Extreme Assault was, at the time of its release, one of the most visually wonderful games ever made. Released in 1996 by BlueByte Entertainment, Extreme Assault is an action game based around two vehicles: an AH-23 attack helicopter and a T1 assault tank. The plot is fairly thin, but it involves you taking on aliens that have invaded Earth and established bases in the cities and in the countryside. The game is controlled via a fairly simple and typical arcade action game set up.
Despite flying an attack helicopter and piloting a tank, there isn't a whole lot to learn. It's almost closer to an FPS (first person shooter) than a simulation.
The first thing you will notice about the game is the graphics. They were wonderful at the time and they still look good today. And this was all accomplished without the use of 3d accelerators. I specifically remember the lens flares as being beautiful. The game is incredibly colorful, bright colors comprise the landscape and enemies, and the explosions look equally impressive, with debris flying every which way upon detonation. The weapons as well are fun to use and come across as packing quite a punch when fired. From missiles to artillery to machine guns, each weapon has distinct flashes and
explosions when hitting enemies.
The game used transparent textures and supported the fable MMX optimizations that were popular at the time. This helped create very smooth frame rates even with many enemies on the screen and lots of explosions.
Even more noticeable is the sound in the game. This deserves special mention as I remember it being very vivid and distinct. The weapons make very satisfying rumbles and booms as they are fired, and each is very distinct from the other. Even the rotors of the helicopter are loud and convincing, very impressive for a game from the late 90s.
The gameplay itself is incredibly fun. It’s like playing a simulation, but with the simplicity of an FPS game. I can remember sitting down to play the game the first time, and it only took me about half an hour to master the controls and start destroying enemies. The first mission begins right inside a city with many enemies to blow up, but you never feel overwhelmed or confused. It truly is easy to master but fun to play. I totally recommend this game to anyone who loves action games or even simulation nuts to want to play an easier game for a bit.
