Electronic Gaming Monthly's Top 12 Strike Series Games

Desert Strike (Lynx)

#12

“I just couldn't get into this game. I found the controls awkward and hard to get used to. The graphics were unimpressive and to top it off, your assault on the enemy is hindered because it was very difficult to see your shots. I will say that the helicopter animation is very smooth and the sound is OK if you can handle portable sound. The many missions are nice, prolonging its play value. Otherwise, this just isn't my thing.” (4.75 out of 10)

Jungle Strike (Game Boy)

#11

“Jungle Strike is impossible to play on the regular Game Boy, but quite fun on the Super Game Boy. The graphics are a bit too small, and the sounds are rather lackluster. The action isn't all that intense, fortunately, because bullets are impossible to see. The control is good and it plays just like its 16-it brothers, but picking up ammo is really hard. Jungle Strike is best suited for fans of the series who must have it portable. Otherwise, pass this cart up.” (4.9 out of 10)

Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (Game Boy)

#10

“A fairly faithful portable version of the 16-bit military classic. Like the other versions, the levels are huge with plenty of enemies to destroy and submissions to complete. Good control, too.” (6.6 out of 10)

Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (Genesis)

#9

“It had to happen. Just when everyone started to forget about the War in the Gulf, someone had to go ahead and capitalize on it. It is a great shooter with realistic gameplay and controls, sparkling graphics and crisp sounds. Had it been named Chopper Strikes or something else, it would be cool. Let's not get cocky about war.” (6.75 out of 10)

Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (Game Gear)

#8

“Try as they might, these gunship military games really need a big screen and a large platform. Unfortunately, Desert Strike just doesn't cut it on the small screen, despite pretty good graphics. The effect just isn't there.” (6.8 out of 10)

Future Cop: LAPD (PlayStation)

#7

“I'll give Future Cop one thing – you'll get blown to bits if you go into a level with guns a-blazin' and no plan of attack. This game is not some mindless shoot ‘em up. The gameplay is along the same lines as one of those Strike games, except with a police theme instead of a military one. It works pretty well, but I'm not sure why EA didn't just call the game Cop Strike or something like that. Overall, the game's not incredible, but it's worth checking out (especially if you're a fan of the Strike games). I'd have to recommend renting it first to see if you like it or not. One last thing: What's with the lame name?” (7 out of 10)

Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (Super NES)

#6

“Electronic Arts did a very good job in creating a realistic copter game. With true to life missions that take us back to the War in the Gulf, this simulation is one of the best ever done in a cartridge game. While the weaknesses of the system show through, once the play control is learned, the game is manageable.” (7 out of 10)

Mercenaries 2: World of Flames (Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3)

#5

“I pretty much view Mercs 2 the same way I view fine 1980s cinema, such as Predator or Commando: It's technically “flawed,” but the carnage makes up for said flaws. A giant fuel-air bomb vaporizing bad dudes makes up for additional gripes, such as the somewhat terrible dialogue/story and menu-heavy interface. Heck, even though the co-op has the “you have to be within a certain distance of each other” caveat, it's still satisfying to jointly blow stuff up with a buddy – or even crash some stranger's game and grief him by killing the people he's working for.” (B out of A+)

Jungle Strike (Genesis)

#4

“Now this is how a sequel should be! Jungle Strike has everything Desert Strike had and more. More targets, more vehicles, and more missions! Speaking of missions, they're huge! The best part is that you're not limited to just a helicopter. The hovercraft, motorcycle and stealth fighter are perfect additions.” (8 out of 10)

Soviet Strike (PlayStation)

#3

“I always get a little nervous when companies develop next-generation updates to classic titles, but EA is right on target with Soviet Strike. The game plays exactly the same as the 16-bit games – which is definitely a good thing, since those old games had superb control, plenty of missions and were just plain fun. Soviet Strike, of course, boasts superior graphics – the sharpest-looking texture mapped terrain seen on the PlayStation, in fact. Sometimes the graphics get a little choppy, though, like when the screen fills with targets, but you get used to it. The game is loaded with fantastic cinemas, too, and the music kicks butt.” (8.1 out of 10)

Nuclear Strike (PlayStation)

#2

“The 32-bit Strike series is following the same evolution in gameplay as its 16-bit originators. Namely, Nuclear Strike looks and plays just like Soviet Strike, except now it packs a huge assortment of vehicles. Aside from the standard Apache, you can command a harrier, a news chopper – even a tank! Like Soviet Strike, this sucker ain't easy (some missions are downright frustrating). You'll do fine if you take it slow and plan your attack.” (8.25 out of 10)

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (Xbox & PlayStation 2)

#1

“Although not necessarily its core mechanic, few things are more satisfying in Mercenaries than blowing crap up, and the enormous variety of methods with which you can do that makes it an absolute joy to play. The game delivers a spectacular sense of destructive freedom, while also putting enough structure in place that you never lose sight of your objectives. Obsessively needy gamers will no doubt spend the 40 hours or so it takes to nail all 52 bad guys, ensuring a universally good rep, while those of you who are perhaps a little more obtuse will get a perverse pleasure from needlessly provoking the ire of a particular faction. These Mercensaries are worth hiring.” (8.7 out of 10)