Cross Force
Dual Lasers, One Goal
Cross Force is a fast-paced action game that challenges your coordination and quick thinking. Instead of controlling just one character, you manage two separate laser cannons at the same time. One cannon sits at the top of the screen firing downward, while the other rests at the bottom, shooting upward. Your goal is to position these lasers so their beams cross in the middle, creating a deadly crossfire that eliminates waves of enemies known as Morplus.
The gameplay feels frantic and demanding because you are essentially playing two roles simultaneously. You must watch the enemy patterns closely and adjust your aim constantly. The Morplus drop down from above and move across the screen, trying to reach the bottom where your lower cannon is located. If they get too close or touch your lasers, you lose ground quickly. The key to survival is precision; you need to align your shots perfectly to catch multiple enemies in a single crossfire strike.
One of the most critical mechanics in Cross Force is weapon management. Your lasers generate heat as you fire. If you hold down the trigger for too long, the weapons will overheat and shut down temporarily. This leaves you vulnerable with no way to defend yourself. You must learn to tap your shots or pause firing periodically to let the cannons cool down. This cooldown period adds a layer of strategy to the chaos, forcing you to balance aggression with caution.
Another major challenge is fuel management. Your lasers consume fuel as they operate, and if you run out, you lose a life. To keep fighting, you must shoot red fuel pods that appear periodically on the screen. These pods are your lifeline, so you have to prioritize collecting them while still trying to destroy enemies. This creates a difficult balancing act: do you focus on clearing the screen of threats, or do you chase down a fuel pod to stay in the game?
You can customize how your lasers move to suit your play style. The game allows you to set the cannons to move in parallel, keeping them side-by-side as they shift left and right, or in opposite directions, where one moves left while the other moves right. Choosing between parallel or opposite laser movement patterns can change how you approach enemy formations. Some players prefer the symmetry of parallel movement for easier tracking, while others find the wider coverage of opposite movement helpful for catching enemies at the edges.
The difficulty ramps up as you progress. The Morplus become faster and more numerous, making it harder to maintain a steady crossfire. You also have to deal with an indestructible mothership that hovers at the top of the screen, dropping new enemies into the fray. Since you cannot destroy this ship, your only option is to keep moving and firing to survive its relentless supply of troops. A related page worth opening after this one is Cross Force - Kreuzfeuer, especially if you want another nearby game from the same series.
Cross Force supports one or two players in a hot-seat multiplayer mode. This means you can take turns playing on the same device, making it a great choice for friendly competition. Watching an opponent struggle with the overheating mechanic or miss a fuel pod can be just as entertaining as playing yourself. The simple controls make it easy to pick up, but mastering the timing and coordination required to survive long enough to see high scores is a significant challenge.
If you enjoy games that test your multitasking abilities and offer a unique twist on the classic shooter genre, this title delivers a distinct experience. It strips away complex plots and focuses entirely on the core loop of aiming, firing, managing heat, and collecting fuel. The tension of keeping your lasers active while dodging enemy fire creates a compelling rhythm that keeps you engaged.
For those interested in similar titles within the same library, you might also enjoy Cross Force - Kreuzfeuer, which offers another perspective on this classic arcade-style action. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.