Steigar

About

Steigar is a 1989 side-scrolling shooter where you pilot a helicopter through waves of enemies as part of naval missions. Developed by Screen 7, it drops you on an aircraft carrier before sending you rightward across levels brimming with planes, tanks, and boats. You shoot enemies to collect power-ups and strategically deploy smart bombs to clear screens. Five lives keep you from total failure, but any contact with hostile fire ends your run. The game leans into straightforward action, with progression through increasingly chaotic missions that mix combat and survival. What sets Steigar apart is its no-frills approach to the shooter formula, emphasizing quick reflexes over complex systems. The variety of enemy types and mission layouts for 1989 hardware helped it stand out on Amiga, Atari ST/STE, and Commodore systems. While later titles pushed genre boundaries, Steigar remains a solid example of early ’90s shoot-em-up design, with a focus on repetitive yet satisfying combat loops. Its legacy is modest but respected among retro gaming circles.

Storyline

You are Steigar and you used to make your living as a mercenary being paid to complete missions big or small as long as the price was right. That was until the CIA managed to find you and take you prisoner, but you were too good at your job and so they have made you join the US Navy and become a helicopter pilot to participate in one man missions against various threats to the USA.