Shockwave Assault

About

You’re flying a next-gen jet in 2019 fighting off alien invaders. Lasers and rockets take down ships and tripod walkers as you push through levels on Earth and Mars. Two separate campaigns split between discs one and two, each with escalating wave counts and boss targets. Maneuvering and weapon swaps keep the pace tight, though the 90s-era graphics lean heavy on sprite scaling. Retro shooter fans might notice this was a 3DO console launch title in 1995 before porting wider. The sequel Shockwave 2 added more levels but kept the same core loop. With 16-bit platform support and a story about orbital dogfights, it feels like a time capsule of mid-90s sci-fi action. The Mac and Pippin versions especially highlight how niche hardware shaped early cross-platform releases.

Storyline

The year is 2019 and the alien invasion is here. In a surprise attack, the aliens decimate Earth's military forces. Mankind's only hope is the surviving orbital space carrier Omaha and its squadron of F-177 pilots. As the young inexperienced member of the squadron, it is the protagonist's job to drive the aliens from the planet.