Solar Guard

Player notes

About this game

Solar Guard is Deft Spade’s space shooter for GBA Jam 2021. Its first mission, Orbit Tidying, sends a fighter into Earth’s orbit to destroy space junk. A mission briefing explains the objective before you choose a ship and enter the flight view. The instrument display tracks shields, hull, engine fuel and heat, while the radar helps locate objects around you.

Wait for the title screen, then press Enter and use the menus to choose a mission. X selects and Z backs out. In flight, Left and Right turn the ship; E engages the engines, Q reduces speed, and Q plus E engages reverse thrust. Hold X to fire the laser. Enter opens the pause menu, where X selects Resume or Exit. The in-game Information menu also contains the original Controls page.

This is an unfinished development build. Its documented limitations include possible slowdown when firing in mission 2 and unimplemented objectives in missions 3 and 4, where you can only fly around. Begin with Orbit Tidying to learn how steering and momentum interact. Watch the engine and weapon gauges instead of holding every control continuously.