Desert Assault

Desert Assault, known as Thunder Zone in Japan and Europe, is an isometric scrolling military-themed shoot 'em up developed and published by Data East.

Players control one of four commandos, each with a distinct appearance and a limited special bomb. Across the stages, they battle soldiers, vehicles, static guns, and bosses. Defeated enemies can drop weapons and items that restore hit points.

Weapons and vehicles

• Shotgun
• Machine gun
• Bazooka
• Rocket launcher
• Flamethrower

Some sections require mounting a vehicle, including a car and a desert or snowmobile. The game supports two- and four-player versions.

The Japanese version differs slightly: its second stage takes place in the Arctic, while other versions use a desert setting.

Release: December 31, 1990
Genre: Shooter
Platforms: Arcade; All Killer No Filler