Firehawk
Firehawk, developed and published by Codemasters in 1993.
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Player's Review
"Devastating! Awesome! Experience the power of the mighty Firehawk helicopter gunship in this ultimate action game! Use skill to pilot the Firehawk through seven daring missions to pick up your troops from enemy-infested islands! The opposition is tough and intelligent; with air, ground and sea defences. Destroy gunboats, jet fighters and tanks. Battle with enemy troops armed. to the teeth with lethal weapons! Engage Firehawk's advanced weaponry systems and make the most of the 32 different styles of firepower! Super fast 360 scrolling and land, sea and air mission scenarios the action's just non-stop in Firehawk!"
Based on the Firehawk game released by Codemasters for the NES in 1991, it self based released on Operation Gunship released on the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum in 1989. I quite enjoyed Operation gunship and it got much play for it's search and rescue with total destruction gameplay that will be much refined in the Dessert strike series and equally fun game that has stood the test of time.
The game has seven missions in which your primary objective is to rescue the paratroopers on each island. The number grows as you progress but you you can hold a maximum of four at a time before needing to take them back to the ship. Your reward for doing so is more fuel and ammo. IF your playing for score you can destroy every building and enemy on the island many of which will drop extra ammo and weapon upgrade supplies. When rescuing a trooper you will go into a rescue sequence where you need to hold of the enemy helicopters while the trooper makes his way to the climbing rope. If you get hit the tropper will fall requiring more time in the battle zone potentially dwindling the ammo reserves. Sometimes the trooper can take a while as he finished his tea and crumpets before being rescued. Other times he has to go freshen up first first. If you manage to destroy all building you will get a Total Destruction bonus.
Overall, a nice game but looks a little dated by 1993. The helicopter can be a bit over responsive at times turning to quick and making it difficult to aim but thats just a little niggle compared to the constant blitter screen flickering when turning too quickly. Weirdly you cant enter a highscore at the end of the game. Once all lives have run out, it's back to the title screen with no game over message or highscore entry.
00:00:00 Title Music / Intro
00:02:17 Level 1
00:06:28 Level 2
00:16:30 Level 3
00:33:35 Level 4
00:46:17 Level 5
00:49:55 Level 6
01:05:52 Level 7
Based on the Firehawk game released by Codemasters for the NES in 1991, it self based released on Operation Gunship released on the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum in 1989. I quite enjoyed Operation gunship and it got much play for it's search and rescue with total destruction gameplay that will be much refined in the Dessert strike series and equally fun game that has stood the test of time.
The game has seven missions in which your primary objective is to rescue the paratroopers on each island. The number grows as you progress but you you can hold a maximum of four at a time before needing to take them back to the ship. Your reward for doing so is more fuel and ammo. IF your playing for score you can destroy every building and enemy on the island many of which will drop extra ammo and weapon upgrade supplies. When rescuing a trooper you will go into a rescue sequence where you need to hold of the enemy helicopters while the trooper makes his way to the climbing rope. If you get hit the tropper will fall requiring more time in the battle zone potentially dwindling the ammo reserves. Sometimes the trooper can take a while as he finished his tea and crumpets before being rescued. Other times he has to go freshen up first first. If you manage to destroy all building you will get a Total Destruction bonus.
Overall, a nice game but looks a little dated by 1993. The helicopter can be a bit over responsive at times turning to quick and making it difficult to aim but thats just a little niggle compared to the constant blitter screen flickering when turning too quickly. Weirdly you cant enter a highscore at the end of the game. Once all lives have run out, it's back to the title screen with no game over message or highscore entry.
00:00:00 Title Music / Intro
00:02:17 Level 1
00:06:28 Level 2
00:16:30 Level 3
00:33:35 Level 4
00:46:17 Level 5
00:49:55 Level 6
01:05:52 Level 7
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