The story of StarHawk is about an evil alien race that wants to conquer everything. The player controls a space ship in the all-important quest to kill them all. This is a horizontally scrolling shooter where the space ship moves from left to right while facing enemy formations. Each hit or contact with the environment means instant death, but as long as there are lives left, the ship comes back right away. Power-ups either upgrade the weapon system or give an extra life. There are five levels with one boss each and two difficulty levels.
The gameplay is fast-paced and action-packed, requiring quick reflexes to navigate through the levels. The player must avoid enemy fire while trying to destroy as many aliens as possible. With power-ups available to upgrade the ship's abilities, players can increase their chances of success. The game demands attention and strategy, making it a thrilling experience for fans of action-adventure games.