Beach Head 2000 is a first-person shooter game developed by Digital Fusion. It was originally released by WizardWorks for Microsoft Windows and MacSoft for Mac OS as a "value-priced" release. A loose remake of the 1983 computer game Beach Head, it shared a similar premise, as players defend a beach against attack by utilizing a variety of weapons. A version of the game was also produced for video arcades by Tsunami Visual Technologies, available in various motion simulationcabinets and Digital Fusion continues to sell the Windows version as a download via its website.
Players must defend the beach from a variety of threats both on the ground and in the air.
Players take the role of the sole gunner defending a beach against invading enemy soldiers, tanks, helicopters and other military attack vehicles. The player utilizes a variety of weapons, including a gun turret with a machine gun, howitzer cannon and guided surface-to-air missiles. A handgun is available as a final means of defense. The mouse is used to aim. Additional ammo and health are available by shooting packages dropped with parachutes.[3] Missions end when all enemies are defeated, each mission changes the spawn point of enemies on the beach. There are infinite missions and the game has no ending.[4]
The PC version received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5]GameSpot said that the game becomes repetitive when taking out the stream of enemies in each level.[3] A review in AllGame said that "the initial appeal of Beach Head 2000's single view wears off very quickly" and compared it unfavorably to the original Beach Head.[4]Inside Mac Games commented that the game was not worth the relatively low price, even among a limited selection of Mac OS games.[15] However, IGN had a more positive reaction to the game, comparing it to Missile Command and calling it "strangely addicting".[11]
The PC version was nominated for the "Worst Game of the Year" award at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards, which went to Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest.[16] It was also nominated for the "Best Sound in a PC Game" award at The Electric Playground's Blister Awards 2000, which went to Deus Ex.[17]
Digital Fusion produced several sequels, Beach Head 2002,[18]Beach Head Desert War, and Baghdad Central Desert Gunner.[citation needed]Global VR would take over the license from Tsunami and produce arcade versions of the first three games in the series.[19]
^Walker, Trey (February 13, 2002). "BeachHead 2002 Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
