Jetstrike

Jetstrike is a video game in the action genre developed by Shadow Software and published by Rasputin Software originally released in 1994. It is currently playable on DOS, Amiga.

One of the more obscure ones, Jetstrike is a great side-scrolling flying game in the spirit of the classic Choplifter, but with many more gameplay options and features.

Aside from the attractive VGA graphics and the wide variety of terrains you can fly over, the highlight of Jetstrike is the large number of gameplay varieties. Options include Missions, Acrobatics, Combat, Landing and a highly addictive two-player mode. In the two-player game, the first player attempts a mission for which points are awarded for completing each part and for the 'quality' of the flight and landing. Faster flying is of higher 'quality', and perfect landings give better scores. After several rounds, the player with the most points is declared the winner.

The missions are challenging tests of skill, and include novelties such as flying around balloons, flying planes through tunnels and landing on runways, etc. Even in single player mode, the very creative missions will keep you busy for a long time, and you will be surprised by the depth and replayability of the game. One notable quirk, however, is that the controls are unintuitive for a 2D side-scrolling game: down is up, and the controls are reversed when you fly in the opposite direction.

The game also has some very difficult missions that are very frustrating for beginners, such as those where you engage in dogfights, shoot convoys of trucks, or try to land a bomb on a small target. However, completing these difficult missions is much more rewarding than the easy ones, as you can earn many more points. Another fun feature is the 'What If' mode, which lets you pilot a major aircraft from any era and fight an enemy of your choice, also from any era. You can choose the number of computer opponents, allowing you to perform some ridiculous moves where you can vent your frustration, such as shooting down German Fokker triplanes with your F-16 or Sea Harrier. If you want a real challenge, of course, try firing up the legendary Sopwith Camel and take on modern giants like the MiG or Tornado.

With a large number of gameplay varieties, attractive graphics and a fun two-player mode, Jetstrike is a perfect 'next game' for fans of Choplifter and its modern successor Armor Alley. The interface could be better, but at least it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. two thumbs up!

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.