The game is played from a first-person cockpit view. Each mission presents a route through a themed planetary environment with targets and defenses to destroy. The player pilots through valleys and open spaces, engages airborne opponents, attacks ground installations, and avoids terrain, missiles, and other hazards.

Progression is organized into episodes and levels. Weapons and ammunition are collected or managed during missions, and successful completion unlocks later areas. The shareware release and the full version differ in available content, but the core flight and combat structure remains the same.

Keep moving and use the terrain to break enemy missile locks. High speed is useful for reaching objectives, but slowing down near narrow valleys makes turns and target alignment safer.

Prioritize threats that can pursue or fire at you, then attack stationary objectives while passing them. Conserve powerful ammunition for heavily defended targets and learn the layout of each route through repeated runs.