About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/26220/853381-4.gif" data-ref-id="1300-853381" data-ratio="0.75" data-width="320" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 320px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:75.0%" href="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/26220/853381-4.gif" data-ref-id="1300-853381"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/26220/853381-4.gif" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/26220/853381-4.gif 320w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" data-width="320"></a></figure><p>Battle Squadron: The Destruction of the Barrax Empire is a <a href="/vertical-scrolling/3015-1899/" data-ref-id="3015-1899">vertical-scrolling</a> shoot-'em-up developed by <a href="/cope-com/3010-3212/" data-ref-id="3010-3212">Cope-Com</a> and published by <a href="/innerprise-software-inc/3010-2999/" data-ref-id="3010-2999">Innerprise Software, Inc.</a> for the <a href="/amiga/3045-1/" data-ref-id="3045-1">Amiga</a> in 1989.</p><p>A successor to the 1988 game <a href="/hybris/3030-11519/" data-ref-id="3030-11519">Hybris</a>, Battle Squadron features a variety of weapons and upgrades, limited horizontal scrolling, two-player simultaneous multiplayer, and optional mouse controls.</p><p>It was later ported to <a href="/genesis/3045-6/" data-ref-id="3045-6">Sega Genesis</a> as <em>Battle Squadron</em>, co-published by <a href="/electronic-arts/3010-1/" data-ref-id="3010-1">Electronic Arts</a> in 1990. The original version also received smartphone ports over two decades after its original release, released by Cope-Com as <em>Battle Squadron ONE</em> for <a href="/iphone/3045-96/" data-ref-id="3045-96">iOS</a> devices on July 5, 2011 and <a href="/android/3045-123/" data-ref-id="3045-123">Android</a> devices in April 9, 2012. It also received a digital release for the <a href="/pc/3045-94/" data-ref-id="3045-94">PC</a> and <a href="/mac/3045-17/" data-ref-id="3045-17">Mac</a> on November 6, 2013 by <a href="/seal-of-action-publishing/3010-26103/" data-ref-id="3010-26103">Seal of Action Publishing</a>, with a Steam release on June 30, 2015 by <a href="/alternative-software-ltd/3010-1474/" data-ref-id="3010-1474">Alternative Software</a>. The Steam versions were later <a href="/delisted-games/3015-10894/" data-ref-id="3015-10894">de-listed</a> in 2016 following a legal dispute.</p><h2>Story</h2><p>The story of Battle Squadron revolves around the characters of Berry Mayers and Lori Bergin, in absentia. Having been taken prisoner by the Barrax Empire, they possess critical knowledge to thwart the evil threat. Likewise, the Barrax Empire are endeavoring to acquire critical information about Earth's defenses. The player's mission, of course, is to save the prisoners and repel the Barrax Empire before they conquer Earth.</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p>The game is often cited as a competent vertical scrolling shooter, while not deviating from the basic elements of gameplay as established by the genre. The player flies his spaceship as the levels scroll from top to bottom.</p><p>Battle Squadron features 25 different power ups spread across four different types of weapon: particle beam, energy ball, magma wave, and laser. The player is also provided a full-screen clearing Nova Bomb, with three to start and more that can be acquired during play.</p><p>A variety of enemy types exist, including space ships, ground based turrets and tanks, genetically engineered living weapons. Some enemies feature cloaking devices that make them harder to track down for a clean shot.</p><p>Each level ends with a screen filling multi level boss.</p>