Strike

Strike is a series of video games created by Mike Posehn, John Patrick Manley and Tony Barnes released between 1991 and 1997 by Electronic Arts for a number of video game systems. The games are multi-directional shooters viewed from an overhead or top-down perspective. The first three games in the series were 2D and used isometric sprites to give the illusion of 3D depth since real-time 3D polygon rendering wasn't possible at the time. The series made the jump to real-time 3D graphics with the release of Soviet Strike which used a brand new engine built for fifth generation gaming consoles. In the games, the player controls a helicopter (although in the following titles some levels require the player to successfully control other vehicles such as a hovercraft, an F-117 Nighthawk, a motorcycle and even on foot). The series is composed of five games, and was very popular during the 16-bit era, receiving critical acclaim for the games' strategic elements, gameplay, graphics, and sound. The last two games released on the PlayStation featured live-action cut-scenes that reflected and explained events in the game. Overview The player controls a helicopter - a Boeing AH-64 Apache or a similar type - equipped with three ammunition types, limited fuel, and armor. While there are refits for ammo, fuel, and armor scattered around the map, armor is more easily repaired by rescuing and delivering POWs, allied soldiers or other passengers to a landing point. If either armor or fuel reaches zero, the aircraft crashes and a life is lost. Levels are composed of several missions that can be completed in any order but it is often better to complete them sequentially, as completing an earlier mission will make later ones easier. This is because the objectives of later missions are usually protected by a "Danger Zone" which gives enemies in the area increased weapon range, firepower and damage as well as additional armor. A "Danger Zone" can be removed by the destruction of a radar or power plant, often the objective of an earlier mission. Later levels will often present only one mission that must be completed to reveal the next one. Missions can range from destruction of enemy targets, rescuing a MIA soldier who carries vital information, protecting friendly troops, capturing or eliminating an enemy leader, or delivery of friendlies or cargo to a drop zone. Between each level cut-scenes developing the story take place.