Meteor Rescue Overview
Meteor Rescue is a keyboard controlled DOS game for one player, bearing strong resemblance to Meteor Mission. The objective involves rescuing astronauts stranded on a planetoid by transporting them to safety.
Gameplay alternates between descent and ascent phases, each presenting distinct challenges. The player's ship begins held within a moving carrier vessel at the screen's top; initiating descent requires timing to avoid orbiting rocks during the drop. After landing to retrieve an astronaut, the ship ascends back toward the moving carrier. The ascent rate can be increased but not lowered, and a gun becomes available during this phase to destroy rocks for points and safety.
Success requires docking the ship back into the carrier's cage, which moves laterally and stops randomly. Hazards include collisions with rocks, the carrier itself, landing at excessive speed, or missing the docking area. The player has five lives to maximize their score, with new levels beginning after all astronauts are rescued, introducing additional obstacles. The need for precise timing and adaptation to the carrier's unpredictable stops makes the experience challenging.
