We have all, at one point or another, enjoyed playing games like "Missile Command", "Airborne", and other 2D games in the early days of computer and arcade games. What these games lacked in graphics was made up in game play. The game play was simple, addictive and the same basic game play principals still apply today.

Beach Head 2000 is an arcade-like game that provides for the addictive and proven game play value of the old games, but executed in (state-of-the-art ) real-time 3D, photo-realistic graphics with real-life scenarios, realistic machines, realistic physics and Hollywood-like special effects with bold explosions and sound effects.

In Beach Head 2000, the player will defend against an all out enemy marine invasion. The player will be situated on a static beach fortification (bunker) with a variety of (target specific) weapons and ammunition at their disposal to defend against an invasion task force. An assault force composed of carriers, warships, transports (troops and vehicles) and cargo ships, landing craft, amphibious vehicles and landing troops-marines with their supporting armor and aircraft.  BH-2000 not only has the advantage of photo-realistic graphics and realistic special effects to add to the simple satisfaction of shooting down targets but with the addition of realistic machines, realistic effects and sophisticated physics, fast and accurate cause and effect (tracers, water splashes explosions dust poofs, sparks) feedback, sophisticated enemy AI and in full 3D. True 3D with 360 degree viewing and field of fire.

PLAYSTATION MUSEUM EXCLUSIVE REVIEW:
Disclaimer: Beach Head 2000 is a direct conversion of the popular PC game of the same name.  The PlayStation Museum has not seen nor played the PC version.  The rating is based solely on the PlayStation experience and not how it compares to the PC version. 

You control a turret on a beach and the enemy is fast approaching from the air, land, and sea.  Your mission is to protect the beach and blast the enemy back to hell at any cost.  Think missile command on a beach in Normandy.  You have at your disposal various weapons including a turret, machine gun, pistol, rocket launcher and missiles.  Part of your strategy will be to decide on which weapon should be used against the enemy.  If you happen to run out of ammo before the enemy is slaughtered or within the given time limit, your mission is a failure.

The graphics in Beach Head are above average.  The 3D modeled tanks, boarding ships, and planes are very well down.  As the enemy foot soldiers draw near they are fairly pixilated, but the animation is unparalleled.  The sound effects are well done, especially when you hear the enemy scream out in pain as you gun them down (similar to the screams from Cannon Fodder).  Control and turret movement is smooth and accurate, even when using the directional pad (although the analog pad is supported).  Where the PlayStation version most likely advances over the PC counterpart has to be in the use of the Dual Shock.  Feeling the different shakes as you fire your turret creates an unforgettable experience and adds to the realism.  However, the graphics and sound are overshadowed by one thing: the playability.  The whole experience with Beach Head literally had us glued to the TV for hours.  Being able to shoot mindlessly at waves of enemies was never this fun. 

If there is a complaint with Beachhead 2000, it is that the locale in which you defend doesn’t change. As a programmer of the original PC version puts it "You stay in the same place the whole game. Each level gets tougher, with more enemy weapons coming at you with greater aggression, but you the user also get additional stuff as you go up levels, like heat seeking missiles and more ammo and more supply planes flying by to restore your health and ammo." 

Overall, BH2000 is a solid shooter.  In fact, The PlayStation Museum enjoyed it so much, we are going to www.fusiongames.com and ordering the Beach Head series for the PC.  The PlayStation Museum rates Beach Head 2000 an enthusiastic 90%.   Had this game been released, it would have been a sleeper hit.