In 1991, "Computer Gaming World"s reviewer, United States Army AH-64 pilot Bryan Walker, criticized "Gunship 2000" for presenting a helicopter that "flies like an overloaded Huey", but nonetheless concluded that "the designers have succeeded in creating the best helicopter simulator game currently available, thorns included". Cited flaws included inaccurate flight models and avionics; awkward controls; and mediocre graphics and lack of ground texture. Strengths included a wide variety of accurately modeled weapons and the ability to control multiple types of helicopters in a squadron. 1992 and 1994 surveys in the magazine of wargames with modern settings gave the game four stars out of five, and the magazine named it one of 1992's best simulation games. The game received 5 out of 5 stars in "Dragon".