Star Raiders/Walkthrough

Mission Skill Levels
Any time your rating puts you on a different skill level... NOVICE, PILOT, WARRIOR, OR COMMANDER... press RESET, then GAME SELECT and change the skill level at the top of your screen.

Novice Level

 * 3 starbases
 * 9 enemy sectors with total of 27 enemy combat ships
 * With shields on, starship cannot be damaged.
 * Computer steers during hyperwarp.

Pilot Level

 * 4 starbases
 * 12 enemy sectors with total of 36 enemy ships
 * Starship can be damaged with shields on
 * Must steer during hyperwarp.

Warrior Level

 * 5 starbases
 * 15 enemy sectors with total of 45 enemy ships
 * Starship can be damaged with shields on.
 * Steering required during hyperwarp
 * Enemy attacks are faster and more devastating.

Commander Level

 * 6 starbases
 * 18 enemy sectors with 54 enemy ships
 * Starship can be damaged with shields on
 * Steering required during hyperwarp
 * Constant attacks under very hazardous conditions.

COMMANDER missions are only recommended for the most experienced Star Raiders.

Rating
A mission ends when... No matter how your mission ends, you will receive a rating on your performance... a posthumous rating if your starship is destroyed.
 * You destroy all enemy targets and complete your mission.
 * You run out of energy and your mission is aborted.
 * Your starship is destroyed.

Mission Control bases each rating on the following factors:
 * Mission skill level
 * Number of enemy combat ships destroyed
 * Amount of energy used
 * Length of time taken to complete mission
 * Number of starbases destroyed.

Here's the formula: Where M is a mission factor determined as follows: Note that the formula penalizes you more for allowing Zylon to destroy a starbase than for destroying one yourself. I'll have more to say about that when we study survival tactics in Section 12.

Your NEW RANK is displayed at the top of the television screen by rank and class. There are five classes per rank, Class 1 being the highest and Class 5 being the lowers.

If you do not score at least 48 points on a mission, your new rank will be GALACTIC COOK or GARBAGE SCOW CAPTAIN. If you can't do better than that, your mission skill level is too advanced for you. Switch to a lower skill level and work you way back up.