Gunship 2000
A helicopter combat sim with multiple aircraft and campaign play.
Gunship 2000 is a helicopter combat flight simulation video game developed and published by MicroProse as a follow-up to their earlier game Gunship. It was originally released in 1991 for MS-DOS, with an expansion in 1992, and later ported to several platforms including the Amiga, PC-98, Amiga CD32, and PlayStation. The game significantly enhanced and expanded the features and gameplay from the original Gunship, including improved audio and graphics, enhanced terrain, the ability to fly multiple helicopter types, and the ability to command a team of helicopters and their crews.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- MicroProse
- Designer
- James M. Day
- Darrell Dennies
- Detmar Peterke
- Programmer
- Darrell Dennies; Detmar Peterke
- Artist
- Michael Reis
- Max D. Remington III
- Michael Gibson
- Composer
- Jeffery L. Briggs
- Ken Lagace
- Jim McConkey
- Released
- 1991: MS-DOS
- 1993: Amiga, PC-98
- 1994: CD32
- 1996: PlayStation
- Genre
- Air combat simulation
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Gunship 2000 used a format similar to other MicroProse flight simulators of the time: the player had a profile, chose a combat theatre, and performed either single missions or a campaign. Missions were randomly generated with a primary objective and a less valuable secondary objective, both involving tasks such as destroying a target, picking up or dropping off troops or cargo, or reconnoitering an objective. The campaign used a tug-of-war system where victories advanced the player's side toward victory and harder missions, while defeats moved the opposite direction. Initially the player flew a lone helicopter, choosing from the AH-1 Cobra, AH-64 Apache, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, MD 530MG, and UH-60 Blackhawk. As the player's rank increased, the RAH-66 Comanche and the AH-64B Apache Longbow were unlocked. Using less powerful helicopters yielded a higher mission score, but this had to be balanced against fuel and weapon limitations. Realistic tactics such as nap-of-the-earth flight and pop-up attacks could be employed due to reasonably detailed terrain. Fuel consumption was unrealistically high to adjust for a limited game world, and the player could rarely lift off with full fuel and the best weapons. A Forward Arming Refuel Point was usually present in the mission. Upon promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, the player could gain control of several wingmen, whose helicopters could be configured similarly to the player's. Wingmen could remain with the player or be sent off for separate tasks, offering flexibility for tactical planning.
Expansion
The Gunship 2000: Islands & Ice expansion pack added two theatres of war: Antarctica and The Philippines, along with all previously released patches and a mission editor. New features included in-flight mission changes, air and artillery support, wind and weather effects such as whiteouts and magnetic disturbances in Antarctica, maintenance and weapon system downtimes, improved autopilot, targeting, navigation, and a HUD mission clock. The mission builder allowed players to create and edit missions of their own design, using every aspect of a typical Gunship 2000 mission. It provided shortcut steps for quick creation and allowed players to export a standard mission as a template. Completed missions could be saved, edited, or exchanged with other players.
Ports
MicroProse became a third-party developer for Atari Corporation in November 1993, which led to an announced port of Gunship 2000 for the Atari Jaguar. Despite advertisements promising a late 1994 release, that version never came out for reasons that remain unclear. The PlayStation edition later became available for download on the PlayStation Store, reaching Europe on November 17, 2010, and North America on March 18, 2014, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita.
Reception
In 1991, a reviewer for Computer Gaming World who was also a US Army AH-64 pilot noted that Gunship 2000 made its helicopter handle like an overloaded Huey, but still called it the best helicopter simulator game of its time. The game was criticized for inaccurate flight models and avionics, clumsy controls, and poor graphics with no ground texture. Its strengths were a large selection of accurately depicted weapons and the ability to command several types of helicopters in a squadron. The magazine listed it among the top simulation games of 1992. Dragon gave it a perfect five-star rating. Compute! in 1992 praised its gameplay, graphics, and manual, calling it the finest helicopter simulation available. The Islands and Ice expansion, along with patches, brought an improved flight model, support for two joysticks and other peripherals, and target designation. That same reviewer found he could recreate missions from his own career using the scenario editor with surprising accuracy, and declared the expansion the Most Improved Game of the Year. PlayStation Magazine scored the PlayStation version 7 out of 10, describing it as an immersive sim with engaging, varied missions. Next Generation gave it two stars, citing poor graphics, sparse sound, and frustrating gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Gunship 2000?
Gunship 2000 was designed by James M. Day, Darrell Dennies and Detmar Peterke.
Who composed the music for Gunship 2000?
The music for Gunship 2000 was composed by Jeffery L. Briggs, Ken Lagace and Jim McConkey.
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