Scorched Planet

About

Scorched Planet drops you into a sci-fi battle where you pilot a hybrid vehicle that shifts between plane and tank. As Commander Alex Gibson, you defend Earth's Dator 5 colony from alien forces while rescuing civilians. The gameplay mixes shooting, base defense, and resource management. You switch between aerial dogfights and ground combat to hold positions and escort survivors to a warp gate. Single player campaigns focus on survival while multiplayer lets you team up or battle others over control of the colony. The game’s standout feature is its dual-mode vehicle which changes how you approach each mission. Air mode lets you bomb targets from range while tank mode handles close quarters defense. Though dated by today’s standards, it earned praise in 1996 for blending action with tactical choices. As Criterion Games’ debut title, it helped establish the studio’s reputation for vehicle-based gameplay later seen in their Burnout series. The DOS-era graphics and controls may take some getting used to but the core loop of adapting to shifting battlefields remains engaging.

Storyline

Aliens have invaded the Earth colony Dator 5. As the only combat ready pilot in the sector it's up to wasahed up ex-Commander Alex Gibson to defend the colony the invaders. You take control of a special hybrid transforming combat vehicle which can switch between an aircraft mode and a ground tank assault vehicle. Save as many Human colonists as possible and use the warp gate to get them to safety!