Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf, or simply Desert Strike, is a 1992 shoot 'em up game developed by Electronic Arts for the Sega Mega Drive, the Game Gear and the Master System. Players, fighting for the United States, control an Apache helicopter to take down the crazed Middle Eastern dictator, General Kilbaba, while managing fuel, ammunition, destroying enemy forces and rescuing hostages and fellow soldiers.
Desert Strike was a commercial success for EA; it topped various charts and was their best selling game at the time. Critics also viewed the game positively, as most magazines gave over a 90%. Praise was aimed at the game’s enjoyability, graphics, sound, and action-strategy mix. The game faced controversy for its subject matter; the real life Gulf War had only ended recently when Desert Strike was released, and some saw it in poor taste.
Plot[]
The game begins with the self-proclaimed general Kilbaba, who invades the a neighboring emirate in the Persian Gulf. Kilbaba assumes the title of a dictator, fortifying his position with military weapons and facilities, constructing things such as nuclear bombs. The United States sends in a singular chopper, the player's Apache aided with a co-pilot, to destroy Kilbaba's forces.
Gameplay[]
Desert Strike has players pilot a AH-64 Apache attack helicopter from an isometric view. Unlike most other shoot 'em ups, Desert Strike takes more focus on strategy.
Levels, broken up into "missions", have players complete various objectives, mostly based around rescuing POWs or capturing enemy soldiers. The Apache is armed with Hydra 70 rockets and more potent AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. A shortcoming is that the more powerful the weapon is, the less that can be carried. This causes the player to strategize and deduce which weapon is best for the current mission. Enemy weapons range from soldiers to anti-aircraft missiles and tanks.
The Apache has limited armor, which serves as health. Once all armor is destroyed, the craft is destroyed and the player loses a life. Players must weave through enemy fire to negate this; armor replenishments can be obtained through power-ups or by completing certain objectives. The Apache also has limited fuel, which steadily depletes over time. If the player runs of fuel, the Apache will once again crash and cost a life. Fuel barrels can be collected to refuel. Finite ammunition means the players must find ammo crates to get more ammo.
External links[]
- Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf at Strike series Wiki
- Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf at MobyGames
- Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf at GameFAQs
- Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf at Sega Retro
- Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (Genesis) at Sega-16
- Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf at The Cutting Room Floor