F-15 Strike Eagle

F-15 Strike Eagle - the 1985 combat flight simulator for Commodore 64 from
MicroProse.

Pilot the F-15 fighter-bomber on missions over hostile territory, balancing air
combat, bombing runs, and navigation under enemy fire.

Core loop
- take off and navigate to mission targets
- engage enemy fighters with missiles and guns
- bomb ground installations and return to base safely

Systems and items
- radar display - tracks targets and terrain
- weapons loadout - Sidewinders, Mavericks, and bombs
- threat indicators - warn of incoming SAMs and radar locks
- scoring system - ranks pilots by mission success and survival

Level design and feel
Cockpit view with HUD instruments and radar scope. Missions span Middle East,
North Africa, and Southeast Asia with variable difficulty and weather.

Why it is notable
- one of MicroProse’s earliest and most influential flight sims
- designed by Sid Meier, establishing the studio’s realism-first formula
- balanced action and strategy made it a C64 bestseller

Tips
- fire missiles only within lock-on range for maximum hit chance
- fly low to avoid radar but watch terrain altitude
- destroy SAM sites early before attacking primary targets

At a glance
Year - 1985
Developer - MicroProse
Design and programming - Sid Meier and Andy Hollis
Graphics - Arnold Hendrick
Music - none (ambient effects only)
Publisher - MicroProse
Genre - Combat flight simulator
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2 with keyboard commands