500 STARS
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By Richard Parker
V0.99

INTRODUCTION
This game has been made in three weeks with Dark Basic for the PC Gamer Game Programming Challenge.

STORY
The aliens are attacking!  They have launched many planet-sized projectiles at earth from the depths of outer space!  The Earth Defence Force is stationed in orbit around the mother planet, but a hit from one of the projectiles would wipe out entire continents.

You are in charge of the Starship Cobra.  You were on routine patrol in the depths of space when the call from the President came through.

Chase the projectiles!  Destroy the aliens!  SAVE EARTH!

INSTRUCTIONS
Your job is to destroy the planets which are hurtling through space towards Earth.  The projectiles are escorted by fleets of alien saucers.  Destroy the aliens and hit the projectiles enough times to destroy them.  Then warp to the next planet.

The game is structured in levels, ending in a bonus stage.  Use the mouse to rotate your ship on the screen.  Left click to fire your weapon.

Each alien takes several hits to destroy - and they fire back!  Avoid enemy fire and destroy as many alien saucers as you can.

Eventually you will catch up with one of the projectiles.  Hit it with your weapon to destroy them.  As you progress through the game, you may be confronted with groups of projectiles.

When you have destroyed all the projectiles you will warp to the next set.

The aliens will occasionally drop shield boxes.  Collect the box to activate your shield for a short period.  When the shield is active, you are invulnerable to alien fire and can destroy the aliens by colliding with them.

You also have a special weapon which can be activated once per round.  Your Smart Bomb is activated by right-clicking.  When you warp to the next round, you will be granted another smart bomb.

Eventually you will have to refuel.  Fuel boxes have been placed in orbit around nearby planets.  Fly through the atmosphere and collect as many grey fuel boxes as you can.  When you reach the surface, you will be very low on fuel.  Use the meter on the right hand side of the screen to judge your height.  Use your left mouse button to activate thrusters.  Try to land softly.

When you have landed, your craft will refuel and you will go to the next level.  Aliens will move faster, fire quicker and will take more hits to be destroyed.

PROBLEMS
The game will work in Windows 95 or 98 and requires DirectX 7 to be installed.  It has not been tested on Windows NT, 2000 or ME.  It will not work on Macs, Linux, Unix or ZX Spectrums.

If you have any problems running this game, please report them to Richard Parker (the author) at rickparker.geocities.com

HINTS/TIPS
Concentrate on hitting the aliens.  The planets will probably be hit by your stray shots.  If you don't activate your Smart Bomb in a round, you will get a bonus score.

When you land your craft, try to land gently for a score bonus.

If the aliens reach your ship, they will slowly circle your ship.  Sometimes you can dodge them by moving your mouse really quickly.  Try to survive until you can kill the planet or you get a shield.

CONTACT ME
Please contact the author with bug reports, requests, queries or thoughts. rickparker@geocities.com