Sol Galaxy Defender

Sol Galaxy Defender is a third-person arcade shooter in which you defend bases across the Solar System from waves of aliens. You pilot a hover tank, shoot missiles and use flares to confuse alien targeting computers. Your movement is usually restricted to an area around your base, which is typically ringed by destructible defences.

Defend your base

You start with three lives. Aliens attack in waves, firing different weapons at you, your base and its defences. Some missiles home in on you, while others target your base. Bases have their own lives except on level 1, and some levels also have shield bases that power shields around your base. If a shield base is destroyed, the shield drops and your base may be attacked.

Your missiles take time to reach their targets, recreating the feel of 2D arcade shooters. On most levels, your shots are confined to a single plane, so you cannot hit an alien while it is jumping. This restriction is removed on higher levels, where the shooting mechanics vary. You can also collect extra lives and base lives.

Levels and aliens

The game has eight levels set on different planets in the Solar System. Level 6 adds a floor-wave mechanic: you float on a sea of very hot water. It also introduces a toggleable auto-targeting feature that works on some aliens but not on others, including those with stealth.

Different aliens use different attacks, and some carry homing missiles. A glossary provides information about the aliens, while each planet has its own information entry.

Arcade presentation

The game uses a retro HUD and player-life system, with an 1980s arcade-style shooting mechanic. It includes an original music score and sound effects optimized for woofer speakers.