Star Luster/How to play

Main Menu

 * : Press the Select button to choose between the Training, Command, and Adventure modes of play.
 * : Press Start to begin the selected play mode.

Combat Mode

 * : Pushing up causes the ship's nose to rise.
 * : Pushing down causes the ship's nose to lower.
 * : Pushing left causes the ship to pivot to the left.
 * : Pushing right causes the ship to pivot to the right.
 * : Press and hold the A button to accelerate your ship up to its maximum velocity. Release the A button to decelerate until your ship is standing still.
 * : Press the B button to discharge one of your beam guns. The beam will be directed towards the location of the crosshairs on your screen, which is always oriented in the direction of your ship's nose.
 * : Press Select to leave Combat mode and switch to Map mode. This will replace the long range scanner in your cockpit with the galactic map grid.  You will be unable to move your ship in its current sector of space until you return to Combat mode.
 * : Press Start to pause the game.

Map Mode

 * : Use the direction pad to direct the galactic map cursor to the location on the map that you wish to warp to.
 * : Press the A button to warp to whichever location is currently selected by the galactic map cursor. If there are enemies in the sector that you just arrived in, you will immediately return to Combat mode.
 * : Provided that you have a supply of photon shots remaining, press the B button to discharge a photon shot to whichever sector of the galactic map the cursor is presently in.
 * : Press Select to leave Map mode and return to Combat mode. You will regain flight control of your ship.
 * : Press Start to pause the game.

Combat Mode
Understanding the information provided to you by your control panel is essential for success in your mission to save the universe. There are four major components of the cockpit view that are highlighted in the image to the right. There are explained below.

Map Mode
To the right is a zoomed in view of the Galactic Map as it appears in the place of your LRS in the cockpit. The ability to read this map is necessary to make good judgments about which sectors of space should be made a priority. While in this mode, you use the direction pad to position the cursor in a sector of space that you wish to hyperspace to, and press A. You may also select a sector of space with the cursor, and fire long-range photon torpedoes at the enemy. The number of torpedoes (4, 6, or 8) required to defeat any enemy squadron depends on its strength (more on this is discussed in the Walkthrough). Your torpedo supply is indicated by the eight smaller squares located directly to the left and right of the Galactic Map. In addition to the symbols that you see on the map, the position of your ship will also be indicated in it's current sector. The key to the map is as follows:

Ship Damage
As mentioned before, each subsystem of the Gaia has two functions. Damage to each subsystem can disable one or both functions, resulting in decreased performance that must be overcome or repaired at a base. The following table discusses each function and what will occur if that functionality it lost.