Flash games of old may have had what we would now consider mediocre gameplay and even worse graphics, but they did have something that flash games now simply do not have, a flaw in an otherwise perfect world of harmonious gameplay. And whilst we may shun them in favour of their more superior counterparts, there are still things that these wise elders can teach the pretenders to their throne.

The flaw that I speak of is the tumultuous world of the gaming sequel. Many a developer has slaved away day and night creating a sequel to their game, only to be left with an inferior clone and a desk full of debts. The problem is that developers will put all their attention and imagination and dedication into the original game, but leave nothing to be desired, nothing that can be improved and refined. And if nothing can be improved, nothing new can be made. But for flash games of old, this was not a problem. Developers didn’t create a game to make an impact on the gaming community, they made it to show everyone else that they had talent which could be moulded and developed. This meant that the original game was full of glitches and flaws, but could be vastly improved upon to make a truly great sequel. A game where this is all too clear is the Heli Attack series.

The aim of Heli Attack is simple. You are a lone soldier, facing insurmountable odds, armed only with your trusty submachine gun and a desire to wear matching helmet and uniform. Kill or be killed, because the enemy will not hold back. They are ruthless, firing endless rounds at you from their helicopter overhead, waiting patiently until your inevitable destruction.

Now, for all intents and purposes, Heli Attack 1 was a rubbish game. The graphics took basic to a whole new level, the enemy was way too powerful and there was no environment to interact with. What it did have however is that spark of potential, that possibility that with a bit of nurturing and attention, it could become a great game. The genre into which Heli Attack 1 was released is so popular that fans are always crying out for a sequel to rival the original. If HA1 had been the perfect game, the sequel would have been rubbish, unable to compete with the original’s popularity.

But luckily for us, Heli Attack 1 was not the perfect game, which paved the way for the intriguingly named sequel, Heli Attack 2. The basic aim and shoot system is still there, but now there is an environment to work with, some more complex controls and less powerful enemies who allow you to aim and move. The game introduced 8 more weapons, and several extra abilities such as a hyper jump and time distort. The basic structure is very similar to Heli Attack 1, but the improved graphics and greater depth of Gameplay mean that Heli Attack 2 is a superior game in every way, a sequel which was a true remake of the original.

And so we come to the end of our jaunt through the world of gaming sequels. Old flash games may be losing popularity amongst new gamers who want slick graphics and even slicker Gameplay, but they still have that special something that these new games can only dream of. Heli Attack 1 is never going to be called the greatest game ever, but it is a perfect example of the original game whose sequel was vastly superior, because it was allowed to develop upon what was wrong with the original.

But don’t think it stops there. Because just around the corner is another game, a second generation sequel which just may be able to improve upon the already brilliant Heli Attack 2. But that’s a story for another day.

Play Heli Attack 1 here

Play Heli Attack 2 here

Play Heli Attack 3 Here