Return Fire

Return Fire is a vehicle-based action game that was one of the most addictive two-player titles on the 3DO. The concept is simple: on a sprawling map split between two bases, the goal is to steal the enemy's flag and bring it home. Four vehicles are available — a helicopter, a tank, an armored personnel carrier, and a jeep — and each plays a different role. The helicopter flies fast and destroys targets with rockets, the tank blasts through fortifications, the carrier delivers a soldier to the flag, and the quick jeep hauls it back. Switching between them is the core of the strategy, since no single vehicle can complete the whole job alone, and losing the wrong one at the wrong moment means defeat. Vehicles can only be swapped at your own base, so every sortie is a commitment you have to see through to the end of the action.

A tilted top-down view, smooth map scrolling, and clear graphics favored readability over flashy effects, so the game ran briskly even with the screen full of explosions. But its strongest weapon is the music: Return Fire uses classical recordings that change depending on the chosen vehicle, so flying the helicopter is accompanied by a dramatic orchestral piece while driving the jeep gets a lighter tune. Pairing serious music with the destruction of entire bases created a mood players still remember today and gave the game an unexpectedly grand feel.

At the time it received a very warm reception and was often ranked among the best the 3DO had to offer; it was later released on other platforms and got a sequel. Its influence can be seen in later games that combine flag-capturing with a choice of specialized vehicles — a concept that spread through multiplayer shooters much later. Today Return Fire proves that clearly defined rules age better than technical spectacle. Played two-player on one screen, it's still one of the best fun the 3DO has to offer, even if the solo campaign feels more like training for a duel against a living opponent.