Description
Inspired by the Gauntlets, Against All Odds gives you the chance to fly any Terran or Vasudan fighter or bomber to single-handedly destroy much of the Terran fleet.

Storyline:
This mission is a Gauntlet, but on a larger scale that will "test your abilities to the utmost." Engage fighters, bombers, science stations, cruisers, an Orion, and even an Arcadia installation for the "ultimate challenge." It's not all of the Terran fleet, but it should be enough for anyone.

Balance:
Choose from any Terran or Vasudan fighter or bomber. You're all alone, so there are plenty of missiles and cannons to choose. <p> Your enemies will initially appear in waves of four, but will gradually decrease in number once you begin fighting the bombers and capital ships. Unfortunately, there are only a few seconds between the destruction of one wave and the beginning of the other. This only makes the mission more difficult, perhaps a little too difficult in my opinion.

Design:
There isn't much to this mission other than the positioning of each wing and delay betwen each wave, in addition to the number of ships in each wing. The very short amount of time between each wave makes it difficult to reload until after destroying all 24 of the fighters and bombers. Then you only have 35 seconds between waves. Just enough time only if you call for a reload before finishing off your final foe in the wave. <p> It seems a little uninspired to have all of the fighters arrive in waves of four ships. The Gauntlet seemed to do a better job of mixing up the opposition to keep everything fresh. <p> Unfortunately, there are no directives to let you know your progress through the Gauntlet. Only a few long, text-only messages will be sent during the mission. I was suprised that none of the Gauntlet in-game sounds were recycled. <p> The ship type for many of the icons in the mission briefing are incorrect. Also, the player ship icon should be a "player fighter" icon which will list the pilot's name above the icon. That's a neat built-in briefing feature that isn't used. <p> However, it is a nice touch that you have to destroy the "Acceptance" drone before the gauntlet begins. This allows you some time to configure your weapons and check all your systems before commencing the battle.

Gameplay:
Line them up and knock them down, like a game of dominoes. Only problem is that you don't have gravity on your side. It is fun to take on and consistently defeat a foe superior in numbers or firepower. And this gauntlet will increase your piloting skill, since you can't count on anyone to bail you out of a sticky situation. You'll find it enjoyable to "go it alone" in such hostile conditions. <p> However, you could get a little frustrated with the continuous four-against-one battle. The brief amount of time you have between each wave is barely enough to get your bearings, and not enough to face the next wave fully recharged and prepared for battle. The danger is that you could become frustrated and give up.

Other Thoughts: