Phoenix

Phoenix
Phoenix is a shooting game developed by Amstar Electronics (Phoenix AZ) and published by Taito Co., Ltd. in 1978. The game is similar to Taito's Space Invaders and Namco's Galaxian. The Phoenix mothership is one of the first video arcade game bosses to be presented as a separate challange.

Gameplay Overview


Phoenix is a 2-button game with 2-way joystick movement. The player controls a spaceship that moves horizontally at the bottom of the screen. Enemies, typically one of two types of birds, appear on the screen above the player's ship, shooting at it and periodically diving towards it in an attempt to crash into it. The ship is equipped with a shield that can be used to absorb enemy attacks and zap any of the alien creatures that attempt to crash into the spaceship. The player cannot move while the shield is active and must wait approximately five seconds before using it again.

Controls

 * 2-way Joystick: Horizontal movement
 * Button A (Press): Fire
 * Button B (Press): Shield

Scoring

 * Phoenix fighters : 20, 40, or 80 points; 200 points if flying.
 * Phoenix birds : 50 or 100 points/egg, 100 - 800 points/bird.
 * Mothership : 1000 - 9000 points.

Strategy
WAVES 1 AND 2 : The first and second waves begin with the Phoenix fighters moving in an invader-like formation, sometimes diving down in a random order and then back up again. Phoenix fighters are worth more points when they fly.

WAVE 3 AND 4 : The third and fourth stages begin with eggs floating down in a zigzag pattern, which then turn into Phoenixes. Shooting wings gives extra points and changes the movement of Phoenixes. If possible, try to hit the phoenixes as they get close to your ship. This will earn you more points. Staying close to the side of the screen will make Phoenixes align and easier to deal with.

WAVE 5 : The final stage includes a mothership with a moving belt that has to be shot through in order to destroy the Alien Queen. The fortress slowly moves down towards the bottom of the screen, and during this wave, many Phoenixes from the first two stages also appeare. After cutting a path through the hull and shield, wait until the mothership is at the bottom, this will give you a lot more points. After this wave the game repeats starting from wave one.

Trivia
"Romance de Amor" is played at the start of the game, and "For Elise" is played after the mothership is destroyd. The songs are different in the "Taito Memories" version.