The player pilots the agile AH-69 Mohawk, an advanced combat helicopter with a powerful arsenal of weaponry.

[3] The game has drawn comparisons with Soviet Strike, another helicopter simulator released in the same year.

However, Black Dawn resembles an arcade game rather than a typical simulator, not least because various power-ups are obtained from destroyed enemies.

[7][10][13][14] However, nearly all were left with an overall positive impression; GameSpot assessed it as "what loud, engaging gameplay is all about",[8] Next Generation called it "a pleasing combination of excellent graphics and dead-on game play",[9] Sega Saturn Magazine summarized it as "A top 3D shoot 'em up that's initially difficult to get to grips with, but ultimately is a very fine game indeed",[10] and GamePro concluded, "A few flaws aside, Black Dawn is a well-rounded game that delivers riveting, adrenaline-packed combat.

[15] GamePro called the Saturn version "an impressive, exact port of the PlayStation game", but went on to say that the graphics are not as clean and the control configuration is not as intuitive.