The game is played from a first-person cockpit perspective. Missions assign objectives such as destroying enemy fighters, protecting allies, scouting locations, or attacking larger vessels. The pilot manages speed, shields, weapons, targeting, and missile attacks during real-time engagements.

A campaign map presents successive missions, and performance can alter the route through the story. Successful sorties improve the player’s standing and can lead to different assignments, while failure may produce a less favorable campaign path. Combat takes place in open space around waypoints, carriers, and other mission targets.

Stay near mission waypoints and use the radar to avoid losing track of objectives. Against fighters, manage speed and make controlled turns rather than holding a turn continuously.

Preserve missiles for difficult targets and capital-ship attacks. Check shields and damage before committing to another engagement, and remember that mission performance can affect the campaign path.