For 1993, Jetstrike was a trophy of raw technical achievement as well as an action packed game, even if it was a slightly more linear title than its more open ended predecessors.
The mission based tactical elements that run throughout this air based combat simulator are core to its overall appeal, and they certainly make for an engaging experience. The battles are fast paced, and require your full attention as you try and outwit some fairly challenging opponents. But for all the hype that surrounded this game's two-year long development process, there are some obvious shortcomings in terms of the AI, the combat engine and other small niggling areas relating to the graphics engine and so forth.
OVerall, however, it is an early nineties work of genius.
The graphics in this game really are excellent for a title produced in 1993. The colorful appearance of the environments and the detail found in some of the aircraft give the game a distinguishable character. You'll be wowed by the game engine's ability to render healthily detailed mountains and buildings, in swirling plumes of mist. Everything has a solid feel and the game is generally extremely well done. So overall, a very accomplished and polished sense of immersion is present whilst you pick through some of what this game has to offer in terms of content. And there's a lot.
Where this game falls down on small glitches in mechanics, it makes up for with its content.
You'll have a sizeable collection of missions to choose from, each with their own distinct objectives and targets. Also, the game presents you with some interesting flyable aircraft, each with their own individual pros and cons - a nice addition to what is a very fleshed out single player campaign.
You can tell that a lot of love and dedication went into creating Jetstrike, but often in the wrong areas. It would seem that the development team had big ambitions - and for the most part, they did deliver a really vast and vibrant game. But the problems with coding and the sense of repetition with regard to a few of the missions somewhat detracts from the overall experience. But that said, what this game does right is create atmosphere and immersion. It really should be granted some points for its excellent conjuration of intense air combat, and generally the fact that it brought something new to the world of gaming.
