[Found: Fireforce] Side-scrolling shooter similar to Green Beret
 

Played a demo of this from a magazine around the early 90s (I think).

Side-scrolling game in the style of Green Beret, but more detailed. You pick equipment before taking a mission, such as M16 or AK47, and you can pick up weapons and ammo from dead enemies. You can enter houses along the way and I think the goal of the first mission is blowing up a plane.

I seem to remember a tight time limit, too.

That's all I have.

Fireforce?

http://hol.abime.net/552/screenshot

Yep it's without a doubt Fireforce :)

Fireforce it is! Cheers, guys.

Fireforce rocks! Especially the knife throat-cut! There are some time-critical levels where you have to be quite quick.