/10 | |
Inspired by the Gulf War, this 3D isometric action game, first released on the Sega Genesis in 1992, puts you in control of an overarmed (yes, again!) AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopter during a fictional conflict in desert terrain—as the name suggests. It was a massive hit thanks to its innovative gameplay and polished presentation.
It’s got it all: technically demanding action sequences, where you’ll destroy ground targets while deftly manoeuvring to dodge incoming missiles; a solid tactical layer, requiring you to plan optimal routes based on mission objectives and enemy positions; resource management (ammo, fuel, armour) that demands forethought; and, of course, a sense of freedom—though sticking to the mission order is highly advisable. At any point, you can pull up an interactive map displaying your objectives and current status (press “0”).
The game’s staging is particularly well done. Expect plenty of animations during the intro, mission briefings, and key events like hostage rescues or enemy officer captures. At the start, you’re even prompted to choose a co-pilot, which impacts gameplay elements such as targeting assistance and the ease of winching up allied soldiers.
The game only offers four levels (campaigns), all set in the same type of scenery. However, each one will take several hours to complete, and the punishing difficulty ensures you’ll need multiple attempts.
Despite appearances, the pace is slow. You’ll often have to make trips back and forth to refuel, resupply, or evacuate prisoners, and your chopper’s fragility rules out any “guns blazing” tactics. The resulting tension is immense, and it’s a big part of what makes the series unique.
This Amiga version received a noticeable facelift compared to its console counterparts. The environments, certain graphical effects, and the soundtrack have all been reworked. Even so, I prefer the original Sega Genesis version, which is easier to handle (the multi-button controller sure helps). In a game like this, good controls are everything.
Its sequel, Jungle Strike, was released in 1993 on the Sega Genesis (1994 on Amiga). It was followed by Urban Strike (Sega Genesis, 1994), Soviet Strike (PlayStation, 1996), and finally Nuclear Strike (PlayStation, 1997).
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