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The Desert Strike helicopter franchise may soon rise again, with Tony Barnes, the original creator, planning a fresh spiritual successor.
A Nostalgic Return to Desert Strike
Remember the iconic Desert Strike? Released back in 1992, this helicopter action game carved a special place in the hearts of gamers. It spawned several sequels, culminating with Nuclear Strike in 1997. Since then, silence has taken over the franchise, save for a few modern imitators like Megacopter: Blades of the Goddess by Pizza Bear Games and the recently announced Cleared Hot from MicroProse.
Tony Barnes: The Man Behind the Legacy
Here’s the exciting part: the legendary Strike series might return—but under a new name. And who better to bring it back than Tony Barnes? This gaming industry veteran was involved in all the original Strike titles. He started as an assistant producer on the very first Desert Strike. Fun fact: his name wasn’t even in the credits, only mentioned in the Japanese instruction manual!
Barnes later co-designed Jungle Strike and Urban Strike, and eventually took the lead design role for Nuclear Strike on the Nintendo 64. Talk about a deep-rooted connection!
Desert Strike’s influence even extends to character design. Barnes’ own likeness became the in-game character Antonio Scott, the second pilot, in Urban Strike. That’s some serious personal imprint on the franchise.
What’s Tony Barnes Working on Now?
In a recent interview, Barnes revealed that fans frequently reach out asking about a new Strike game. He confessed he could probably whip up such a game with his eyes closed—but he’s currently tied up with four different projects. Two of these, Run Die Run Again and BPM Boy, are already announced and available on Steam, while the others remain under wraps.
So, when will Strike rise again? Barnes says he’ll return to it eventually, but it won’t be a direct sequel. Instead, he envisions a spiritual successor launched through his company, Retro Ninja.
A Gritty, Dark Future for Strike
Tony Barnes describes his take as “Strike meets Neil Blomkamp,” inspired by films like District 9. Imagine a grim, gritty future with more realism and less humor—a stark contrast to the earlier games’ lighter tone.
Who else but Barnes knows what a true Desert Strike heir should look like? While we eagerly await his return to this project, it’s clear he has plenty on his plate at the moment.
“I could literally make a Strike game with my eyes closed, but I’m focusing on other projects first.” – Tony Barnes
Are you ready for the Strike series to make a gritty comeback? What features would you want to see in a modern spiritual successor?
Frequently Asked Questions
- What made Desert Strike so memorable?
Desert Strike combined helicopter combat with strategic gameplay, offering players a blend of action and tactical challenge that stood out in its era. - Who is Tony Barnes in the Strike franchise?
Tony Barnes was the assistant producer of Desert Strike and later co-designer and lead designer for its sequels, deeply involved in shaping the series. - Are there any recent Strike games available?
While no new official Strike games have launched recently, spiritual successors like Megacopter and Cleared Hot pay homage to the original style. - What can we expect from Tony Barnes’ upcoming Strike-inspired game?
Barnes envisions a darker, more realistic game, inspired by Neil Blomkamp’s style, moving away from the humor of early titles. - When will the new Strike game be released?
There’s no official release date yet since Barnes is busy with other projects, but the anticipation is high for when Retro Ninja eventually tackles it.
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