Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
DOS - 1994
Also available on: Amiga - Game Gear - Genesis - Lynx - SEGA Master System
Description of Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
Pretty cool conversion of Electronic Arts' Mega Drive action hit Desert Strike, the first game in their "Strike"-games series.
An isometric-view heli-shooter, not bad at all - just leave out the idiotic story. That banal premise has probably been played to death by the many follow-ups, without adding anything to the game. Despite cliche premise (part of the war effort in the Gulf, yada yada yada), the game is a lot of fun. Your helicopter has various weapons and a winch, which can be used to pickup ammo, fuel, armor, and even POW's. Missions range from rescue to seek and destroy, and the game switches objectives often enough that it never becomes boring. The maps are huge, and full of interesting power-ups, secrets, and various ground-based enemies. You can blow up most things, including buildings, and the graphics are superior to most games at the time.
Overall, a great game for all fans of shooters which might even appeal to flight sim gamers. The successor Jungle Strike is also available at this site.
Note: You might experience a "divide overflow" problem when trying to start the game. If you're one of these unlucky ones, just execute the game a couple of times in succession. It usually works for me after the 10th or so try ;)
Review By HOTUD
External links
Comments and reviews
The Boz 2022-10-08 1 point Genesis version
I did enjoy this for a short while. The problem I have personally with games based in the Middle East is that the setting is just too brown. After a while everything just blends in together, blurs, and eventually I find it boring. One reason I much preferred Jungle Strike, it had a more varied gaming experience visually.
JC 2020-06-02 1 point DOS version
I loved this game so much when I was a teen. I found a copy in a mom and pop shop on a disk that came with a fifth level. Basically the madman finished his super weapon and you had to destroy it. It this that version by chance because I never finished it?
Charles Hawtrey 2020-05-24 -5 points
Awwww, Andy. You shouldn't have to hold Fn darling. You must be playing this on a modern fangled laptop of sorts, a Compaq perhaps. Awww. You need to disable the need to hold Fn for normal F-key functionality in your BIOS dear. Then I think you'll find your F-keys work normally under everyday Windows use too.
Oooh I say.
Andy 2020-05-11 -3 points DOS version
I can't seem to bring up the map... any ideas??? Tried pressing "0" or "F10" but no joy. kind of need that to play. any help appreciated :-)
Kenneth Williams 2020-05-04 0 point
Charles, you dirty old sauce! You should know better. I'll be sure to tell Matron!
chromax 2019-10-07 -2 points
What is the best version?
My opinion is, that the Amiga version looks best but the framerate is a low for today. The explosions and sound effects are great.
The PC version is really fluid, but the explosions look really lame compared to amiga and there are no speech samples.
The Genesis was the first version and is a little between. Very fluid, the explosions are not so bad (but also not so huge like amiga), but the menu for example or the mission screen with your targets looks very simple. On amiga everything looks like the apache dashboard.
César 2017-02-04 1 point DOS version
Wow! Desert Strike! I remember this as a HARD one! :D It will be a pleasure to play it again! Thanks!
Reyce 2016-08-10 -1 point
*REVIEW*
Destroying stuff is fun, winching stuff is also fun, shooting rifleman with your superior heavy duty weaponry is fun, therefore this game is fun. Logic!
The sound effects do the rest of the title justice and you may even relive your own personal version of the opening to Apocalypse Now after you’ve flown through the 2-3 hour campaign – provided you’ve got the ‘skillz’ and enough whiskey to drink yourself into a sexy and sad stupor.
Full Review:
http://cooldownpodcast.com/reviews/reyces-retro-reviews/desert-strike/
Erik 2014-09-07 0 point DOS version
Is the moderating of comments a new thing? Or just very lazely implemented?
Barack Obama 2013-09-10 -9 points DOS version
My Obamacare will pocket me millions. Thank you Allah for your guidance.
carlsgro 2013-01-28 -3 points DOS version
Before the terrorists showed their monkey faces, boom we shot them to smithereens
Write a comment
Share your gamer memories, help others to run the game or comment anything you'd like. If you have trouble to run Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf, read the abandonware guide first!
Download Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
We may have multiple downloads for few games when different versions are available. Also, we try to upload manuals and extra documentation when possible. If you have additional files to contribute or have the game in another language, please contact us!
DOS Version
Game Extras
Various files to help you run Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf, apply patches, fixes, maps or miscellaneous utilities.
86 KB
Amiga ROM
- Year: 1993
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc., Hit Squad, The
- Developer: Electronic Arts, Inc., Granite Bay Software
Game Gear ROM
- Year: 1994
- Publisher: Domark Software, Inc.
- Developer: Electronic Arts, Inc., Granite Bay Software
201 KBGenesis ROM
- Year: 1992
- Publisher: Electronic Arts Victor, Electronic Arts, Inc., Tec Toy Indústria de Brinquedos S.A.
- Developer: Electronic Arts, Inc., Granite Bay Software
Lynx Version
- Year: 1993
- Publisher: Telegames, Inc.
- Developer: Electronic Arts, Inc., Granite Bay Software
SEGA Master System ROM
- Year: 1992
- Publisher: Domark Software Ltd.
- Developer: Electronic Arts, Inc., Granite Bay Software
Similar games
Fellow retro gamers also downloaded these games:
