Overview
Phoenix is a fixed-screen shooter in which the player controls a spacecraft moving horizontally along the bottom of the screen. The ship is armed with a laser cannon and a temporary force field used to survive enemy fire and collisions. While the shield is active, the ship cannot move, although it can continue firing; after it fades, it must recharge before being used again.
Each round consists of five waves. The first two feature formations of small bird-like enemies that move across the screen, fire projectiles, and periodically dive toward the player. The third and fourth waves begin with eggs that hatch into larger Phoenix birds. These enemies must be struck in the center to be destroyed; shots hitting a wing remove it temporarily, but the missing section eventually regenerates.
