In the far future A.D. 2008 aliens have invaded the Earth and launched a full-scale war that threatens humankind. Earth’s scientists have built two of the ultimate weapons, the Strike Gunner, piloted by Mark McKenzie and Jane Sinclair to repel the invasion and destroy the alien armies. The player goes through various levels and stages, usually based around certain environmental elements and faces numerous types of enemies.
The levels feature wave after wave of normal enemies ranging from helicopters to gun turrets that usually only require one or two hits to destroy. At various points in each level, the player faces a boss vehicle. At certain points, a stealth bomber (or in later levels, a space shuttle or capsule) will appear to airdrop the player laser power-ups, recharge special weapons, or give a speed boost. Using the Strike Gunner, the player is armed with a dual red laser weapon that can be upgraded several times to a more powerful blue laser.
In addition to this weapon, the player chooses a second, more powerful “special weapon” with a limited charge before they begin the mission. There are 10 advanced weapons (15 in the SNES version) to pick from. This allows for a strategic approach to the game because certain weapons are more effective on certain missions. The “special weapon” has various limitations, depending on which one is being used.