The Starfighter

Piloting the Griffin places you in a straightforward sci-fi flight-combat campaign where insectoid defenders of The Hive take on King Nimrod’s mechanized empire. You play Paladin, a starfighter ace joined by radar officer Wizard, under orders from Queen Crusher to strike enemy forces scattered across Earth, the Hive, and distant Solar System locations. The tone is proudly pulpy and old-school, built around laser blasts, missile trails, strange alien politics, and the satisfaction of wrecking an enemy installation before its defenses can bring you down.

Each mission sends the Griffin into hostile airspace with high-energy lasers, missiles, regenerative shielding, and a turbo boost for escaping danger or closing on targets. Combat revolves around evasive flying, lining up shots, managing incoming missile and laser fire, and destroying both mobile opponents and ground-based infrastructure. Enemy runways, hangars, communications equipment, spacecraft, armored vehicles, buildings, and other military assets all contribute to your score as you clear an area. Missions conclude by locating and flying into a portal, which transfers the fighter to another sector of the conflict, while alternate camera angles—including rear-facing and zoomed views—help with targeting and awareness.

The Starfighter stands out less through complex simulation systems than through its unusual insect-versus-machine setting and mission-based arcade structure. Six starting scenarios provide different entry points into the campaign, making it easy to replay individual battles rather than always beginning from the same location. Its controls and objective design suit players who enjoy accessible space-combat games in the vein of older arcade flight shooters, where immediate action matters more than cockpit realism. Veterans seeking deep ship customization or elaborate tactical management may find it limited, but newcomers looking for a compact, uncomplicated starfighter romp have a clear target here.