The objectives for each mission are displayed at the start of each mission. If your player ship is destroyed or you fail to meet the mission objectives then the game ends. The damage bar at the top right of the screen shows the current damage level of your ship.

Use the left and right arrow keys to rotate and aim your ship. Use the up and down arrow keys to move your ship forward and backward. Press the spacebar or the A key to shoot. Hold the spacebar down for auto-fire.

Use your ship to protect your computer controlled support ships as appropriate.

Powerups are periodically made available when an enemy ship is destroyed by you. Powerups are not awarded when your support ships destroy an enemy ship. Run your spaceship over a powerup to pick it up. The shield boost and double fire powerups take effect immediately. Pick up a beam, bolt and rocket powerup to add 20 units of that weapon to your available inventory.

Use the 1, 2, 3 or 4 keys to select which weapon to use. The standard weapon (1 key) is unlimited use. The beam, bolt and rocket weapons are limited use. The available inventory of each weapon is displayed on the lower left corner of the screen.

All ships have a hull rating. Most ships are also equipped with shields. Damage is first inflicted on the shields. Once the shields are down damage is then inflicted on the hull. When the hull is knocked out the ship is destroyed. At the end of each mission all remaining ships are auto-repaired which provides upto a 50 % repair in both shields and hull.

At the end of the game, if your score is high enough you will be prompted to enter your name for the high score list. To achieve a high ranking on the high score list destroy as many enemy ships as possible by yourself to receieve points and play the harder difficulty levels so there will be more enemy ships to destroy.