Desert Strike on the Genesis was one of those games that just felt different—you're not just blasting everything in sight, you're actually flying a chopper on tactical missions. The first thing that hits you is the isometric view, which makes dodging enemy fire way more intense than your typical top-down shooter.

You start off rescuing POWs and blowing up enemy bases in the desert, but it's not mindless chaos. You've got limited fuel and ammo, so picking your fights matters. I remember wasting half my missiles on a tank early on and then panicking when a SAM site locked onto me. The game keeps you on your toes like that.

It's got that classic '90s vibe—tough but fair, with just enough strategy to make you feel like a real combat pilot. If you missed this one back in the day, it's still a blast to play now.