For anyone who grew up engrossed by Electronic Art’s Strike Strike) series, Cleared Hot will undoubtedly rekindle memories. Those who tackled the trio of 16-bit titles and pair of 32-bit follow-ups will remember a franchise that balanced accessibility with some of the sophistication of air-flight simulations. Best of all, you got to blow up a lot of shit real good.
Where the EA entries were mission-driven chopper sims with a gritty tone, Cleared Hot adopts the top-down, objective-driven structure for a battlefield filled with wanton explosions, comical dialog, and vehicle tossing. While developer Not Knowing Corporation channels the feel of Strike, the presentation, controls, and tone of Cleared Hot are all thoroughly modern. This is an example of how a spiritual successor should be built.
Ammunition and Amusing Dialog Are Plentiful
As you work your way through the game’s succession of missions, you’ll soon notice that Cleared Hot shuns the somber military drama for a plot that’s lighter and far more playful. After showing off what the game engine is capable of across a standard strike-ops sortie, Cleared Hot settles in for a flash-forward for some washed-up pilot comedy. Yes, you’ve probably seen the premise of a veteran pilot forced to take odd jobs. But here, the spirited, fully-voiced banter and rousing set pieces elevate the title. The banter here is better than some story-grounded games and I was consistently curious where the game’s campaign chapter would go.
Even in its current Early Access state, Cleared Hot’s dozen missions are pleasingly varied. You’ll tackle everything from urban sabotage, base assaults, timed extractions, and objectives that demand you use every tool in your helicopter’s arsenal. From hauling tanks, redirecting missiles, or ferrying squads into position, the game’s mission variety is a strength. Best of all, your captor’s rope-and-magnet apparatus opens up possibilities for some sandbox-type chaos. While you can gun down machine-gun toting foes, you can also wangle them up and whip them right into a hillside. Meanwhile, dropping trucks on infantry results in a satisfying splat.
Every Mission Offers New Way to Wreck Things
But not all mission types are equally enjoyable. Escort and rescue-style objectives that have you ferrying NPCs or protecting convoys can feel punishing. From a ragdoll physics system that sends a character tumbling out of reach to friendly vehicles that can’t handle much damage, it’s a bit too easy to fail some of Hot’s missions, forcing a disheartening restart. Fortunately, you can adjust sliders to modify the strength of your output and how much injury enemies sustain, which can overcome this issue.
That said, Cleared Hot undoubtedly favors approachability. Enemy rocket launchers can be quickly destroyed with a lock-on missile, while your gunner tracks targets with a precision that the old Strike games would envy. Meanwhile, feedback from explosions and ragdoll physics is consistently gratifying, with destroyed tankers sending shockwaves and tethered petrol tanks skipping across the landscape before detonating. Expectedly, overconfidence is punished, with anti-air emplacements and SAMs dealing damage to reckless pilots.
Gorgeous Destruction, Unsteady Performance
Visually, the game is surprisingly detailed for an indie Early Access title. Terrain, destructible buildings, and explosions all look great and are instantly recognizable ever when flying at top speed across the battlefield. That said, performance is quite variable on portable PCs like Steam Deck. One moment, the game is outputting 45–50 fps but it can drop significantly, even in the game’s menus. It’s not a total deal breaker, but the frame drops can wrestle away responsive when you need it the most.
Expectedly, Early Access titles often reveal a few rough edges and Cleared Hot has a few. Some of the voice work and tutorial feedback are a bit undercooked, and the odd mission bug can creep in. But the developers have been active and responsive, releasing hotfixes and updates at steady intervals. Currently, the game’s roadmap includes more polish, missions, and biomes, with the latter covering all of the early Strike series locales. For players comfortable with Early Access, Cleared Hot is a rookie hotshot with a lot of promise. Clear your flight schedules for this one.
