Desert Falcon is an isometric shooter released for the Atari 7800 in 1987. Set in an ancient Egyptian landscape, you control a mythical falcon as it travels over ruins, dodging obstacles and battling a relentless swarm of flying beasts and ground defenses. The game uses a distinctive three-quarter perspective that requires careful management of both your altitude and positioning on the screen to survive.
How to play
Your objective is to reach the end of the desert trek and defeat the boss of the stage. You can either fly through the air to engage flying enemies or land to hop along the ground and collect ancient hieroglyphs. Picking up three hieroglyphs grants a superpower, such as rapid fire, a smart bomb, or invincibility. Use the arrow keys to maneuver your falcon. Press X (Button 1) and Z (Button 2) to fire weapons and activate your current superpower. Press Enter to pause, Shift to select, and A to reset.
Tips
- Use your shadow: Because of the isometric perspective, checking the position of your shadow on the ground is the most reliable way to judge your placement and avoid colliding with tall pyramids and obelisks.
- Control your altitude: You can only hit enemies and obstacles that are at the same height as you. You must land to pick up hieroglyphs, but staying airborne is often safer for maneuvering and shooting flying threats.
- Learn the hieroglyphs: Different combinations of three symbols yield different powers. Pay attention to what you collect, and avoid picking up a new symbol if it will ruin a valuable combination.
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