Violator
A multi-level vertically scrolling shoot ’em up along similar lines to SWIV.
You fly a plane through inhospitable landscapes full of enemy fighters and gun
turrets. Most of the planes come at you in formation, firing easily-visible
orange bullets at you, and can be either shot or avoided. The turrets are
capable of rotating in 8 directions and aiming at you as best they can, so be
careful to dodge their bullets.
There are also larger vehicles which fly down the screen in a direct vertical
line. The helicopters hold power-ups including extra weapons (which you only
get for a limited number of shots; this is the one time where holding down
fire constantly (on an auto fire joystick) isn’t hugely beneficial), speed-ups
and energy recharge (once your vehicle’s damage reaches 100%, you lose that
one of your 5 lives). The planes are huge and fire a constant volley at you,
but offer a huge 5,000 points if taken down. At the end of each level an even
bigger plane comes at you, weaving from left to right while gradually moving
down the screen (and eventually out of the bottom of the screen and back
through the top).