 SKYFOX

 Ariolasoft 1986



 CONTROLS : Keyboard, Kempston, Cursor

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 AIM : Your homeworld has been invaded by the forces of invading

aliens. Flying the latest fighter, the Skyfox, you must defend your

people from the alien attack.



 GAMEPLAY : The colony forms the combat area and is shown as a 25x25

grid, each section of grid forming a sector. The invading force

consists of tanks, planes and a number of motherships which drop the

enemy. All the action takes place on the grid; if you fly off it you

will be warned that you are outside the combat zone, or "off colony".



 You have three lives and can select whether you want to start at high

or low level (dogfighting or tankbusting). You have plenty of

weaponry: a laser with unlimited firepower, five heat-seeking missiles

and five guided missiles. Each missile must be armed before firing.

When firing the missiles a small scanner appears showing the selected

target and this is used to guide the missile home.



 You also have a shielding system that allows a high number of shots

to be fired into it before it fails. Fuel is constantly eaten up by

flying, so you will have to return to base at least once to refuel and

rearm. The bargraphs at the side of your cockpit show the current

state of fuel and shields. Other displays show a constantly updated

radar map of the locality showing any alien forces nearby, the sector

number you're in, a clock showing elapsed time since launch and the

number of missiles left.



 During the game you can call up the base computer (assuming it hasn't

been destroyed). This informs you of your current score, how many

colonists have been killed, the number of alien craft that have been

destroyed and shield status for each colony installation. You can also

see a complete map of the colony which shows where the aliens are

currently concentrating.



 A final feature is the autopilot. This saves time and energy - press

it when there are no aliens around and it will fly you to the nearest

aliens. If they have all been eliminated, it will fly you home

instead.



 COMMENTS : "A pretty hot action flight simulator."

 RATING : 84% (CRASH #27, April 1986)



 NOW : What was all the fuss about? Strike Commander this is not.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 KEYS : Up    - I or cursor             }

        Down  - M or cursor             } Joystick

        Left  - J or cursor             } controls

        Right - K or cursor             }

        Fire                            - Joystick fire