Desert Strike Advance
↗ 15%
(GameBoy Advance - US, Shoot'em Up)
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Complete
$35.36
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Developed_By:
BudCat
Published_By:
Electronic Arts
Released On:
08 May 2002
Command an Apache attack helicopter against a military tyrant seeking global domination. By completing a challenging series of high-risk missions, you'll eliminate key military targets, rescue hostages, and rid the world of the threat in the desert!
UPC-A:
014633145403 (USA)
Part #:
AGB-ADIE-USA (USA)
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Prices as of 09 Oct 2026
Typical $35.36–$35.41 (last 90 days)
New
Complete
Loose
Box
Manual
Smoothed
Log · Auto
Medians
Market activity: active · about 38 sales a year
Activity is a 12-month sales count. Dashed segments rest on two sales a year or fewer.
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
In this military-themed action game, you pilot a state-of-the-art Apache helicopter to thwart a rogue leader's threat to world peace. Your mission involves eliminating key military targets, rescuing missing comrades, and executing high-risk preemptive campaigns to stabilize the region and save the world.
Story
INTRODUCTION
After taking control of the desert, a self-styled military leader now threatens world peace. Quick to react to the impending catastrophe, the President of the United States has ordered a series of high-risk preemptive campaigns to vanquish this menace and stabilize the region.
You have been assigned to pilot a state-of-the-art Apache attack helicopter. It's now your mission to eliminate key military targets, rescue comrades missing in action and, ultimately, save the world from the threat in the desert!
FOR MORE INFO about this and other titles, check out EA GAMES on the web at www.eagames.com.
How to Play
Starting the Game
1. Turn OFF the power switch on your Nintendo® Game Boy® Advance. Never insert or remove a Game Pak or software when the power is ON.
2. Insert the Desert Strike™ Advance Game Pak into the slot on the Game Boy Advance. To lock the Game Pak in place, press firmly.
3. Turn ON the power switch. The Nintendo logo and EA GAMES™ screen appear.
4. When the Title screen appears, press START to advance to the Main Menu.
Introduction
A pseudo-military is now threatening world peace after taking control of the desert. The President of the United States has ordered a series of high-risk preventive campaigns to defeat this threat and stabilize the region. You have been chosen to pilot an Apache attack helicopter.
Your mission is to eliminate key military targets, save comrades missing in action, and save the world from the threat that looms in the desert.
Getting Started
Your mission begins at the Main Menu. From here, you can start a new Campaign, enter campaign passwords, choose a different Copilot, or customize Options.
•
Campaigns: Start a new campaign or enter a password to unlock specific scenarios.
•
Copilots: Select a copilot to assist with aiming and winch operation.
•
Options: Customize game settings.
Main Menu
•
A - Campaign: Select the campaign to play (e.g., Campaign #2: Scud Buster).
•
B - Copilot: Choose your copilot (e.g., Dave Arrick).
•
R - Options: Access game settings.
Press START to begin.
Choose Your Campaign
To begin a new game, press START. You begin playing Campaign #1: Air Superiority.
To change campaigns:
1. Press the A Button to access the Campaign Menu.
2. Enter the password of the campaign you wish to play in the space provided and select START to proceed to gameplay.
•
Note: You acquire passwords to unlock new campaigns when you complete existing campaigns.
Choose Your Copilot
Your copilot is responsible for aiming the guns and operating the winch. The more capable your copilot, the easier your job as pilot will be.
•
To access the Copilot menu, press the B Button.
•
Scroll through available options by using the Control Pad and confirm your selection by pressing START.
•
Note: You must rescue copilots listed as MIA before they are available for you to use in a campaign.
Playing the Game
Fire up the engines and head out!
You are allotted three lives per campaign. If you lose your third life before you accomplish the final mission of a campaign, you must return to the beginning of that level.
Although the machine gun may appear to be hitting an object, make sure you look for the gray explosion and listen for the loud impact noise to be certain you are on target. Misses appear as yellow explosions and make only small gunfire noises.
•
At times during the campaign you receive announcements of incoming intelligence reports. If you wait more than 10 seconds to access the report, it will no longer be available.
•
If you do not respect the order of missions, your campaign will be more difficult to accomplish.
Game Screen & Resources
In the framework of the first three campaigns, your missions are numbered in the selection window under the battle map. In the framework of the fourth campaign, only your first mission is initially displayed. As you achieve your objectives, the data for subsequent missions are revealed to you.
You can collect resources such as fuel cans, crates of ammunition, armor repair kits, ladders, and extra lives that will help you during your mission.
•
Note: In future campaigns, fuel, ammunition, and other specific items can be hidden in buildings, dunes, or rocks and may not appear on the map until you destroy the structures surrounding you.
Pause/Map Screen
The Pause/Map screen provides statistics on your supplies, location, mission objectives, and military targets.
•
To access the Pause/Map screen, press START.
•
To scroll through the locations of each of your mission objectives on the map, press the Control Pad left or right.
Campaign Status Screen
The Campaign Status screen provides up-to-date reports on your progress in the campaign. It displays statistics such as BUNS, Score, HVDs, Fuel, Armor, Lives, and current missions.
To access the Campaign Status screen (when you are in the Pause/Map screen), press the R Button.
•
Missions are listed in order.
•
Missions whose statuses are displayed in green are completed.
•
Missions whose statuses are displayed in red are incomplete.
•
Objective: Return to frigate when missions are completed.
Controls
Control Pad ↕
Move Forward/Back
Control Pad ↔
Turn Clockwise/Counter-clockwise
A Button
Fire Machine Guns
B Button
Fire Hydra Missiles
R Button
Heavy Missiles
L Button + Control Pad
Strafe
START
Pause/Map Screen
D-pad ↑↓
Advance/Retreat
D-pad ←→
Turn clockwise/Turn counterclockwise
L button
Machine gun
Button A
Configuration 1: Missiles / Configuration 3: Hydras / Configuration 4: Missiles / Pause/Map: Access Mission Data screen / Options: Scroll through controller configuration types
Button B
Configuration 1: Guns / Configuration 2: Missiles / Configuration 3: Guns / Configuration 4: Guns / Options: Change command option / Pause/Map: Return from Mission Data screen
Button R
Configuration 1: Hydras / Configuration 2: Hydras / Configuration 3: Missiles / Configuration 4: Hydras / Options: Access options menu / Pause/Map: Access Campaign Status screen
Directional cross
Scroll through Mission Data screen elements / Scroll mission objective locations on the map
Directional cross (turning function)
Disables turning function (When FROM ABOVE option is selected)
Tips & Maps
Campaign Difficulty and Mission Progression
Attempting missions out of order increases the difficulty of the campaign. In the first three campaigns, missions are numbered in the selection display beneath the battle map, while in the fourth campaign, only the first mission is displayed initially until objectives are completed.
Collectible Resources
You can collect resources such as fuel drums, ammo crates, armor repair kits, ladders, and extra lives to assist you during your mission.
Concealed Special Items
In later campaigns, fuel, ammo, and other special items may be concealed within buildings, dunes, or rocks and may not appear on the map until you destroy the structures surrounding them.
Items & Weapons
MACHINE GUN
Your weapons inflict the following damage. MACHINE GUN 3 points.
HYDRA MISSILES
Your weapons inflict the following damage. HYDRA MISSILES 25 points.
HEAVY MISSILES
Your weapons inflict the following damage. HEAVY MISSILES 100 points.
Helicopter Armor
Your helicopter has 600 points of armor with which to deflect harmful attacks. For every MIA rescue you receive 150 additional armor points.
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