View source for Captain Skyhawk

{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Short description|1990 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Captain Skyhawk
| image = Captain Skyhawk Coverart.png
| caption = North American NES box art
| developer = [[Rare (company)|Rare]]
| publisher = [[Nintendo]]{{vgrelease|NA|[[Milton Bradley Company|Milton Bradley]] (NES)}}
| composer = [[David Wise (composer)|David Wise]]
| engine = 
| released = '''Arcade'''<br>1989<br>'''NES'''<br>{{Video game release|NA|June 1990<ref name=releaseinfo>{{Citation | url = http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587173-captain-skyhawk/data | title = Captain Skyhawk Release Information for NES | publisher = [[GameFAQs]] | access-date = August 29, 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120825140254/http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587173-captain-skyhawk/data | archivedate = 2012-08-25}}</ref>|EU|1991<ref name=releaseinfo/>}}
| genre = [[Shoot 'em up#Scrolling shooters|Scrolling shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms = [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[arcade video game|arcade]]
| arcade system = [[PlayChoice-10]]
}}

[[Image:Title captainskyhawk.jpg|thumb|250px|Title screen of ''Captain Skyhawk'']]

'''''Captain Skyhawk''''' is a [[Shoot 'em up#Scrolling shooters|scrolling shooter]] [[video game]] developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. The game was released in North America by [[Milton Bradley Company|Milton Bradley]] in June 1990 and in Europe by [[Nintendo]] in 1991. It was also released for [[Arcade video game|arcades]] by Nintendo in 1990.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Akagi |first=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |isbn=978-4990251215 |location=Japan |pages=128 |language=ja |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005)}}</ref> It was based on a concept from Milton Bradley, with Rare being contracted to develop the game.

==Gameplay==
The game is reminiscent of [[Sega]]'s ''[[Zaxxon]]''. The game features top-down scrolling overhead [[isometric projection|isometric]] graphics, including simulated 3D terrain. The terrain mimics the look of flight simulators available for the [[IBM PC clone|PC]] at the time. The game player is the pilot of the plane, code-named the F-14VTS (a fictional version of the [[F-14]]), and must avoid the mountainous terrain while annihilating aliens.

There are a total of nine missions in the game. The first seven have three objectives each while missions eight and nine have two objectives and one objective, respectively. Each level has multiple routes, some of which allow the player to bypass large gatherings of hostiles. The objectives vary across missions and include destroying an enemy base, dropping supplies, fighting aerial battles, picking up a scientist, and docking with a space station.

===Weapons===
The player can fire four types of weapons: Cannon, [[AIM-54 Phoenix|Phoenix Air Intercept Missiles]], [[AGM-65 Maverick|Maverick air-to-ground missiles]], and Hawk bombs. The cannon is the only weapon with an unlimited supply. The rest of the weapons must be purchased between missions after docking with the space station. The purchases are made with credits obtained through the levels by destroying all aliens that are in a group. Purchasing additional cannons allows the player to fire much more rapidly.

===Level design===
Each main level in ''Captain Skyhawk'' is an isometric plane. After the boss of the stage is destroyed or the packages are delivered the player moves on to a rear-facing 2D screen where he must destroy the enemy planes to gain credits to buy weapons in the space station on the end of the levels. The last space station is replaced with the alien mother-ship.

==Story==
The player takes a role of a fighter [[aviator|pilot]] working to repel an alien invasion. Aliens have invaded Earth, and have built four land bases. These bases are designed to drain Earth's energy and feed it to their mother space station. If the space station is allowed to obtain enough energy, it will destroy the Earth with a massive laser blast. The player must destroy the enemy bases, then go after the space station itself. Scientists, during the course of the game, are working on a top-secret Neutron Cannon. During several missions, the player must make supply drops to the scientists working underground. Sometimes, the aliens will have a scientist captive. Then the player must defeat the alien base and take the scientist to safety.

== Retrospective commentary ==
{{Expand section|date=September 2024}}
The game received positive retrospective reviews from online critics.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.classic-games.net/nes/captain-skyhawk/ | title=Captain Skyhawk review | date=May 23, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.honestgamers.com/10378/nes/captain-skyhawk/review.html | title=Captain Skyhawk (NES) review }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.shmups.com/reviews/captskyhawk/index.html | title=Shmups! }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.xadara.com/2016/07/10/captain-skyhawk-nes-game-review/ | title=Captain Skyhawk – NES Game Review | date=July 10, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thegamer.com/captain-skyhawk-mastery-gaming-essay/ | title=Captain Skyhawk Taught Me the Meaning of Mastery in Gaming | date=July 25, 2020 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* {{MobyGames|11978}}
{{Rare}}
[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Milton Bradley Company video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:PlayChoice-10 games]]
[[Category:Rare (company) games]]
[[Category:Scrolling shooters]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video games scored by David Wise]]
[[Category:Video games with isometric graphics]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo games]]