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Using all manner of cunning trickery and political manoeuvring, an evil Middle East dictator named General Killbaba has successfully launched a military attack against a small neighbouring nation. Overwhelming the peaceful country with instruments of destruction, the inhabitants are ruthlessly hunted down and enslaved. Due to the tense political geography of the area, the United Nations are unable to take direct military action against the offending nation, but there is hope...

In between wheezing, collapsing and suffering various heart attacks, the US President devises a devious plan with which to remove the dictator and send his forces packing. Sending in a lone Apache helicopter gunship with a back-up support warship, the President believes that a short, sharp series of attacks should get the job done.

Operation: Desert Strike is initiated and the warship dispatched. Once the vessel nears the shores of the occupied country, further details of the mission are revealed. It transpires that the gunship must infiltrate five occupied strongholds and use its advanced weaponry to take out various targets designated by the mission controllers.

The enemy nation have not made things easy for you. During their short occupation, they have commandeered military posts armed with massive cannons and SAMs (Surface to Air Missiles). Enemy planes and choppers may also make an appearance. Not surprisingly, finding an advanced US gunship on their newly-acquired territory causes them to fire at you without provocation. Luckily, you have full authority from your superiors to use any methods available to complete your mission (in other words, you're free to blow the hell out of anything you want!).

But remember, your gunship only has a limited amount of armour and, should the enemy forces get through your shielding, you're history fly boy!

Length: 17.77m Height: 4.67m Wing Span: 5.24m Weight: 4,885kg Power: 2 x General Electric T700-GE-701 turboshaft engines Maximum Speed: 227mph

Your Apache gunship is equipped with three forms of offensive weaponry:

2. Hydras Although not as powerful as the Sidewinders, these missiles are perfect for taking small cannons or SAM sites. Unfortunately, their range isn't quite as impressive as the Hellfire's either.

3. Hellfires These missiles are the most powerful weapon packed on-board your Apache gunship. Their range and destructive potential cannot be beaten by anything the enemy throw at you. The supplies of Hellfires are very limited, so use these with care.

At the start of the game, you're treated to a brilliant attract sequence, where General Killbaba reveals his plans for Middle Eastern domination. He also drowns a traitor in a vat of boiling water (!) and slaps his deputy around the face for the sheer fun of it! Between each level, yet more Killbaba, related action is revealed!

Similar in concept to a superb old C64 computer classic called Raid On Bungeling Bay, Desert Strike is another absolutely cracking title from Electronic Arts. It's basically a very sophisticated shoot-'em-up with loads to do.

Things get very tense when supplies are low and you've still got an assignment to finish and return to the frigate to complete the level! The graphics (particularly the helicopter sprite) and the sound are both excellent and the whole game is beautifully presented with cut-screens, mission details and map screens galore!

But how long will all this excitement last? Ruddy ages, that's how long! There are five main missions, each with ten sub-missions, and later ones are incredibly difficult. And even if you get through them all, you still return to see whether you can score more points and find things that you might have missed. Desert Strike is one of the finest Megadrive blasters yet seen, and you'd be bonkers to miss it.

Of course, there are loads of enemy soldiers and targets to blow up, but the limits to your missiles, fuel and ammunition make you think before you blast. Adding variation are the sub-tacks, like picking up the MIAs and returning them to base.

The graphics are excellent. Although some of the backdrops look a bit repetitive, this is more than made up for by the brilliant definition and animation on all of the sprites.

Definitely the best Megadrive game this month, Desert Strike is a worthy purchase.

Presentation 96%
A fab opening sequence, cut-screens, brilliant in-game presentation and choice

Sound 89%
Completely brilliant music and atmospheric effects

Playability 95%
The chopper is easy to control, making for some excellent blasting action

Overall 94%
A brilliant, original Megadrive game that will keep blasting fans entertained for weeks. Grab it before it sells out!

Presentation 96% Graphics 91% Sound 89% Playability 95% Lastability 92% Overall 94%