Chopper games used to be all the rage, especially with EA’s Strike series, and now Midway is hoping to capture fans of those games with its fully three-dimensional helicopter action title, Fireblade. And if nostalgia doesn’t interest you, perhaps the game’s hardcore patriotic flair will rope you in.

Fireblade’s story has something to do with terrorists and political alliances, but the important thing is that you’re the pilot of the world’s most advanced helicopter. Missions range from escorting troops to destroying certain buildings, but you can bet that all the missions are very heavy on action. This isn’t a flight simulator by any means.

In addition to various guns and missiles, your assault chopper comes equipped with a jet-powered turbo boost, an infrared vision scanner, a cloaking device, and an EMP weapon. As you progress through the game, you’ll earn new upgrades that will actually alter the look and feel of your helicopter. There is also a troop carrier chopper that you’ll pilot in some search-and-rescue missions, although the game’s emphasis seems to be on the heavy assault model.

Fireblade isn’t all about rushing in and shooting off missiles though. Some missions require a softer touch, and you’ll have to sneak in with your stealth mode and use the silent EMP weapon to disable the bad guys. There is also a first-person mode (believe it or not) where you can take out targets with your sniper rifle.

Screenshots reveal very competent graphics in mostly dark, moody environments. Fireblade doesn’t stick to reality too much though; buildings break apart in huge chunks, and other touches are sure to add to that arcade style. The PS2 version of Fireblade is already available and is getting some pretty good reviews, so cross your fingers for a tight and hopefully improved GameCube version later this fall.

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