Space Pilot 2

Space Pilot 2 is the sequel to the C64 game Space-Pilot. While the first
game was largely a clone of Konami’s Time Pilot, this title moves away from
some of the original features. The basic gameplay is still identical. Players
command an aircraft through different environments, shooting down planes to
collect points. The ship’s nose can be rotated left or right, so the craft can
move into any direction and take sharp turns left or right. Speed is not
controlled by the user and it is always maintained at the same level
automatically. The background is wrapped endlessly both horizontally and
vertically, and that way it is impossible to encounter a border.

The game no longer takes place in distinct time periods and removes the
realistic environments. All stages are now set in space with surreal backdrops
and in an unknown point in time. To warp to a new period, the player needs to
shoot down different kinds of space ships appearing from all directions.
Destroying them is rewarded with points and it depletes a time meter in the
bottom right corner of the screen. When the meter is completely empty, all
opponents disappear and a new stage is entered. At the introduction screen to
each stage an overview of possible enemies and the points that go along with
them is shown. Occasionally a formation of three identical ships appears and
these can be destroyed for bonus points. Enemies try to ram the player’s ship
and also shoot regular bullets as well as heat-seeking missiles.

The player starts with three lives. An extra life is granted at 10,000 points
and then at every 30,000 points. There are four main backgrounds and these are
repeated over the stages, but with a different colour. Enemies become faster
and come in greater numbers in later levels. The game supports up to eight
players, taking turns to get the best score.