Midnight Raiders is a full-motion video (FMV) rail shooter video game developed for Sega CD. Players assume the role of a novice helicopter gunner, Joker, whose mission is to rescue a kidnapped German biochemist from a Middle Eastern oil refinery. Joker's gameplay involves flying to the refinery, combating enemy tanks and helicopters, and descending into the refinery to execute the rescue on foot. The gameplay design replicates that of Tomcat Alley, where short cockpit clips are followed by an enemy-focused shot, with players given the opportunity to aim crosshairs and press the "fire button". Successful hits are rewarded with archival military footage showcasing helicopters shooting rockets and models exploding. The on-foot sections share a similar pattern, but with handheld cameras providing a first-person perspective. Cutscenes interspersed throughout both phases of gameplay provide further exposition of the narrative.
A FMV rail shooter placing you in the helmet of rookie chopper gunner "Joker." Terrorists have kidnapped a German biochemist and taken him to a Middle Eastern oil refinery, where he is forced to work on a lethal toxin. Joker and crew must fly to the refinery, shooting down enemy tanks and helicopters, then Joker must rappel down to the refinery and rescue the chemist on foot.
The helicopter sections follow a pattern similar to Tomcat Alley, showing brief clips of the cast in the cockpit, followed by a "nose camera" shot of an enemy approaching. During this shot, you have the ability to move a set of crosshairs over the enemy and press the "fire" button. If you're on target, you are rewarded with military archival footage of helicopters shooting rockets, and close up footage of models exploding.
The on-foot sections follow an identical pattern, though with hand-held cameras placing you in the "eyes" of Joker, and black-clad guards taking the place of helicopters. Otherwise, the idea of having a few seconds to react and aim crosshairs is the same. The plot is expanded through occasional cutscenes in both the helicopter and foot sections.