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I
have been eagerly anticipating the release of SOVIET STRIKE as I hold a fondness
for shoot-em-ups involving strategy and planning. The three predecessors, Desert
Strike, Jungle Strike and Urban Strike were phenomenally successful on the P.C
with their challenging gameplay. The question is, would full use be make of the
32bit console, with the graphics and general feel of the game?
The Opening
FMV could easily be a trailer viewed in your Cinema for a forthcoming
blockbuster as it urgently reveals the plot and sets the scene.
Soviet
strike is explained as a hypothetical collapse of democracy in the former Soviet
Union. Your task will be to over-throw a dangerous communist movement, headed by
an ex-KGB general known as the SHADOWMAN. This ruthless adversary plans to
return his country to its former state, described as a separatist blood bath,
ending in possible world domination.
Enter STRIKE FORCE, flying an advanced
APACHE helicopter, you are allocated 40+ missions over varying landscapes, with
the eventual aim to avert all-out war.
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Mission
based strategy game.
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The
unrealistic 16bit graphics of old, have been replaced with an impressive
photo-realistic environment. A complete 3D world comprised of detailed building,
ice capped mountains, beach surrounded oceans and desert wastelands.
Some
of the additional details are brilliant. As you prepare to enter battle over the
Black sea, your adrenaline is flowing as you face Battleships, Subs, Speed-Boats
and Helicopters in a fight to the death. Just turn around and look on the beach
- sunbathers lying under a parasol with a cool box perched by their side. I took
a few pot-shots and one of the sunbathers jumped up and started running around
panic-stricken. I blew his cool-box up and a voice came over the radio and told
me off for wasting ammo.
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The
sounds are excellent, from the whipping of the rotating Apache blades, to the
explosive thunder as the missiles hit their targets. Even the enemy soldiers cry
out convincingly as you down them with your chain-gun. Try picking one off on
the dock edge and listen for the lasting scream as he falls until silenced by
his demise. When attacking a heavily armored ZSU Tank, you here a voice call out
"HA, HA, HI-HAM-HINDISTRUCTABLE" in broken Russian, just before you
destroy him with your sidewinder.
The action is accompanied by some
thrilling battle music as you get stuck into the enemy.
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Leaving
the helipad on Act One, Level One, you must use the first section to practice
your maneuvers, as "handling your Chopper" is imperative to succeed (
Just as in real-life ). It is a bit confusing at first, as your first
mission is thrust upon you immediately via a radio message and broken
transmission. You must flip on the map option and study the layout.
This
option is very informative if used correctly, as wandering into the unforeseen
territories can only end one way - a "limp-chopper" - and your not
going to progress through the game successfully flying blind. Once you have
pin-pointed your target, you must fly swiftly and carefully to the given
location as time is ticking away. You haven`t even got time for a few scraps on
the way. succeed in your mission and you may return to enemy camps and blast
them away to collect extra fuel and weapon power-ups. Any hostages rescued can
be returned to the helipad in exchange for armor upgrades.
Proceed
through the level rescuing hostages, operating reconnaissance mission and
performing air-strikes and sabotage until all missions are complete. The
constant video and audio updates add urgency to the gameplay and the forty plus
missions are all very different, which should hold your attention throughout.
You
commence each level with three lives and scrutinising the landscape and ruins
will reveal bonus lives. You will also notice that the game course alters as
your actions trigger-off different elements to the game.
SOVIET STRIKE
entails five main theatres of war. The first is the snowy mountains of CRIMEA
and then its off to the BLACK SEA. Act 3 is set in the CASPIAN DESSERT, followed
by DRACULAS HOMELAND where chemical weapons are tested on the prisoners. Your
final act is on the streets of MOSCOW and THE KREMLIN!
There are 16
different armored vehicles contained in Shadowlands forces. ZSU, T-55, PT-76,
BTR-70, BROM-2 and BMP tank and troop carriers. The anti-aircraft are: SA-6SAM,
LTAAA, HVYAAA and GASKIN. Scud and Skar rocket launchers, Trucks, Speed-Boats,
Snow-Sleds, Hind-Helicopters and Submarines.
I`m trying my best not to
the let this review turn into an instruction manual, but 50 percent of SOVIET
STRIKE is actually learning the game and recognizing the enemy. Without this
knowledge, you may give up too early and this excellent game will pass you by.
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The
success of the STRIKE series continues as this is the best by far. Soviet
Strike is an ADVANCEMENT on the original, rather than a complete change.
Photo-realistic graphics with a few humorous additions. The gameplay can be
quite difficult but this adds to the lastability.
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MARTIN |
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GRAPHICS: |
Good |
At
last, game complete. The third level, set in the Desert, was a bitch. The
second you leave base, all hell breaks loose as you scramble around the plains
desperately attempting to stop the advancement of the enemy troops from three
directions. The forth level was an enjoyable romp through the wastelands and
the final level, set in the streets of Moscow, is a frantic race to complete a
set of missions that are thrust on you , leaving little time to think and plan,
but leaving you with a feeling of achievement when you succeed. I restarted the
game from level one and enjoyed finding the hidden power ups and secrets,
especially the Santa Claus hidden on the hills and the secret toilet (see the
cheats section). Overall an excellent strategy game which I would highly
recommend. |
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SOUND: |
Good |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Brilliant |
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VALUE: |
Good |
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OVERALL
8/10 |
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JIM |
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GRAPHICS: |
Brilliant |
A
great shoot-em-up that shows off the PSX graphics a treat. A couple of
additional levels would have made this game a classic, but it still remains one
of the best of its type |
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SOUND: |
Good |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Brilliant |
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VALUE: |
Good |
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OVERALL
8.5/10 |
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