Date/Time:
| Sequence | Title | Link on Page |
|---|---|---|
| 1.) | Screenshots from Game | Link on page |
| 2. ) | Review | Link on Page |
| 3. ) | Strike Commander (1993) Playthrough | Link on Page |
| 4. ) | Strike Commander Tactical Operations Playthrough | Link on Page |
| 5. ) | Strike Commander Roland MT-32 vs Sound Blaster Pro | Link on Page |
Screenshots from Game
Strike Commander (1993) Review
♦ Title: Strike Commander
♦ Publisher: Origin Systems
♦ Published: 1993
♦ Format: MS-Dos 6.22
♦ Genre: Flight Simulator
♠ Aspect Ratio: 4:3
▬ Minimum System Requirements: Intel 486 DX33 mhzs
▬ Type: Flight Simulator
▬ Difficulty: Hard
▬ Flight Model: Simple
Review:
Strike Commander was one of the most unique flight simulators released in the early 1990s, and it was the best of its type at the time. The graphics for this game was very good for a flight simulator, and the sound was equally great. This game not only had subtitles when characters spoke, but actual speech as well. You could only use the speech pack if you had a Sound Blaster or a Roland MT sound card. Sound card technology reached a peak around this period. The voices and the sound effects in this game are excellent even by today’s standards. The landscape, and aircraft in the game are more detailed than just simple polygons. There are actual textures on the aircraft, tanks, buildings, etc. It may look crude by today’s standards, but it was quite advanced if you compare it to games like Su-25, LHX, Falcon 3.0, Mechwarrior, and others.
The actual game play for this game could be set by the player from rookie to ace. When you get to the actual dog fighting, it is very difficult to shoot down enemy aircraft. The A.I. is quite good, and using a missile to dispatch your enemy cannot be done easily, because your enemies will use countermeasures like flares and chaffs. You have to get very close and attack from the rights angles to successfully use a AIM-9 sidewinder heat seeking missile to get a kill. The sure way to get a kill in this game is by using the 20mm Vulcan cannon, but it can be a bit tricky to get your enemy in the right position to use it. The one good thing about flying modern fighter aircraft are the sophisticated avionics equipment & radars in them that aid in air combat. If you get a radar lock and select air to air guns, the computer will compute the point of impact with the star shaped reticle. You don’t have to estimate where the rounds are going to hit. This means you don’t have to waste a lot of ammunition to get a beat on the target, and it doesn’t take many cannon rounds to severely damage an aircraft or destroy it.
One thing I really like about this game is the realistic damage control system. If you push “D”, it will show you where your aircraft was damaged. If the landing gear was damaged, you cannot land. If the fuel tank was damaged, you will lose fuel quicker than normal. If your wings are damaged, you will not be able to maneuver well. If your radar is damaged, you will not be able to use radar guided weapons, like the AIM-120.
The environmental factors and realism of this game is top notch. You will be faced with what real combat pilots are faced with, like the effects of G forces. When you do a high G turn, you could black out and lose your consciousness. On the HUD, it will display the G forces.
The story line for this game is what makes this game special. In this game, you play the role of a combat mercenary squadron. The commander of the squadron gets killed during the game, and you take it over. From that point on, you can pick the missions you want, and in the order you choose. You run the squadron like you would run a business, you can buy weapons, see the operating expenses of the squadron, and pick the missions that will keep your squadron in the black. The story of this loops from the point where your commander gets treacherously killed by some 3rd world dictator, and you come back to avenge his death in the last mission. The last mission pays more money than any other mission, and you and your squadron mates get to go on a long vacation! The character development of the game is excellent, every pilot has their own style, and their unique personalities.
Overall, this was a good game, and it was one of the best games I ever played.
Mission 1: Mauritania
Mission 2: Mauritania
Mission 3: Mauritania
Mission 4: Turkey
Mission 5 to 7: Andes Mallorca
Mission 8 to 11: Egypt
Mission 12 to 15: Alaska
Mission 16 to 18: Canada
Mission 19 to 22: California Global Oil
Mission 23 to 24: Nevada
Mission 25: Grand Canyon
Mission 26 to 28: Germany
Mission 29 to 31: California
Mission 32 to 35: Rhode Island
Mission 36: Turkey Intecept Learjet
Mission 37: TWP Retribution
Mission 38: Andes Mallorca
Mission 39: Andes Mallorca
Mission 40: Stealing IRS F-22
Mission 41: Andes Mallorca Final Mission