You're an ace fighter pilot. For wings you have an F-14 Thunder Cat, the most advanced fighter jet ever developed.
In the sky, you are the perfect combination of man and machine. It's been said you're the best...and you'll have to be. Because in this mission all odds are against you.
The country's freedom depends on your success. Good luck.
You're a Navy air captain...with the fastest, meanest set of wings ever to hit the skies. You fly an F-14 Thunder Cat, the perfect mix of man and machine.
You supply the skill, reflexes and guts. Your Thunder Cat supplies the Mach 2+ speed, unlimited firepower and a state-of-the-art battle computer which targets your enemies.
When it comes to flying the unfriendly skies, you're the one they call "The Ace."
Naval Intelligence has discovered the locations and are ready to deliver them. But they need you to get the plans out. You must launch from the deck of the SEGA ENTERPRISE and battle your way to the two locations.
Your flight pattern is already programmed into the battle computer. Your F-14 Thunder Cat has been armed with air-to-air guided missiles and a Vulcan 20 mm cannon.
Fuel tankers are in place to refuel you in the air...if you make it that far.
The enemy knows you are coming...and they're prepared. Only a pilot with your experience has any hope of success.
Enemy aircraft have been sighted on radar! It's time to SCRAMBLE! Good luck. The fate of the free world depends on your success.
What you will see in the course of your mission will be the F-14 Thunder Cat and the view the way a fighter pilot would see it from the cockpit. Since even a slight movement of your Control Pad will change the position of your Thunder Cat, every turn or loop you make will shift the horizon line. To survive enemy fire, you'll have to learn how to pilot your jet as if you were learning to fly a real jet.
Button #2 To fire the Vulcan Cannon
When left to itself, the battle computer will either assume or return the F-14 Thunder Cat to a horizontal flying position.
To Make the F-14 Thunder Cat Roll:
When flying sideways, turn the D-Button to the LEFT or RIGHT and then immediatly in the opposite direction. The Thunder Cat will make one complete rotation. Practice this technique until it becomes second nature.
You get additional jets when your score reaches 5,000,000 points and 15,000,000 points.
The game ends when you have lost all your jets.
When you reach the designated altitude, you will see the following screen: Showing what STAGE you are in, how many jets you have left and your SCORE. You will see this screen at the beginning of every stage.
The white radar frame in the upper right hand corner indicates the full game screen you see at any given moment. Enemy aircraft appear as red blips in the radar. The horizontal line is the position of your wings against the horion.
Red blips that appear outside the white frame, indicate that enemy aircraft are approaching you from the side. Put these planes in your gunsights by turning toward their direction. When blips enter the white radar frame, it\ means that they are approaching your F-14 head on.
However, enemy aircraft can escape your missiles even when you are locked on. If you let them leave the game screen, or if the enemy is too close when you fire, the missiles will pass them by. Air-to-air missiles are extremely effective...if your timing is right.
Dragonfly:
Class 1 Fighter
V/Stoll:
Harrier Class Jump Jet
Bearmax:
High Altitude Helicopter Gunship
Grantanoff TU-1000:
The Flying Fortress
Take your time. There is no time limit to the bonus stage. If you succeed in destroying the Flying Fortress, your battle computer will land you at an enemy air base...where a truck will meet you on the landing strip.
Take some R & R. See the sights of the world. You've just made it through the toughest air battle any sky jockey has ever fought!
Enemy Aircraft | ..... | 2,500 points |
Flying Missiles | ..... | 800 points |
Bonus Points = (total number of enemy aircraft shot down in the previous three stages) x 20,000 points.
When the message GAME OVER appears on the screen, push the D-Button UP and press Buttons #1 and #2 at the same time. You will resume combat where you left off, but your score will start from zero.
You can use the continue feature three times.
Some of the enemy will fire on you almost before you see them. Unless you dodge fast, you'll be shot down.
Bonus points are the fastest way to get additional F-14's. Take your time and try to defeat the Flying Fortresses.