EA released a Windows port the same year; THQ developed and in 1999 published a Nintendo 64 version called Nuclear Strike 64.
The plot concerns an elite special force – the player's allies – pursuing a nuclear-armed rogue spy through a fictionalised Asian setting.
Reviewers enjoyed the straightforward gameplay, but several complained of a close similarity to its predecessor Soviet Strike and questioned the game's value as a result.
At the same time, the player is sent on a wild goose chase attacking a decoy convoy thought to have the nuclear bomb being transported away from Indocine.
In actuality, LeMonde escapes capture long before STRIKE can catch up to him and he manages to smuggle the real nuclear bomb away from Indocine off-screen.
Nonetheless, his forces are eventually defeated in Indocine and STRIKE moves their operations to the South China Sea, where LeMonde is discovered dealing with Napoleon Hwong (Philip Tan), head of a fictional Triad-like criminal organization known as the Octad.
The player recruits mercenary Harding Cash (Jamie Donovan) to battle the pirate warlord in an attempt to recover the missing nuclear weapon.
LeMonde resurfaces in Pyongyang, where North Korean ruler Kym Zung-Lee invites several world leaders to a peace conference.
Also, between escorting the delegates to safety, the player and Andrea manage to take over an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter from a museum while fending off Kym's security forces in the process.
North Korea blames the nuclear explosion on the South and sends its forces across the DMZ in an attempt to start a second Korean War while LeMonde heads to Russia.
Having prevented another Korean War, STRIKE, together with Naja and Cash, attacks an old Mongol-era fortress in Siberia, where LeMonde has brought in mercenaries to fortify it as he prepares the launch of a "proto-nuclear" missile designed to rupture the ozone layer.
Nuclear Strike is a helicopter-based shooter game with a blend of both strategy and action, which the player views from outside the helicopter from an overhead perspective.
[13] The game streams the environment from its CD, resulting in no perceptible loading time, while the terrain itself is persistent: damage such as cratering remains for the duration of play.
[9] Palomar Studios created the full motion video,[7] for which some footage was shot in both Thailand and the Bronson Cave, used as the Batcave in the 1960s television incarnation of Batman.
[18] The New Straits Times also appreciated the game's performance with a 3Dfx Voodoo card, praising the graphics of the terrain, as well as water and helicopter movements.
[7] GamePro opined that "Smooth, polished landscapes and polygon-rich explosions snazz up the graphics, but the backgrounds aren't interactive and actually look fake (especially the frozen whitecap swells in the ocean).
"[21] Reviewing the Windows version, Allgame called the graphics "decent", but criticised the minimal progress from Soviet Strike which resulted in "a slightly archaic look" and lack of "a feel of individuality".
It praised the "gorgeously rendered" maps and the detail on structures and units,[8] while Next Generation complained of "water that doesn't ripple and a few other missing touches" resulting in a somewhat haphazard feel.
[7] Kraig Kujawa of Electronic Gaming Monthly described it as "snazzy, MTV-style", while his co-reviewer Shawn Smith said it was impressive enough for him to yearn for a Nuclear Strike feature-length film.
[25] Reviewing Nuclear Strike 64, Allgame praised the atmospheric music as "reminiscent of a large budget political spy thriller".
Mooney praised the successful port from the console version and believed players would "find plenty to slobber over in this extremely entertaining title.
"[21] Daily Radar said: "When it comes to creating an action game, it would be nice to play something that requires a little bit more than just holding down the fire button continuously.
[14] Game Revolution praised the helpful interface and responsive controls and said the mechanics were generally good, but complained of an occasionally inaccurate targeting system.
The writer felt the increased number of vehicles set the game apart from Soviet Strike, saying they "make for a far richer, more active playing experience."
"[35] Previewing the PlayStation version, Super GamePower predicted the improved explosion effects, missions and wider range of vehicles would make it the best in the series.