New Steam shooter feels like Doom The Dark Ages with helicopters

Back in the '90s, Electronic Arts put out the Strike series of games. From Desert Strike through to Nuclear Strike, players were given the controls of various helicopters, piloting them from a top-down perspective as they completed a range of missions and tried to survive against enemy forces. Though the Strike series has been dormant since 1997, Cleared Hot, a new game published by Microprose, has swooped in to revive its spirit. And, as part of the ongoing Steam Next Fest, you can try it for yourself right now.

Cleared Hot departs from the kind of detailed vehicle replicas featured in simulation games to offer a less complicated, more action-heavy take on helicopter piloting. It's fast paced, featuring combat that emphasizes circle strafing and dodging away from enemy projectiles, even as the firepower of the player's helicopter makes them as powerful a battlefield presence as the Doom Slayer in Doom The Dark Ages.

The helicopter is also equipped with a magnetic rope that's used not only to pick up ammo and health, but also an enormous variety of in-game objects, like vehicles, fuel tanks, and the bodies of enemy soldiers. These systems tie in with the ability to move friendly troops around the battlefield, tasking them with defending or attacking areas of the map. Tactical considerations, combined with the playful anarchy of picking up and whipping objects around while spraying missiles and bullets, makes Cleared Hot worth keeping an eye on.

Cleared Hot is due to launch sometime in 2025, but its demo is available now until Monday June 16 on Steam. Download it right here.

You can also help pass the time until Cleared Hot comes out by trying some of the options we've put together in our lists of the best war games and best indie games on PC.

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