Star Fighter strategy
Crystal combinations:
Crystals must be picked up in the indicated order to get the
corresponding power-up.
Blue, Blue: ATG missiles
Blue, Green Square: 5 ECM flares
Blue, Yellow: Engine upgrade
Light Blue, Green Square, Light Blue, Blue: 50 ECM flares
Light Blue, Light Blue, Green Star: Group of random upgrades
Light Blue, Yellow: 3 Multi-missiles
Green Square, Yellow, Green Square: Pod (not permanent)
Green Star, Green Star, Green Star, Red: Megaship (not permanent)
Green Star, Green Star, Green Star, Green Star: Group of random
upgrades
Purple, Blue, Purple, Blue: 10 Multi-missiles
Purple, Green, Blue: Control damage
Purple, Green Square, Purple, Green square: Beam laser
Purple, Orange, Purple, Orange: 10 Mines
Purple, Purple: 10 ATA missiles
Purple, Red, Blue: Engine damage
Purple, Red, Purple, Red: 10 Megabombs
Purple, Yellow, Blue: Shield damage
Red, Red: Laser upgrade
Red, Yellow: Control upgrade
Yellow, Yellow: Shield upgrade
Information in this section was contributed by Robert Yung
and David Gloss.
Hints:
Upgrades
It is better to upgrade the ship one step at a time with the
crystals rather than getting a Megaship from a parachute. The
Megaship lasts a short amount of time, but crystal-based upgrades
are permanent.
Surface-to-air missiles
SAMs have a limited altitude range and will blow up if they
fly too high. If a group of SAMs are heading in, climb at full
speed, wait for them to blow up and return for another attack
run. Deploying an ECM as a SAM is being launched will cause detonation
and will damage or destroy the SAM site.
Loop and strafe
To destroy building without having to execute a strafing run,
fly up to the target and begin looping. While looping, fire your
lasers as the building becomes a target until it is destroyed.
Mission strategy:
Rookies Start Here
Take advantage of the lack of opponents to destroy everything
on this level and collect crystals. The trees with square trunks
will yield a blue crystal, making it easy to accumulate ATG missiles.
Other crystals on this level will allow shields to be maximized
and ATA missiles to be increased.
Aerial Strike Training
A simple training mission. Destroy the three ground objectives
and avoid the SAMs. Eliminate other ground targets before the
mission objectives to collect crystals.
First Wings
Another training mission, with aerial and ground targets.
Ground Combat
Another training mission, with stationary and moving ground
targets.
Stratoliners
Target either cargo vessel immediately after launch. Use full
throttle to get to their location. Fire multiple ATA missiles
at each target. Use lasers, if necessary, to complete their destruction.
Academy Exams!
Get friendly fighters to help attack the satellites. Find
them on the map, starting in the upper left corner. The fighters
will ask to join when approached. Press X (3DO version)
and select "Formation Control", then select "Regroup".
Approach the satellites and change the formation to attack or
all attack. After all the satellites are destroyed, eliminate
the ground objectives to complete the mission.
Aerial Combat Training
Set your formation to defensive and destroy each battleship.
Eliminate any remaining fighters to complete the mission.
The Space Station
Set your formation to defensive and destroy the space station.
Then, eliminate each satellite. The enemy fighters can be destroyed
by flying through the asteroid field. Shoot asteroids to collect
crystals before returning to the mothership to complete the mission.
Central Intelligence
Destroy the satellites, then concentrate on the ground targets.
Ignore the fighters, as ground fire will eliminate them.
Rocket Pad
Eliminate the SAM threat by destroying each base near the
rockets with ATG missiles. Also clear out the surrounding ground
guns. Allow your ship's shields to recharge between attacks on
the bases. After the SAM bases have been neutralized, destroy
any remaining ground guns and target the rockets. Remember that
SAMs have a limited altitude. It may also help to set the number
two camera to an external head-on view of the fighter to allow
incoming SAMs to be visualized.
Chemical Delivery
Destroy the ground complex before the cargo ship lands.
The Wastelands
Target the radar dishes after launch. Then find and the destroy
the remaining ground targets. Eliminate the aircraft hangers first
to reduce the threat of enemy fighters.
Sneak Attack
Destroy the large building at map location E5 to destroy all
of the smaller radar dishes. Then, eliminate the two large radar
towers at either end of the line of targets to complete the mission.
Supply Line
Target and destroy a single enemy transport before attacking
the next one. Each transport carries fighters that will be launched
when it is attacked. Try to destroy the transport before it gets
a chance to launch its fighters. If your fighter is overwhelmed
by enemy fighters and ATA missiles, dive down and skim along the
ground to use the landscape to your advantage. The missiles seem
to take a straight path towards their target and will explode
when they hit the ground at higher elevations. The mountains will
also take out enemy fighters, since their pilots navigate poorly
at very low altitudes.
Transmission Towers
Ignore the enemy fighters and destroy the first tower. Use
your lasers since the ATG missile will not lock on to the tower.
Immediately after accomplishing this, fly to the second tower
and destroy it in the same manner. Only thirty seconds is allowed
between destroying the first and second towers. Dock with the
mothership to complete the mission, taking out any attacking enemy
fighters in the process.
Scanners Down
It is not necessary to engage the enemy fighters in air-to-air
combat. As in Supply Line, skim the surface at full throttle
and let the terrain take care of the enemy. As long as your fighter
is at full throttle, the SAMs that are launched will not be able
to hit your fighter. Although more enemy fighters are launched
sporadically, only the ten fighters present at the beginning of
the mission need to be destroyed. The jamming tower is located
at coordinates B5 and does not need to be actually targeted. By
skimming this area, the enemies own laser fire will create collateral
damage and take out the tower while they are aiming for your fighter.
Once the tower is destroyed, switch to map view, and view the
details on each fighter that is still remaining. Make note of
the fighters that are described as "must be destroyed"
versus the replacement fighters that are described as "immaterial".
Destroy the indicated fighters to complete the mission.
Outpost
This is a simple mission. Set the formation control to "attack"
and allow the other friendly fighters and the asteroids take care
of the attacking enemy fighters.
Down In The Valley
Destroy one excavation site before moving on to the next one.
Each is shaped in a square, with defensive structures in each
corner. Some sites are defended by enemy fighters. Destroy the
large yellow hangar buildings to eliminate this threat. Then,
destroy the SAM silos, followed by the laser batteries before
eliminating the other structures at each site.
Blanket Bombing
The "incendiary device" referred to in the briefing
is the beam laser. A total of forty beam laser upgrades can be
obtained by destroying the purple warehouses grouped by themselves
on the northern and western edges of the map. The warehouses are
the buildings with smokestacks. Destroying the other purple buildings
in these target areas will not yield any bonuses. Used carefully,
this will allow two or three targets in the other areas to be
destroyed. Make sure that the lasers are fully powered, or your
attacks will be ineffective. Watch for a Megaship parachute upgrade
to help finish the mission. This world is heavily defended. Ignore
all the defenses except those that must be destroyed to complete
the mission objectives.
Command And Control
Take several fighters in "Defensive" formation and
destroy the satellites and stratoliners before attacking the rotating
blue starbases. Draw fire from the starbase by making close passes
at high speed while the fighters attack. Starbases can be destroyed
by ramming into them at full throttle after they are damaged and
if your fighter has full shields. An alternate method to destroy
the starbases is to approach them until they just appear into
view with a zero throttle. Shoot them until they fire back, then
go to full throttle, avoid their laser fire, and position your
ship for another pass.
Traitor!
This planet is heavily defended. Let the laser batteries take
out the enemy fighters for you while targeting the mission objectives.
Brainwashed
High altitude diving attacks should be used to complete this
mission. The enemy fighters will be taken out by their own lasers
and enemy SAMs as they try to reach your fighter's ceiling limit.
Ground-skimming attacks are not recommended due to the tall structures
in the target zones and large amount of water present that can
not shield your fighter from ground fire.
Sea Breeze
Immediately destroy the ships and runway to reduce the threat
of enemy fighters and leave the laser batteries for last.
The Dark Training Camp
This world wraps around a single island. Start at one end
and eliminate all targets, which appear on gray squares, from
high altitude. Allow the laser and SAM batteries to survive in
order for ground fire to take out any enemy fighters that may
be launched.
Chemical Plant
Ignore the enemy fighters. Only one needs to be destroyed
and it will be the only remaining fighter at the end of the mission
due to heavy ground fire. The buildings in the mission objective
all appear as blue or purple structures.
Remote Fuel Depot
This is a relatively easy mission. Your first objective should
be to destroy the structure next to the short runway. This will
remove the threat of the experimental fighter, leaving you free
to destroy all the other targets on the island.
Enemy Attack Platform
The two friendly pilots in enemy fighters will automatically
join your formation when your fighter launches from the mothership.
Set your formation pattern to defensive and attack both starbases.
Since this mission is in space, there is no point of reference
for "above" and "below" on the display. Refer
to the asteroid field as the "ground" and skim right
above it. Both starbases are located just above this point using
this frame of reference. Try to destroy the starbase surrounded
by satellites first. Several high speed passes at full throttle
are necessary to avoid missiles and enemy fighters.
Remote Mining Station
Since this mission is timed, the targets must be destroyed
very quickly. A low level attack works best, with zero throttle
while flying over the actual mining station.
Enemy Arms Meeting
The transport that is the mission objective is heavily shielded..
A combination of a large number of ATA missiles and sustained
laser fire will eventually destroy it. Keep firing away and use
ECMs to throw off any missiles while keeping the transport targeted.
Damn Rookie Pilots
Get the friendly fighters into a defensive formation. Flying
at full throttle to avoid missiles, use ATA missiles and lasers
to destroy the enemy fighters.
Strategic Bomber Test
A fairly difficult mission due to the limited number of megabombs
available, decreased shields, and a time limit. Get to your targets
quickly by always using full throttle. Since your bomber does
not have any ECMs, SAMs must be avoided by climbing into orbit.
Aim carefully, and conserve your ammunition. One megabomb may
destroy more than one target, especially when aiming for the taller
buildings. This occurs in low level attacks, which cause portions
to destroyed buildings to crash into surrounding buildings. Memorize
where the mission objectives are located (usually adjacent to
large letters spelling TEST), and what they look like. With speed
and precise firepower, this mission can be completed successfully.
Tractor Beam Matrix
Stay on the mothership until it approaches the satellites.
Prepare to fire ATA missiles at the satellites after launch. Set
your thrust to medium high, and keep flying around the center
of the satellites while shooting them. The laser fire from the
other satellites will help destroy some of your targets. If a
satellite has been hit once or twice, it can be rammed. Return
to the mothership after all the satellites have been destroyed.
Information in this section was contributed by James A. Squires.
Enemy Bomber Attack
Attack the bombers with ATA missiles and sustained laser fire.
Target one bomber until it is destroyed to prevent the other bombers
from launching their fighters. The sooner each bomber is destroyed,
the fewer fighters it will be able to launch. Destroy the fighters
by skimming the ground or flying near the mothership. Then, use
the lack of ground fire to collect all crystals, especially multi-missiles
from ground targets. Do not destroy to many large buildings, as
these are the strategic targets that were to be defended.
Death Valley
This is a straightforward mission, with only SAM sites and
laser batteries defending the mission objectives. All the targets
are concentrated in a single map area.
Lost In Space
Eliminate the enemy fighter threat by making several medium
speed passes through the asteroid field. ATA missiles can be avoided
by going to full throttle in clear space. Shoot the asteroids
to obtain more crystals. The mothership is located below the asteroid
belt, but without working radar, there is no "up" or
"down" display on screen. To find your orientation,
shoot the asteroids until non-symmetric crystals such as yellow
or light blue appear. Orient your ship until the crystals appear
rightside up. Then, keeping the asteroid field in view as a reference,
fly your ship below the field and begin searching for the mothership.
Misinformation
Set your formation to defensive and avoid flying through the
asteroid field. Destroy each enemy battle cruiser individually.
Fly at full throttle to avoid the SAMs. Use the asteroid field
as the "ground" for radar reference.
Enemy Test Fighter
Target the enemy fighter while still on the mothership. Launch
and approach the target at zero throttle. Launch multiple ATA
missiles when in range. If necessary, complete the task with laser
fire. Destroy the hangar building to complete the mission.
Launch Site
Immediately launch from the mothership at zero throttle. Destroy
all the hangers first to reduce the threat of enemy fighters.
Allow ground fire to destroy any fighters that launch. Destroy
the satellites and target buildings to complete the mission.
Darkworld Shootout
This is a difficult mission because of the number of enemy
aircraft and the limited amount of time that the mothership can
survive. Launch and immediately use the beam laser to destroy
the two stratoliners. Then, use multi-missiles to destroy the
fighters.
Enemy Gathering
This is a very challenging mission. The three enemy transports
are difficult to destroy. Set your formation to defensive. Fire
generous amounts of ATA missiles during full throttle passes at
the transports. Avoid using ECMs since they will also destroy
your missiles. The ground targets are heavily defended, but can
be destroyed using high level diving techniques.
Trouble Brewing
Simple strafing runs with lasers in defensive formation will
take care of both enemy stratoliners.
Trial And Error
Do not engage the enemy fighters. Instead, set your formation
to defensive and weave through the asteroid field at the edge
of the map. The poor navigation skill of the enemy pilots will
take care of the mission objective.
Surrounded
Another difficult mission due to the number and variety of
enemy aircraft. Launch at zero throttle and immediately turn left.
Destroy the stratoliner that is flying parallel to the mothership
with laser fire. Then, switch to multi-missiles to destroy the
multiple targets in front of and behind the mothership. If the
number of targets drops to a manageable number, use multiple ATA
missiles to destroy the mission objectives. Switch to multi-missiles
when necessary.
Taken Over
This mission may be completed using standard techniques. Use
the relative lack of enemy presence to collect crystals in order
to replace any depleted weapons.
Bomber Training
Immediately after launch, find the trainee bombers and use ATA
missiles to destroy the fighters that are attacking them. Then,
target any mission objectives that the bombers missed. Lead any
enemy fighters that launch away from the bombers.
Enemy Fleet
Destroy the enemy missile boats first. Their explosions will
help destroy the aircraft carriers that are next to them. Take
out any remaining fighters and collect crystals from ground targets.
Capital Investment
Set your formation to defensive and destroy the enemy stratoliner.
Use standard techniques to take out the enemy satellites and fighters.
Use high altitude ATG missile attacks to destroy the laser batteries.
Nerve Gas
Destroy each satellite in one pass. They may be rammed safely
if weakened by laser fire. Choose your targets methodically in
order to save time moving from one target to the next. Set your
formation to Attack.
Follow The Leader
Use standard techniques to destroy the less protected ground
targets. The central area of the map is saturated with SAM sites
and laser batteries. High altitude attacks with ATG missiles provide
good results. Lead the enemy fighters over the center of the map.
Ground fire should destroy them.
Enemy Hangers
Set your formation to defensive. Use standard high altitude
attacks to destroy the enemy hangers.
Broadcast Towers
Use multi-missiles to immediately destroy the enemy fighters
that will attack the mothership after launch. Target the satellites
with ATA missiles. If the mothership destroys one of the broadcast
towers while over an island, take out any other broadcast tower
before the twenty second time limit. Destroy the remaining objectives
to complete the mission.
Conglomeration
The first objectives to be destroyed should be the two space
stations. Set your formation to defensive and make a few high
speed passes to weaken their shields. Turn in tight circles at
a distance from the space stations to recharge your shields. Use
the beam laser to finish the job. The mothership will destroy
some of the satellites. Destroy the remaining satellites before
focusing on the ground objectives.
Lab Attack
Set your formation to aggressive. Climb and hover over the
space stations and use multi-missiles to destroy any enemy fighters
that approach.
Rigged
The enemy fighters attacking the mothership can easily be
destroyed with multiple ATA missiles. Take out the oil rigs to
complete the mission.
Military Central
Use high speed passes in defensive formation to destroy all
targets. Ignore the enemy fighters, they will be destroyed when
flying near the asteroid field.
Potential Hazard
Destroy the stratoliners to eliminate the fighter threat.
Destroy the remaining satellites and ground targets using standard
techniques.
Cloak And Dagger
Set your formation to defensive. Orient your ship to the asteroid
field. The stratoliners must be attacked with lasers. The best
approach is head-on in order to reduce laser fire. Pull out of
the way of the stratoliners at the last moment. To regain shields,
fly to the opposite side of the asteroid field. The enemy fighters
can be eliminated by flying through the asteroids.
Super Fighters
Destroy the SAM sites with ATG missiles on high speed, high
altitude runs. Target the aircraft hangers next using the same
technique. Destroy any launched fighters with ATA missiles, then
finish off any remaining ground targets to complete the mission.
Enemy Cruiser Fleet
Set your formation to defensive. Dive and keep level with
the cruisers, making high speed attack runs from the side. Use
multi-missiles and ATA missiles. Take advantage of every parachute
drop to use Megaship ammunition instead of your own stock. Destroy
the ground objectives to complete the mission.
Darkworld Meeting
Use multi-missiles and the beam laser to destroy the two cruisers.
Eliminate ground targets to replenish your ship's ammunition before
docking with the mothership to complete the mission.
Copyright © 1996 Al
Amaloo. All rights reserved.
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