Starfighter 3000 is a remake of the original game, released in 1996 for the Playstation. The story follows the protagonist, a member of the FedNet Space Corps, as he is sent to the outermost planets to test the latest technology and crush small-time warlords.
The player controls the Predator Mark-IV, a fighter ship capable of space and atmospheric flight, with the only control over the throttle being through the use of a flight stick. The game features 15 levels in four worlds, with the goal of upgrading the craft by picking up crystals and combining colours to obtain more powerful weapons.
One of the unique features of Starfighter 3000 is its ability to terraform the map using the laser weapon. By firing repeatedly at an area with higher or lower vertices, players can level the terrain, avoiding heavy defense turrets or destroying heavier ones by burrowing beneath them.
The game has several camera options, including behind and cockpit views, as well as additional features such as TV-style fly-by-cams and enemy cams. Players start with three lives and earn one every 250k points, with the ability to resume the game from the last savegame if all lives are lost.