Desert Strike Return To The Gulf Genesis

That wacky madman from the Middle East is at it again in Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf. Backed by a strong and fiercely loyal military, General Kilbaba is threatening to reign Armageddon on all his enemies, including the good ol' U.S.A. The President of our fair land calls on you, fearless gamer, to fly a series of dangerous preemptive campaigns in the desert to eliminate the tyrannical despot from the face of the globe.

After choosing a campaign (if you don't have a password, you must begin with campaign number one) and a copilot, you must decide whether to control your Apache) helicopter With Momentum, From the Cockpit, or From Above. With Momentum is similar to From the Cockpit, but the computer makes you compensate for the momentum of your helicopter. You view the game from a three-quarter overhead perspective.

Once the action begins, you will find yourself frequently referring to the battle map as it enables you to locate yourself in relation to your targets and objectives. Many times throughout the game you will receive incoming intelligence reports. You'll be called on to perform numerous military exercises, such as demolishing enemy airfields, destroying radar and power stations, escorting a busload of innocents, blowing up command centers, killing guards, trashing jails in order to free prisoners, airlifting and dropping off commandos, taking out scud launchers, and protecting oil fields.

Your helicopter is a powerful vehicle and is equipped with a chain gun and the ability to fire hydras and hellfire missiles. To stay fortified and ensure your survival, you must frequently pick up armor, fuel, and ammunition. Enemy weapons you'll face include a variety of tanks, gun turrets, choppers, speedboats and soldiers.

Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf is composed of 27 missions divided among four major campaigns. You begin the game with three lives and can find additional lives hidden throughout. If you lose all your lives prior to completing the final mission of a campaign, you must start over at the beginning of that campaign and finish it before you can advance to the next.

Controls: Gamepad/Joystick