Target Acquired - Thunderstrike: Operation Phoenix PS2 Details
By The Badger

The worst terrorism outbreak known to mankind has paralyzed the planet with fear. The world’s greatest powers have unified against this threat and they’ve put you in charge of Operation Phoenix – the culmination of the most advanced weapons and military technologies ever developed.

Your mission: "Your objective is clear. Resolve all situations."

Sounds like quite the challenge - think you're up to it? Well we have it on a good source (namely the producer of Thunderstrike: Operation Phoenix, Mike Schmitt) that Eidos is cooking up one of the most intense 3d action/arcade games to ever hit the genre.

Backed by the team that brought you the first two Thunderstrike games, the series is moving to take advantage of the powerful capabilities of the PS2 system and bring plenty of new surprises to both long time fans and newcomers to the series. With visually impressive graphics, intense campaigns, ultra-realistic weapons and vehicles, real-world settings, game play affecting weather conditions, multi-player deathmatch modes, and even more features – we knew we had a lot of questions to ask about this upcoming title!

Your next assignment: Check out GZ’s interview with Mike Schmitt right here!

GZ: T:OP is looking to appease two very diverse audiences, the run-n-gun action crowd and those more inclined to a deeper, more tactically based game. It's this kind of diversity that is lacking in many games on the market - Can you tell us a little about the challenges of designing a game for two sometimes wildly different audiences?
MS: Thunderstrike is definitely more arcade-based than sim-based…it's been that way since it first appeared on the Sega CD years ago. Instead of watching numerous instrument gauges in your cockpit you'll be busy ducking enemy gunfire and trying to stay alive! You definitely need to think tactically in order to complete the missions. For example, certain enemies do more damage than others so you may want to quickly fly through an area and try to spot the mobile rocket launchers. After their locations are verified you can have your wingman take out the targets for you or strike quickly with one of your homing missiles.

GZ: Are there any aspects of T:OP that are based on real-life events/campaigns?
MS: Terrorism is unfortunately a real thing…and that's what you're fighting against in Thunderstrike: Operation Phoenix. The 4 campaign areas (Eastern Europe, Alaska, Africa, and the Middle East) are all obviously real world locations and the game's missions are broken down into these areas. The basic premise of the game is that a deadly wave of terrorism has struck at all of the principle nations and paralyzed the world with fear. The globe's major powers have issued a state of emergency and merged their weapons/resources/technologies into a clandestine project code named Operation Phoenix. All of the various missions are based on realistic military scenarios and feature actual military equipment…with a few prototypes thrown in for good measure.

GZ: AI is not only mentioned for allies and enemies, but player AI is also included. Can you tell us a little more about this function and what it might mean for players of all levels?
MS: There is a learning process to the game. You'll need to learn how certain enemy equipment attacks and behaves. You'll need to learn how to maneuver your chopper…how to dodge missiles, how to sneak up on enemies, how to win dogfight shootouts with other helicopters etc…You'll also learn what weapons work best in certain situations so when you equip your craft before a mission starts you can plan accordingly.

GZ: Are the weapons and capabilities in the T:OP gunship based on technologies the average tactical combat/military gamer would be familiar with, or does the game focus on more futuristic models that might actually be in the works?
MS: Both…some of the weapons/vehicles exist today and some are based on prototypes.

GZ: Given the inclusion of high-precision sniping capabilities, can we expect to see some "stealth reconnaissance" or assassination-type missions included in game play?
MS: Possibly…You will need to use your zoom lens at times to take out certain targets.

GZ: Will there be any customization available to players at the beginning of the game in single player mode or will all changes/upgrades to the gunship be dependent on a player's performance? Will this differ in multiplayer-Deathmatch mode?
MS: You will be able to customize your weapon armaments before each scenario. Some weapons won't be available at times (torpedoes for land missions etc…) Some upgrades (better chainguns, faster engine, etc..) will be 'obtained' as you progress through the game.

GZ: How will the save game system work in T:OP? Will save points be strictly available at the completion of each mission/campaign?
MS: Right now the team has implemented save points after a mission. Upon flying out of a mission area you'll undergo a debriefing where you'll receive a statistical analysis of your performance. You'll receive a demerit if all objectives are not completed. Three demerits and you'll find your flight status revoked!

GZ: Neatness counts. Will there be any rating system to rank players on how well they managed their use of support units or how efficiently (or inefficiently) they destroyed their targets?
MS: Yes, during the debriefing you'll see these stats (along with 'Friendly Fire' casualties).

GZ: Tell us a little more about the AWACS and how it will help the gamer.
MS: It's basically just your airborne warning and control system to aid your pilot and provide tactical updates on friendly and enemy forces.

GZ: Will there be any flight simulation knowledge necessary for T:OP gamers?
MS: None at all really. The Thunderstrike games have always been 'pick up and play' arcade/action at heart.

GZ:  Realism is a huge part of the T:OP plan. Everything from weather effects to precision-necessary attacks will seemingly make the game infinitely challenging for the most die-hard gamer. Will there be any aids/configurations available to aid the novice gamer, or will determination and practice be they real key to victory?
MS: 3 difficulty settings will be available. There's also a nice training area where you can configure your controls and practice without taking damage. It's a great way to learn before diving into the deep end!

GZ:  The graphics we've seen so far for T:OP are impressive to say the least. It's obvious that your team has taken advantage of the graphics capabilities of the PS2 and have not lost track of creating a game that is complex, customizable, and built on a solid foundation. Do you think, in a time where graphics are getting more and more amazing, that the industry has sometimes lost track of good gaming in the name of visual hocus-pocus?
MS: One of the nice things about Thunderstrike:OP is that it's being created by essentially the same team that created the first two Thunderstrike games. They know that gameplay is the most important aspect of the experience.

GZ: How much of your development process is usually spend doing research on ultra-realistic games such as T:OP? Do you always have a reference team available to answer questions as the game progresses or does all the fact-gathering conclude before the actual development of the game begins?
MS: The team tries to do all their research prior to starting the project…the missions/campaigns are all based upon the research effort.

GZ: Incidents of terrorism have not only had their place in the news media, but they are also prevalent themes in movies, books, and games. This is especially true since we have now evolved from strictly the more traditional level (blatant acts of violence) to including more insidious methods (e.g. computerized attacks which prey on our dependence on computers). Was T:OP inspired by a particular incident or was it based on our fascination/fear of the subject as a whole?
MS: I think it's based upon the subject as a whole versus a single incident..

GZ: If you wanted our readers to walk away with one thought or impression of T:OP, what would it be?
MS: Expect a fun, action-packed, pick up & play helicopter experience! Fans of the series know exactly what to expect and hopefully we'll pick up a load of new Thunderstrike fans when the game is released.

----------------------

A big GZ thank you to Mike Schmitt and his team for their time and generosity!

Get details on your mission at the official Thunderstrike: Operation Phoenix web site:
http://www.eidosinteractive.com/games/info.html?gmid=111

or keep an eye on the latest news and screens on GZ’s product page:
http://ps2.gamezone.com/gamesell/p18542.htm

Share | Digg This | Glink It

---