Remember the Strike series, where you could fly a helicopter, destroy enemy bases, and save hostages? Did you know you can still play these classic games online today? In this article, we’ll look at each game in the series and show you how to play them now. Get ready to relive the action!
The Strike series is a popular set of video games that first appeared in the early 1990s. These games were developed by Electronic Arts (EA) and are well known for combining helicopter combat with tactical strategy.
Stop Browsing Our Website!
Unless the newsletter brought you here ;)
Our site contains only a fraction of what we share. Defragg is a newsletter built for a community of tech enthusiasts, sharing curated tech tutorials, productivity tips, life hacks, retro games, nostalgia, and a dash of humor, all delivered to your inbox.
Become a Defragger like thousands of others. Obey the floppy and join today!
Each game puts the player in control of a military helicopter, completing missions that involve destroying enemy forces, rescuing hostages, and gathering intelligence. The series stands out because it mixes action-packed gameplay with strategic planning, making players think about how to manage their resources like fuel, ammunition, and armor.
The first game, Desert Strike, was released in 1992 and became an instant hit. It was followed by several sequels that expanded the scope of the missions and introduced new vehicles and environments.
The games cover a wide range of settings, from the deserts of the Middle East to the jungles of South America and even urban combat in North America. As the series progressed, the graphics and gameplay improved, especially with the shift from 2D to 3D in later titles.
In this article, we will explore each game in the Strike series, starting from Desert Strike and ending with Nuclear Strike. We’ll also include a section explaining how you can play these classic games today, whether through emulators or modern re-releases.
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf (1992)
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf was the first game in the Strike series, released in 1992. The game is set in the Middle East, where you control an Apache helicopter on a mission to stop a dictator who threatens global peace.
The game combines action with strategy, where you not only fight enemy forces but also have to manage your fuel and ammunition carefully. It also has an isometric view, which gives you a better sense of the battlefield, and the missions require a mix of combat and rescue operations.
Players also need to save hostages, destroy enemy bases, and protect friendly units. Desert Strike was a big success and became one of the most popular games on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, eventually being released on other platforms like the Super Nintendo and Amiga.
How to Play Desert Strike
You can easily play Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf online without downloading anything. Just visit the link below, and you can play the game directly in your web browser:
Play Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf online here.
Jungle Strike (1993)
Jungle Strike is the second game in the Strike series, released in 1993. In this game, you control a helicopter again, but this time you’re facing threats in multiple locations, including Washington D.C. and the jungles of South America. The game introduces new vehicles, such as hovercrafts and motorcycles, which add variety to the missions.
Like Desert Strike, the game focuses on both action and strategy. You must destroy enemy forces, rescue people, and manage your fuel and ammo carefully. The graphics were improved, and the missions became more complex, with different types of environments and objectives.
How to Play Jungle Strike
You can play Jungle Strike online without downloading anything. Just follow the link below, and you can start playing the game right in your browser:
Play Jungle Strike online here.
Urban Strike (1994)
Urban Strike is the third game in the Strike series, released in 1994. This time, the game takes place in North America, where you must stop a terrorist plot to take over the government.
The game keeps the helicopter combat from the previous titles but introduces new features, such as missions where you control your character on foot. This added a new layer of gameplay to the series.
The game’s story is also more detailed, and the missions take place in a variety of environments, including cities, deserts, and jungles. As in the earlier games, you need to destroy enemy targets, rescue civilians, and make sure you don’t run out of fuel or ammo.
How to Play Urban Strike
You can play Urban Strike online through a web browser. Just follow the link below to start playing without having to download anything:
Play Urban Strike online here.
Soviet Strike (1996)
Soviet Strike is the fourth game in the Strike series, released in 1996. It was the first Strike game made for 32-bit consoles like the PlayStation and Sega Saturn.
The game has more detailed graphics and uses full-motion video (FMV) scenes to tell the story. In this game, you fly a helicopter on missions in former Soviet Union territories, where you must stop a new threat.
The gameplay is similar to the earlier games, with a focus on tactical combat and strategy. You have to destroy enemy targets, complete objectives, and keep track of your fuel and ammunition.
The missions are more complex, and the 3D graphics add a new level of immersion.
How to Play Soviet Strike
You can play Soviet Strike online through your browser. Just click the link below to start playing without needing to download anything:
Play Soviet Strike online here.
Nuclear Strike (1997)
Nuclear Strike is the fifth and final game in the Strike series, released in 1997. This game takes the action to a global level, where you must stop a dangerous nuclear warlord.
The game introduces even more vehicles, like tanks and jets, adding more variety to the missions. The graphics are better than before, with 3D environments and detailed combat.
The game still focuses on a mix of action and strategy. You need to complete different objectives, destroy enemies, and make sure you manage your fuel, ammo, and armor.
Nuclear Strike also tells a more complex story with full-motion videos.
How to Play Nuclear Strike
You can play Nuclear Strike online in your web browser. Just follow the link below to start playing without having to download anything:
Play Nuclear Strike online here.
Cleared Hot: A New Game in the Spirit of the Strike Series
If you’re a fan of the Strike series, you’ll be excited to hear about Cleared Hot, an upcoming game inspired by the classic helicopter combat and strategy gameplay.
In Cleared Hot, you control a modern military helicopter, taking on dangerous missions across different locations. The game features intense action, strategic planning, and detailed environments, similar to what made the Strike series so popular.
Cleared Hot offers a fresh experience with modern graphics and advanced controls while keeping the tactical gameplay that fans love. The game will be available on Steam, so you can keep an eye out for its release and get ready for an exciting new chapter in helicopter combat games.
Legacy and Impact of the Strike Series
The Strike series had a big impact on action and strategy games in the 1990s. Combining helicopter combat with tactical planning, the series offered a unique gaming experience that many players enjoyed.
The mix of intense action with the need to carefully manage resources like fuel, ammunition, and armor made the games challenging and rewarding.
The Strike series also introduced new ideas to the gaming world, such as using different vehicles in missions and blending action with strategic elements. The later games, like Soviet Strike and Nuclear Strike, helped push the limits of what was possible with 3D graphics and storytelling, especially with the use of full-motion video scenes.
Even though the series ended after Nuclear Strike, it remains a popular memory for many gamers. It influenced other helicopter and strategy games that came later.
Let us know what you think about the Strike series games in the comments.
