Top Gun (NES)/Mission 3

Combat level three is the battle against the enemies on the ground. They are waiting with tanks, missile launchers, and Multiple Rocket System Vehicles.

The last enemy target in this combat level is a nuclear missile silo. It will take more hits to destroy than the enemy aircraft carrier did.

Pay special attention to the enemy missile vehicles on the ground because they will shoot missiles at you continuously. If you don't attack and destroy them early, you will be surrounded by missiles with no escape. The Multiple Rocket System Vehicle shoots at your F-14 using automatic cannons, so lock-on quickly and shoot missiles at them first.

Very similar to last mission
Aside from the fact that you fly over land and attack ground-based opponents instead of sea-based opponents, there isn't a lot that distinguishes this level from the previous level. Events take place in the same order; take-off, attack enemies until your fuel is close to running out, refuel with the tanker, continue to fight enemies until you reach the mission target.

The biggest difference here is the ferocity of the enemy's offense. Enemy jets will fly in faster and attack more directly. Ground targets won't hesitate to launch attacks in your direction. You may find yourself in need of pulling your nose up just to reduce some of the threat you face from below. The only way to avoid taking on too much fire is to be more aggressive than your opponents and fire on the ground targets as quickly as you are able to get a lock on them. Remember that if a missile is in the vicinity, it should be your number one priority. Failure to deal with it will result in your immediate destruction. If you are not confident that you can shoot the missile down in time before it collides with your plane, do whatever you have to do in order to scroll it off the screen and out of harm's way.

Boss: Enemy missile silos
Dealing with the enemy missile silos will be fairly identical to shooting down the aircraft carrier in the previous mission. Of course, you will notice that the missile silos have more "health" than the carrier did, so it will take more effort to destroy it. All the while, enemy jets will be flying in to cause interference, and the silos themselves will not hesitate to launch their own counter-offensive against you with bullets and missiles.

As with the previous boss, do not attempt to fly directly towards it and fire away. You will most assuredly get shot down that way. Use whichever method of indirect attack worked best for you against the carrier, and don't stop until the silos are destroyed. Provided you have many missiles left over and are not concerned about firing one or two at enemy jets, tap and  simultaneously as your cross-hair drifts on and off the base.