Difference between revisions of "SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative"

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| system=[[Sega System 16]], Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, [[Master System]], ZX Spectrum
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| system=[[Sega System 16]], [[Sega Master System]], Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
 
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'''''SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative''''' is a shoot-'em-up arcade game developed by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega System 16]] arcade platform. The game was ported to the [[Sega Master System]], as well as various home computer systems. The western Master System release was named '''''Global Defense'''''.
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'''''SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative''''' is a 1987 shoot-'em-up arcade game developed by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega System 16]] arcade platform.
  
''SDI'' was released as part of [[Sega Ages 2500]] vol. 21: ''[[SDI & Quartet]]'' for the PlayStation 2.
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==Gameplay==
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Unusual for its time, ''SDI'' has the player assume the role of a satellite, tasked with destroying enemy satellites and missiles. Each level is divided into two "modes" - "offensive" mode, which takes the form of a sidescrolling shoot-'em-up, and "defensive" mode which is built more similarly to [[Atari]]'s ''Missile Command''. Beating both modes allows the player to progress, however, if the player can destroy all the enemies in offensive mode, defensive mode does not take place.
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''SDI'' not only gives the player control over the movement of the satellite, but also its aim. This mechanic was implemented in the original arcade cabinet through the form of a joystick and trackball - the joystick moving the player, the trackball moving the crosshair. On the top of the joystick is a button for firing.
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A perfect game of ''SDI'' will result in the satellite being replaced with ''[[Flicky]]''.
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==Ports==
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''SDI'' was ported to the [[Sega Master System]] in 1987/1988, where western versions were renamed '''''Global Defense'''''. The Master System version, as well as cutting back on the graphical and audio quality, has to vastly reduce the difficulty of the game to match up with a new control scheme - as the console lacks a trackball, the player needs to switch between moving and aiming during play (holding {{1}} while moving the D-Pad allows the satellite to move, otherwise the D-Pad only controls the crosshair). This makes moving and aiming at the same time impossible. {{2}} fires.
  
==Gameplay==
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[[Activision]] brought the game to home computers in Europe - the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum (not to be confused with ''S.D.I.'', an unrelated game also released for the Amiga and Atari ST).
The player assumes the role of a satellite tasked with destroying waves of enemy satellites and missiles. Levels are split into offensive and defensive halves. The player must destroy all missiles in offensive mode, otherwise surviving missiles must be destroyed in defensive mode before they hit the United States. Moving the satellite and aiming/firing its weapon are controlled independently with a joystick and a trackball. In the Master System version, the satellite aims with the d-pad and fires with button {{2}}, and can only move when button {{1}} is held. Consequently it is more difficult, as aiming and moving at the same time is made impossible.
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These days, ''SDI'' is often grouped with another arcade game from the era, ''[[Quartet]]''. Both were released as part of Volume 21 of the [[Sega Ages 2500]] series, ''[[SDI & Quartet]]'' for the PlayStation 2. ''[[SDI & Quartet: Original Soundtrack]]'' contains the official soundtrack of both games.
  
 
==Physical Scans==
 
==Physical Scans==

Revision as of 14:51, 29 August 2011

n/a

SDI title.png

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative
System(s): Sega System 16, Sega Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-up

















Number of players: 2

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative is a 1987 shoot-'em-up arcade game developed by Sega for the Sega System 16 arcade platform.

Gameplay

Unusual for its time, SDI has the player assume the role of a satellite, tasked with destroying enemy satellites and missiles. Each level is divided into two "modes" - "offensive" mode, which takes the form of a sidescrolling shoot-'em-up, and "defensive" mode which is built more similarly to Atari's Missile Command. Beating both modes allows the player to progress, however, if the player can destroy all the enemies in offensive mode, defensive mode does not take place.

SDI not only gives the player control over the movement of the satellite, but also its aim. This mechanic was implemented in the original arcade cabinet through the form of a joystick and trackball - the joystick moving the player, the trackball moving the crosshair. On the top of the joystick is a button for firing.

A perfect game of SDI will result in the satellite being replaced with Flicky.

Ports

SDI was ported to the Sega Master System in 1987/1988, where western versions were renamed Global Defense. The Master System version, as well as cutting back on the graphical and audio quality, has to vastly reduce the difficulty of the game to match up with a new control scheme - as the console lacks a trackball, the player needs to switch between moving and aiming during play (holding 1 while moving the D-Pad allows the satellite to move, otherwise the D-Pad only controls the crosshair). This makes moving and aiming at the same time impossible. 2 fires.

Activision brought the game to home computers in Europe - the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum (not to be confused with S.D.I., an unrelated game also released for the Amiga and Atari ST).

These days, SDI is often grouped with another arcade game from the era, Quartet. Both were released as part of Volume 21 of the Sega Ages 2500 series, SDI & Quartet for the PlayStation 2. SDI & Quartet: Original Soundtrack contains the official soundtrack of both games.

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
{{|L}} N/A
Based on
0 reviews

SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative

Master System version

Master System, US
GlobalDefense SMS US Box.jpg
Cover
GlobalDefense SMS US Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, EU
SDI SMS EU cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU (No Limits)
SDI SMS EU nolimits cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, JP
SDI SMS JP cover.jpg
Cover

ZX Spectrum Version

ZX Spectrum, EU
SDI Spectrum EU Inlay.jpg
Cover