Urban Strike

"Think of Rambo with a helicopter piloting license."

Way back in the earlier days of video games, remakes of the Persian Gulf war were quite common. Many games pitted soldiers up against hundreds of enemies, armed with weapons, armor, and vehicles. At the time, Electronic Arts came up with the idea for the Strike series, which was an isometric helicopter shooting game. Basically, you would fly around, complete missions, and rescue people via your versatile Apache helicopter. The game was a huge hit with Desert and Jungle Strike, but then EA tried to stretch it out with Urban Strike. Urban Strike is the final installment of this popular series on the Genesis, and while solid in nearly every element, suffers from repetition that was unlike in the other games. The general storyline has you (the famous pilot) resting on your vacation on the sunny beaches of Hawaii. Suddenly, you get called via your cell phone and get orders that a possible genius is trying to overtake the world. You find out that an evil drug lord, whom you thought you killed, managed to get plastic surgery, and change his face to a famous political leader. Now he's planning to build a super weapon that could destroy cities in a glimpse. For a simple action shooting game, Urban Strike mounts with a decent story. But the game itself is far from being perfect.

Graphics [7/10]
In case you've never played a Strike series game, then you're probably missing out on one of the more innovative action shooters out there. Urban Strike continues the tradition by using the same graphics that were in the previous two prequels. Basically, the entire game is played from an isometric view slightly elevated in the air. The entire map is looked down from a diagonal direction, complete with buildings, scenery, and people filling the ground. Your attack helicopter is well designed. Your rotor, side weapons, and cockpit all simulate well to what a real life Apache would look like. Even your enemies have unique designs, with plenty of details to make them distinguish from your own aircraft. Maps use themed colors to help them ''feel'' like certain environments. If you're flying over some desert terrain, you'll see plenty of barren sand dunes, and rocks littering them throughout. Buildings, shacks, and establishments are somewhat repetitive throughout maps, but will change shapes and angles to better fit the player's view. Urban Strike is definitely the most graphically detailed out of the trilogy. The game simulates levels, designs, and attacks to realistic proportions.

The game has a seemingly easy interface, but forces you to pause the game whenever you want to see your remaining fuel, ammunition, or load. Unfortunately, maps tend to get bland at times. Sometimes when you don't come across buildings or urban settings, you'll fly over repeating tiles for quite some time. Animations are lacking in the game. While your rotor swivels quite nicely, none of your weapons make rocket animations. Whenever you rescue someone, a ladder drops from below your helicopter, which is a nice addition. In the end though, Urban Strike still presents the same above average feeling it has presented in the previous games. There's no eye popping 3D visuals, and most of your explosions are quite lame.

Sound/Music [4/10]
If there was anything that needed huge improvement, it's the audio department by far. Urban Strike is suppose to create the feeling of a danger-imminent environment. Engaging turrets, soldiers, and other aircraft should be more thrilling than a simple rotating sound. During missions, Urban Strike suffers from a lack of music. Not once will you hear a single background tune, song, or theme to help set the level. Background music is non-existent except for intel briefings and cut scenes. The entire mood of the game is set off when you don't hear your favorite butt-kicking tune. Aside from your axles spinning, sound effects are pitiful as well. Your machine guns and rockets make simple low-quality bashing sounds. Your ladder makes an effect like a cargo bay door opening. Even alerts and danger sounds make simple whistling sounds. It just seems like EA didn't put enough effort into the sound department to make it worthwhile.

Gameplay [7/10]
By now, you should know what any Strike game truly represents. Basically, Urban Strike continues the popular novelty of the series by placing you in the role of an elite helicopter combat pilot. Thanks to your hard work, and focused training, you've become the best combat pilot in any type of helicopter. Most of your gameplay consists of flying around using momentum, and engaging targets with your default guns, rockets, or guided missiles. Thanks to the unique camera view (isometric), Urban Strike recreates a 3D and somewhat realistic environment. The game gives itself both a simulator-like, and arcade-like effect that's very compatible with most gamers. Unlike other flight simulators, which force you to learn aggravating controls, Urban Strike keeps it mainly focused on a laid back feeling. All you have to worry about is limited ammo, fuel, and your armor which can be repaired via powerups. Each map is littered with structures which can either be blown up, or picked up. You can pick up things thanks to your cargo belt or ladder which can be used to pick up canisters, bombs, or people. Stopping at a landing zone will allow you to safely drop off any people you picked up.

In any fashion though, Urban Strike is complete with mini campaigns on each map. Basically, when you start a new level, you're presented with several missions (5-7). Sometimes new missions will pop up after you complete a few, and the location of each is provided in a menu when you pause the game. When you first attack targets, it takes some time to get use to the flying mechanics. Depending on which vehicle you're using, often you can dodge or fly past a swiveling turret. Taking down the enemy before he takes you down is always an upsetting victory. Most missions will consist of rescuing a crew, destroying a building, or delivering a package to a certain location. The biggest flaw in the mission design is that failing one part of any mission will fail the entire level. This becomes a nuisance after awhile because if you accidentally drop a package (or something important), your entire campaign is failed. You're forced to start from scratch. It can become a tedious part of the gameplay if you simply can't overcome one part of a mission.

Aside from that, Urban Strike also suffers from too much repetition. You simply attack, shoot, and keep attacking. EA tried to add some innovation by allowing you to switch to a ''third-person shooting mode.'' On certain missions, you actually have to attack installations as a simple person. While you're equipped with a rifle and some missiles, the game doesn't manage to change pace well enough. The innovative shooting mode isn't enough to inspire gamers to move on. Really, Urban Strike offers no new additions from its previous counterparts. Strategy can be a non-factor at times since some turrets and weapons are too hard to destroy. It basically comes down to how fast you can tap the rockets button to destroy a powerful weapon.

Fun [5/10]
When you first play an arcade shooter like Urban Strike, you'd think it'd provide plenty of entertainment like any other game of its time. While the game managed to provide entertainment, the simple of joy of playing is merely average. Missions force you to follow objectives, meaning you can't explore a map whenever you feel like it. The game has linear roots because each mission relates with each other in another way. Taking down the radar dome let's you engage the enemy, and engaging the enemy will let you rescue your friends. Unlike other games (Grand Theft Auto), it seems like you're almost forced to do each mission. Fuel constraints and armor limits mean that you really don't have the option fly for very long before getting powerups. Urban Strike just doesn't present the original feeling of taking down a dictator, but seems like a stretched out storyline during certain times.

Replayability [6/10]
Most of the environments in Urban Strike have enough interaction to make the game a pleasing experience for most players. Each level is complete with numerous missions, which all must be completed in order to finish that level. Saving some of your powerups like fuel can be strategic moves since you might need the barrels later for a mission. The game features 5+ campaigns and levels ranging from Las Vegas, Hawaii, the Bajas, to even San Francisco. Environments are realistic, but don't seem populated enough to fit their description. Action can be high paced at times, especially when you're getting ambushed by a group of bazookas or turrets. The biggest problem is that failing one simple objective screws up your whole campaign, and this is frustrating in the long run. Fortunately, you can continue a certain campaign thanks to a password system. There are also selectable co-pilots, and different vehicles/modes you can use. From a player's standpoint, Urban Strike sounds like a lot more. But once you start playing, the game still has a feeling of repeating which downplays its value.

Difficulty [6/10]
For an arcade-designed combat game, Urban Strike features enough difficulty to make it worthy for players to try out. Most people would think the missions is what make Urban Strike a challenging game, but it's not entirely. The constraints such as limited fuel, ammo, and armor is what makes the game difficult. Getting pelted by a few rockets and turret ammo will deplete your armor very quickly. Fuel burns at a fast rate, and sometimes you're forced to destroy structures just to find some powerups. Missions usually have either time limits, limited personnel, or one package that must be delivered at all costs. If you're carrying important cargo, and you bump into a building, that cargo is destroyed failing your mission. Not rescuing enough people during a rescue mission will cause a failure. Every one of these factors increases the chance of failing your mission, which makes Urban Strike such a risky and dangerous game. In the end though, it really comes down to safe navigating and your ability to fire your weapons quickly.

Final Factor [6/10]
As much as I'd like to say that Urban Strike is a necessity in your Genesis collection, it simply isn't. The game is definitely a must-try game if you're a huge Strike fan, or are looking for any type of helicopter combat games. Urban Strike features well balanced gameplay, and a few varying missions, but in the end suffers from a one-sided draw. The game doesn't have any other gameplay options aside from single player campaign mode. It seems like missions are just made up to fill the player's time. While it does manage to switch to other gameplay modes occasionally, there just isn't enough to make you addicted into playing more and more. Instead, you sort of become fed up with the idea of being forced into completing several missions without any faults. In the end, Urban Strike is nothing more than an overextended series. Sure, the game might have some ups and downs, but your best option is to get Jungle Strike.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 08/28/03