Play S.D.I. - Now The Odds Are Even Online

S.D.I. - Now The Odds Are Even came out on the Amiga in 1988, developed by Cinemaware. It was one of those games that tried to do something a little different on the platform, blending strategy with action in a Cold War turned alien invasion scenario. You don't see many titles that split the gameplay so distinctly between two very different perspectives.

You control a defense commander, first plotting interceptions of incoming missiles on a global map, then dropping into a side-scrolling ground view to personally shoot down alien craft and protect cities. The main goal is to stop the alien forces from destroying your bases and key population centers. Signature mechanics include the strategic allocation of anti-missile defenses from a satellite overview, followed by frantic on-the-ground combat using a variety of upgradable weapons. The pacing shifts dramatically between thoughtful planning and intense action sequences, and the difficulty can be unforgiving if your strategy is weak. It feels like constantly juggling two separate games at once, trying not to fail at either.