Urban Strike

This is the final volume in the Strike trilogy, well ok it's just the end of series run on the "Genesis" there were two other sequels afterward for the "PS1" but those two are stories for another time. It was a good time it ended while the going was still good but also just in time as this came out near the beginning of the twilight years for the "Genesis" console. Also, when you think about it what else could the Strike series do or go at this point.

Not a great deal to talk about as this game is more the same thing. I do like the plotline which is this time going to war against a cult, which makes sense as cults were a major problem in the 90's, you can say this game along with the past two are wish fulfillment games as deep down we all wanted to strike back at this along with any other despicable and awful organizations run by scum.

The graphical presentation is great as usual as the detail with the environments from the jungles to the payoff in the game which is the Urban area. You have the usual chopper and all other aircraft and assault vehicles you pilot; my favorite of course is the black chopper near the end and is the vehicle that is the cover art for the game's box. Sound effects are also spot on from the explosions to the gunfire they are just music to my ears. Control scheme is the same as before as you have slightly realistic movement.

Everything seems intact which makes me don't give this game higher as there are a couple of things about the game that hold it back for me and much like an unfavorite flight craft makes this game my least favorite in the series. For one thing it the run and gun sequences, there a bit lame. Ok, there actually decent but the problem is the gameplay mechanic is cumbersome. As a fan of the run and gun subgenre of gaming there really are better shots out there. And I do appreciate that this sequel tried to add something to make their game a little different from the rest but as an old saying goes, "best to stick to what you know." Another problem I have with the game is that it just doesn't really add much new to the table. Don't get me wrong it's good that the same gameplay and everything is still there, but it all just felt like a big loop around basically just seeing the same scenery twice. I know the locations are different but just seem like an extra level for the past two games

We don't even get to the Urban part of the game till a lot later which almost makes the title of the game a little misleading. I kind of wish this game had more Urban locations to battle and do some real damage to, if the game were more about trying to liberate our country from enemy occupation and we went and defended a lot of the famous major city locations in the US like Dallas, Seattle, L. A., Miami, you name it. The fact we never really see any of these locations in the game and series in general felt like one big lost opportunity.

But regardless this is still a fun game and a good final flight on the "Genesis". It doesn't matter where you start in the series you'll fly the right course with this game but with the trilogy in general.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.