Guide is now available at Hubpages:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Steambirds-Strategy-and-Hint-Guide
ANDROID SPECIAL: Steambirds Hints Part 4
Finally beat 1946 mission with 4 stars, and this means ALL missions are now passed with 4-stars!
One last general hint to share: Turn to dodge! you can turn faster than ANY enemy fighter, so you need to use that to prevent from getting hit. Enemy almost behind you? Turn! Enemy plane won't be able to make the turn and fly right by you.
And this is how I beat 1946 in Steambirds... With a bit of luck and the hint above. I'll number my planes from north to south P1 through P4.
Turn 1:
P1 Turn northeast, heading just above the northern enemy, speed special engaged
P2 Turn north, max normal speed
P3 Turn south, max normal speed
P4 Turn southeast, heading just below the souther enemy, speed special engaged
Turn 2:
This is the crucial turn as it will determine your success or failure (i.e. your luck)
P1 Turn east or east northeast depending on if any of the blue enemies are arching north. If they are, go ENE to avoid them.
P2 Turn slightly west, so you're going WNW, start dumping gas
P3 Turn slightly west, so you're going WSW, start dumping gas
P4 Turn east or east southeast depending on if any of the blue enemies are arching south. If they are, go ESE to avoid, else go east.
The problems are P2 and P3, as they don't have speed to get away. P2 have shield, and P3 have U-turn. Worst-case scenario is the "green" enemy chases down P3 and shoots him before he can get away.
What usually happens is maybe one enemy will chase P1, and you have two or three chasing P2, two or three chasing P3, and nobody on P4. However, you need one more turn to see who's really chasing who.
If you did not get hit up to this point, you should have a good chance getting 4-star performance. Basically, the P2 and P3 make tight circles toward the enemy (probably turning EAST) drop gas periodically and try to lead the enemies through it (but always turning) cutting through the gaps in its own gas clouds. P1 and P4 use speed to circle around and join the fight and/or kill any of their own pursuers by leading them past each other.
It takes a bit of patience but it can work.
Some "theoretical maneuvers"
The K-turn -- you need a plane with a U-turn capability. Basically, you make a tight right turn (minimum air speed), engage U-turn, then come out making a right turn. This theoretically should get you behind any enemy that was chasing you.
One last general hint to share: Turn to dodge! you can turn faster than ANY enemy fighter, so you need to use that to prevent from getting hit. Enemy almost behind you? Turn! Enemy plane won't be able to make the turn and fly right by you.
And this is how I beat 1946 in Steambirds... With a bit of luck and the hint above. I'll number my planes from north to south P1 through P4.
Turn 1:
P1 Turn northeast, heading just above the northern enemy, speed special engaged
P2 Turn north, max normal speed
P3 Turn south, max normal speed
P4 Turn southeast, heading just below the souther enemy, speed special engaged
Turn 2:
This is the crucial turn as it will determine your success or failure (i.e. your luck)
P1 Turn east or east northeast depending on if any of the blue enemies are arching north. If they are, go ENE to avoid them.
P2 Turn slightly west, so you're going WNW, start dumping gas
P3 Turn slightly west, so you're going WSW, start dumping gas
P4 Turn east or east southeast depending on if any of the blue enemies are arching south. If they are, go ESE to avoid, else go east.
The problems are P2 and P3, as they don't have speed to get away. P2 have shield, and P3 have U-turn. Worst-case scenario is the "green" enemy chases down P3 and shoots him before he can get away.
What usually happens is maybe one enemy will chase P1, and you have two or three chasing P2, two or three chasing P3, and nobody on P4. However, you need one more turn to see who's really chasing who.
If you did not get hit up to this point, you should have a good chance getting 4-star performance. Basically, the P2 and P3 make tight circles toward the enemy (probably turning EAST) drop gas periodically and try to lead the enemies through it (but always turning) cutting through the gaps in its own gas clouds. P1 and P4 use speed to circle around and join the fight and/or kill any of their own pursuers by leading them past each other.
It takes a bit of patience but it can work.
Some "theoretical maneuvers"
The K-turn -- you need a plane with a U-turn capability. Basically, you make a tight right turn (minimum air speed), engage U-turn, then come out making a right turn. This theoretically should get you behind any enemy that was chasing you.
ANDROID SPECIAL: Steambirds Hints Part 3
General Tactics
Find out who's chasing who -- enemy AI picks one of your planes to chase for each of theirs. Spread out and figure out who's chasing who so you can exploit this behavior with the subsequent tactics.
If you have 2 or 4 planes, split up and down, then if you have 4, split the north and south groups so they go at right angles to each other, and that should tell you who's chasing who.
If you have 3 planes, use the U-turn on the middle one (if possible, else just pick north or south) and spread the two outer ones.
Offset Shooting -- Your guns actually fire in a small CONE, not just directly ahead. You can be slightly off to one side of the enemy track and your guns will still hit the target. You *have* to use this to win the final bonus mission, where you're against 2 missile shooting flying HQs. Experiment a little and learn how far off track you can be still still hit the enemy.
Get Behind Them -- most enemies do NOT have 360 degree guns (Exception: ballons and zepplins, and some planes with gas) If you get behind them the enemy's toast, as long as you stay slow and behind them. Just watch out for the gas (discussed later)
Stay Away From Them -- balloons and zepplins have 360 degree guns, but you still outrange them. Circle beyond their range and blast them.
If you have missile, they make great balloon and zepplin busters.
If you have patience, you can lead them through a gas cloud. Due to their low speed they take a lot of damage.
How to Kill Gas-ers (sometimes called dusters, as in cropdusters) -- the trick in killing gassers is do NOT follow directly behind it, but off to one side. (See offset shooting above)
You need the gas-er to chase one of your planes, then another plane come in from behind and kill it.
Another trick is to fly just INSIDE the enemy turn circle. You may have to go minimum speed to make the tight turn. Again, you need to "lead" the enemy with the front "bait" plane so it will turn and you stay inside the turn.
Find out who's chasing who -- enemy AI picks one of your planes to chase for each of theirs. Spread out and figure out who's chasing who so you can exploit this behavior with the subsequent tactics.
If you have 2 or 4 planes, split up and down, then if you have 4, split the north and south groups so they go at right angles to each other, and that should tell you who's chasing who.
If you have 3 planes, use the U-turn on the middle one (if possible, else just pick north or south) and spread the two outer ones.
Offset Shooting -- Your guns actually fire in a small CONE, not just directly ahead. You can be slightly off to one side of the enemy track and your guns will still hit the target. You *have* to use this to win the final bonus mission, where you're against 2 missile shooting flying HQs. Experiment a little and learn how far off track you can be still still hit the enemy.
Get Behind Them -- most enemies do NOT have 360 degree guns (Exception: ballons and zepplins, and some planes with gas) If you get behind them the enemy's toast, as long as you stay slow and behind them. Just watch out for the gas (discussed later)
Stay Away From Them -- balloons and zepplins have 360 degree guns, but you still outrange them. Circle beyond their range and blast them.
If you have missile, they make great balloon and zepplin busters.
If you have patience, you can lead them through a gas cloud. Due to their low speed they take a lot of damage.
How to Kill Gas-ers (sometimes called dusters, as in cropdusters) -- the trick in killing gassers is do NOT follow directly behind it, but off to one side. (See offset shooting above)
You need the gas-er to chase one of your planes, then another plane come in from behind and kill it.
Another trick is to fly just INSIDE the enemy turn circle. You may have to go minimum speed to make the tight turn. Again, you need to "lead" the enemy with the front "bait" plane so it will turn and you stay inside the turn.
ANDROID SPECIAL: Steambirds Hints Part 2
Your tactics will depends on what you have and what your enemies have. Let's discuss the common "special abilities' and how they can be used.
* Shield -- protects the plane for ONE TURN from all hits, but cannot fire
Shield is used to get BEHIND the enemy, esp. when combined with the U-turn. Use the shield to get through enemy fire, then U-turn and blast it from behind.
Shield is also used to get "through" an enemy gas cloud so you can get INSIDE his turn.
* Speed -- makes the plane 50% faster for one turn
Speed is usually used to gain some distance on the enemy. Great for the "bait" plane. Gain some distance. Otherwise, not that useful, actually.
* Gas -- spreads green gas behind the plane for one turn, damage all who fly through it
Probably the best weapon in the game, but a bit hard to use. Get in front of the enemy and lead the enemy right through the gas cloud. Gas cloud is persistent but it takes prolonged exposure to kill an enemy (i.e. fly through a lot of it). Figure out which enemy plane is chasing you, and try to get the gasser in front of them.
* U-turn -- makes 180 degree turn in one turn and a very short distance (maybe 5 plane lengths)
U-Turn is useful to get behind the enemy then turn around quickly to tail him, and/or making firing passes against very slow enemies, such as balloons and zepplins.
* 360-spin -- makes a flat-spin and keep going, shooting in all directions\
Fly between / through group of enemies (but out of their weapon range) and blast enemies in all directions. Not that useful.
* Missile -- missile always make a LEFT turn, unless there's an enemy almost directly in front in a respectable distance.
It is GREAT for balloon busting, but the main problem is it is very dangerous as missiles that didn't hit anything will keep circling and they don't care if they hit friend or foe. Try to stay just RIGHT and BEHIND the missile shooter so the circling missiles will miss you.
* Bomb -- string of 5 bombs, detonates one turn later.
Try to get the enemy fly right through it. Not persistant like gas cloud, so a little harder to use. Get the enemy to bunch up first. Find out who's chasing who. Use similar to gas cloud.
* Shield -- protects the plane for ONE TURN from all hits, but cannot fire
Shield is used to get BEHIND the enemy, esp. when combined with the U-turn. Use the shield to get through enemy fire, then U-turn and blast it from behind.
Shield is also used to get "through" an enemy gas cloud so you can get INSIDE his turn.
* Speed -- makes the plane 50% faster for one turn
Speed is usually used to gain some distance on the enemy. Great for the "bait" plane. Gain some distance. Otherwise, not that useful, actually.
* Gas -- spreads green gas behind the plane for one turn, damage all who fly through it
Probably the best weapon in the game, but a bit hard to use. Get in front of the enemy and lead the enemy right through the gas cloud. Gas cloud is persistent but it takes prolonged exposure to kill an enemy (i.e. fly through a lot of it). Figure out which enemy plane is chasing you, and try to get the gasser in front of them.
* U-turn -- makes 180 degree turn in one turn and a very short distance (maybe 5 plane lengths)
U-Turn is useful to get behind the enemy then turn around quickly to tail him, and/or making firing passes against very slow enemies, such as balloons and zepplins.
* 360-spin -- makes a flat-spin and keep going, shooting in all directions\
Fly between / through group of enemies (but out of their weapon range) and blast enemies in all directions. Not that useful.
* Missile -- missile always make a LEFT turn, unless there's an enemy almost directly in front in a respectable distance.
It is GREAT for balloon busting, but the main problem is it is very dangerous as missiles that didn't hit anything will keep circling and they don't care if they hit friend or foe. Try to stay just RIGHT and BEHIND the missile shooter so the circling missiles will miss you.
* Bomb -- string of 5 bombs, detonates one turn later.
Try to get the enemy fly right through it. Not persistant like gas cloud, so a little harder to use. Get the enemy to bunch up first. Find out who's chasing who. Use similar to gas cloud.
ANDROID SPECIAL: Steambirds Playing Hints
Was playing this game Steambird and got pretty addicted. I haven't gotten all 4 stars on all missions yet, but I am getting there. Here's a few hints for the players...
Special Abilities:
* Shield -- protects the plane for ONE TURN from all hits, but cannot fire
* Speed -- makes the plane 50% faster for one turn
* Gas -- spreads green gas behind the plane for one turn, damage all who fly through it
* U-turn -- makes 180 degree turn in one turn and a very short distance (maybe 5 plane lengths)
* 360-spin -- makes a flat-spin and keep going, shooting in all directions
Only in the special missions
* missile -- shoots a missile that will make a left turn if it doesn't see a target. Kills ANYTHING with one hit, even the zepplin
* bomb -- drops a string of 5 bombs behind you, explodes one turn later, wider damage than the gas
Each plane only have TWO special abilities. Your tactics will change depending on which one you got. Special abilities can only be used on alternate turns (needs one turn to "recharge"), sometimes more.
Guide to Enemy Planes
* Enemy Fighter -- just like you, get behind it and blast it
* Enemy Fast Fighter -- flies a bit faster than you, has fancier wings, try to have one fast guy distract it from the front while another kill it from behind
* Enemy Gas Fighter -- no guns, fat body, release gas behind it when you get close, don't fly directly behind it, but rather, ahead of it
* Enemy Twin-Engine Fighter -- slow, tougher, release gas behind it when you get close, guide it through the gas
* Enemy Bombino (flying wing) -- have a front-hemisphere heavy gun with a good range, but slow, get behind it, or make it fly through gas
* Enemy guard balloon -- short range but VERY heavy guns, VERY VERY slow, guide it through the gas, or shoot it from outside its range
* Enemy Zepplin -- have 360 degree guns, good range, slow, shoot it from outside its range
* Enemy Flying HQ (super bomber) -- immune to missiles, but armed with 2 missiles (special abilities), so VERY very dangerous, use shields to get past it and behind it, then stay behind it and slightly to the right so the circling missiles miss you.
Some playing hints:
* Check each of your planes and see what special abilities do they have, which will dictate your tactics.
* AI can exploited. Each enemy plane picks ONE of your planes and goes after it with a vengeance. It will SHOOT at targets of opportunity, but it will only chase down one target. Thus, what you need to do is get in front and RUN, and leave poison gas (or bomb) in your wake.
* If you have rear-firing weapons (gas, bomb) let the enemy chase you
* Exploit the range difference... airplane guns have better range than the zepplins and the balloons.
* Kill the planes, THEN the balloons / zeps.
* Exploit the border. If a plane flies out of the map, it's considered destroyed. Of course, this also means if you fly out (or you can't control the plane any more) you lose the plane too.
Special Abilities:
* Shield -- protects the plane for ONE TURN from all hits, but cannot fire
* Speed -- makes the plane 50% faster for one turn
* Gas -- spreads green gas behind the plane for one turn, damage all who fly through it
* U-turn -- makes 180 degree turn in one turn and a very short distance (maybe 5 plane lengths)
* 360-spin -- makes a flat-spin and keep going, shooting in all directions
Only in the special missions
* missile -- shoots a missile that will make a left turn if it doesn't see a target. Kills ANYTHING with one hit, even the zepplin
* bomb -- drops a string of 5 bombs behind you, explodes one turn later, wider damage than the gas
Each plane only have TWO special abilities. Your tactics will change depending on which one you got. Special abilities can only be used on alternate turns (needs one turn to "recharge"), sometimes more.
Guide to Enemy Planes
* Enemy Fighter -- just like you, get behind it and blast it
* Enemy Fast Fighter -- flies a bit faster than you, has fancier wings, try to have one fast guy distract it from the front while another kill it from behind
* Enemy Gas Fighter -- no guns, fat body, release gas behind it when you get close, don't fly directly behind it, but rather, ahead of it
* Enemy Twin-Engine Fighter -- slow, tougher, release gas behind it when you get close, guide it through the gas
* Enemy Bombino (flying wing) -- have a front-hemisphere heavy gun with a good range, but slow, get behind it, or make it fly through gas
* Enemy guard balloon -- short range but VERY heavy guns, VERY VERY slow, guide it through the gas, or shoot it from outside its range
* Enemy Zepplin -- have 360 degree guns, good range, slow, shoot it from outside its range
* Enemy Flying HQ (super bomber) -- immune to missiles, but armed with 2 missiles (special abilities), so VERY very dangerous, use shields to get past it and behind it, then stay behind it and slightly to the right so the circling missiles miss you.
Some playing hints:
* Check each of your planes and see what special abilities do they have, which will dictate your tactics.
* AI can exploited. Each enemy plane picks ONE of your planes and goes after it with a vengeance. It will SHOOT at targets of opportunity, but it will only chase down one target. Thus, what you need to do is get in front and RUN, and leave poison gas (or bomb) in your wake.
* If you have rear-firing weapons (gas, bomb) let the enemy chase you
* Exploit the range difference... airplane guns have better range than the zepplins and the balloons.
* Kill the planes, THEN the balloons / zeps.
* Exploit the border. If a plane flies out of the map, it's considered destroyed. Of course, this also means if you fly out (or you can't control the plane any more) you lose the plane too.
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