S.D.I.

S.D.I. is a cinematic action strategy game from Cinemaware that puts the player in charge of defending Earth during a tense Cold War-style confrontation. The setting revolves around the Strategic Defense Initiative, with threats arriving from space and the player expected to coordinate responses before the situation gets completely out of hand. Cinemaware's characteristic presentation gives the game a strong movie-inspired atmosphere, while the gameplay mixes strategic decisions with more immediate action sequences. It is a fascinating snapshot of 1980s computer gaming, when developers were increasingly interested in making games feel like interactive films. The premise is serious, but the pressure of deciding what to do when everything appears to be going wrong can become surprisingly entertaining. S.D.I. is Cold War paranoia with a joystick.