A beginner’s guide to aerial combat shooter Strike Vector EX, out today on PS4

Strike Vector EX, out today on PS4, is not your normal shooter. Aside from the fact that it is a fast-paced, arcade-style air combat game that plays like a first- or third-person shooter, what sets it apart is its many customisation features. The customisation features are both cosmetic and deeply embedded in gameplay.

These helpful tips will quickly slip you into combat and, more importantly, help you stay alive in the thickest of battles.

Two modes of flight

• Fast mode – Enter fast mode by holding L2 and turning your vector into a screaming fast jet. This enables you to either evade enemy vectors or let you quickly get into a better offensive position.
• Hover Mode – As soon as you release L2 you will come to a full stop and have more precise control of your vector. Hover mode enables you to take aim at your enemies before you jet off to another spot in the map. This mode is also very useful when flying straight towards walls, ships and other vectors because vectors stop on a dime.

Evasive manoeuvres

• When in hover mode, hit the Circle button and simultaneously left or right to do a full 180 turn in that direction. This move is perfect when you know you are being chased and want to make the pursuer the pursued.
• When in fast mode, hit the Square button and simultaneously left or right to do a barrel roll. This is a classic technique used to evade your enemies’ homing missiles. You can never go wrong with the classics. Now say it with me, “Do a Barrel Roll”!
• When in hover mode, hit the Square and simultaneously left or right to dodge incoming missiles. You will be prompted when someone has locked on to you. Don’t panic! Just use this maneuver and keep on flying.

Custom vector load-outs

No gamers plays the same way and you shouldn’t have to either. Strike Vector EX gives the players mix-and-match weapons and special abilities to find the play style they can truly dominate with. The weapons are organized in three different categories: Primary Weapons, Special Action, and Specialisation. Always try out new combinations of weapons, modifiers and abilities as you never know which one will best suit you.

Sample combinations:

• The Shotgun Stunner – For the ultimate up-close fight, select Shotgun as a Primary weapon, then pick the Special Action weapons Tesla Coil, and the Specialization Heavy Armor. With this combination, you can swoop into range of an enemy, stun them with the Testa Coil, which jolts and paralyzes them, and protect yourself with the additional armor as you finish them off.
• Long-Range Sniper — Go for the optimal long-range special combination by combining the Primary Weapon Plasma Rifle (sniper rifle), the Special Action Ghost to cloak yourself in invisibility, and add onto that the Specialisation HyperScope to provide extra distant range to sit back and pick off enemies.
• Ultimate Tank – Take on the role of the ultimate combat warrior by selecting the Primary Weapon Gatling Gun, Special Action Heavy Armor, and Specialization Nanomachines. The Gatling Gun is an excellent all-around weapon providing a constant stream of fast-rate bullets into enemies, while the Heavy Armor protects in close range skirmishes, and the Nanomachines constantly work to repair your ship in the process.

Tricks of the trade and hints for success

• Stalker Mine Drive-By – Zoom into a swarm of enemies and drop a Stalker Mine in their midst. Then watch the slow, creepy mine follow the closest enemy and laugh as the blast radius picks off additional enemies.
• Suicide Bomber – Once you have been destroyed, you have about five seconds to steer your ship before it explodes. Why not take someone down in the process? While dying, steer toward an enemy and hit the self-destroy button to transform into a suicide/kamikaze bomber.
• Vogue Vector Looks– Customise your ship with thousands of cosmetic changes to soup up your Vector’s after-market bling.
• “Keb”-Sperience – Kebs are your in-game currency. Use them to trick out your Vector! After each set of games, constantly check back to the Garage as new colours, patterns, profile backgrounds, decals, art pieces, and videos become available to trick our your flying machine.
• Skirmish Mode – Hone your chops against intense AI in this offline multiplayer mode filled with nasty bots bent on your destruction. If you can’t find a good online multiplayer experience, or you want to play alone, Skirmish mode is designed for you to increase skills, experiment with weapon loadouts, and perfect your strategies.
• Specialisations — Play around with the wide variety of ‘Specialisations’ to perfect your loadout. For example, did you know that the NanoMachines surround you with a green glowing ball of healing power? They repair you as you play!

We’ll be out there looking to dominate the skies. Come join us!