The game follows the exploits of ace pilot Jack Archer. After serving as a mercenary in the Global Civil War, flying both with and against Roy Fokker, the former made quite an impression on the latter, which made him recommend Jack for the RDF. The early stages of the game cover Jack's final training and his fighting during the Battle of Macross Island, Jack not being close enough to the SDF-1 when space folds to Pluto and being left behind on Earth, rejoining his friends upon their initial return home. The majority of the game is set in the Post-Rain of Death era and involves Jack and his Wolf Squadron defending various human outposts against Malcontent Zentraedi forces led by the Zentraedi warlord Zeraal.

Cheats

Cheat mode
Start a new game or load a previous one. Highlight "Options" then hold L + R and press Left, Up, Down, A, Right, B, Start to display the code entry screen. Enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function.

Invincibility
Enter SUPERMECH as a code.

All models and awards
Enter WHERESMAX as a code.

Level select
Enter WEWILLWIN as a code.

All multi-player levels
Enter MULTIMAYHEM as a code.

Gunpod ammunition refilled faster
Enter SPACEFOLD as a code.

Missiles refilled faster
Enter MARSBASE as a code.

Gunpod and missiles refilled faster
Enter MIRIYA as a code.

One shot kills
Enter BACKSTABBER as a code.

One shot kills in sniper mode
Enter SNIPER as a code.

Alternate paint schemes
Enter MISSMACROSS as a code.

Upside down mode
Enter FLIPSIDE as a code.

Disable active codes
Enter CLEAR as a code.

Unlockables

Bronze Cross medal
Destroy 50 Battle Pods.

Distinguished Service medal
Complete the Enemy Within mission. Note - This also unlocks the Rick mech colors.

Gold Cross medal
Complete the Silver Cross medal set and destroy 100 Battle Pods.

Gold Nova medal
Complete the Vengeance mission three times.

Jolly Roger medal
Complete the Party Crashers mission three times. This also unlocks the Skull Leader mech colors.

Master Airman medal
Destroy 100 Fighter Pods.

Meritorious Service medal
Complete the Force of Arms mission. Note - This also unlocks the Izzy mech colors.

R.D.F. Flying Ace medal
Complete the Master Airman medal set. Note - This also unlocks Debris Field versus mode level and Max mech colors.

R.D.F. Starburst medal
Complete all Boss missions two times. Note - This also unlocks the Flood City versus mode level.

R.D.F. Supernova medal
Complete Gold Nova medal set. Note - This also unlocks the City In Space versus mode level and the Patriot mech colors.

Robotech Marksman medal
Kill 50 Nousjadel-Ger in Sniper Mode. Note - This also unlocks the Stealth mech colors.

Silver Cross medal
Complete the Bronze Cross medal set and destroy 75 Battle Pods.

Silver Shield medal
Use the VF-1A to complete the Graveyard mission. Note - This also unlocks the Graveyard versus mode level and Miriya mech colors.

Southern Cross medal
Complete the Gold Cross medal set. Note - This also unlocks the Factory versus mode level and the Armored Valkerie in versus mode.

Superior Defense medal
Complete the Attrition mission. Note - This also unlocks the Graystone versus mode level.

Titanium Medal of Valor medal
Complete the Knife's Edge mission. Note - This also unlocks the VF-1J in story and versus modes.

Tuna Head medal
Kill 50 Del Regults. Note - This also unlocks Queadluun-Rau in versus mode.

Wolf Leader medal
Complete the To The Death mission. This also unlocks the VF-1R in story and versus modes and the Wolf mech colors.

Gameplay Hints

Fully charged in sniper mode
Enter sniper mode, then hold Fire to charge. Once fully charged, exit sniper mode while holding Fire. The next time you want to go into sniper mode, hold Fire as you change to that view. You will now have a fully charged weapon the moment you change into sniper mode.

Using missiles on the fly
Most of the time using the battloid mode is useful for counter-missile efforts. However, with some practice you can learn to switch to jet or guardian (works either way), immediately fire a volley of missiles, then switch back to battleoid. This allows you to launch a strong assault while keeping missiles off your back.

Quicker missile targeting
Missiles do not take that many shots to detonate. A useful trick is to use short bursts of fire (releasing and pressing Secondary Fire rapidly and quickly). This gives you more of a chance to eliminate a lot of missile volleys in a much shorter time.

Knifes Edge
To complete this level easy, get directly under Sckarred's feet and keep shooting.

Glitches

Use The Super Veritech armor anywhere
After you receive the Super Veritech, you are only able to play with it on space levels. However, If you have not completed the game yet, start one of the story levels that will allow the Super Veritech to be used. Once you have completed that level with the Super Veritech, select "Continue" and it will put you in next level to be completed, regardless of whether it is in space or not.
Michael DeVore.

Floating Veritech
In the Train Depot versus level, have one player stand on one of the smoke columns. Then, have the other player shoot it out from under them in sniper mode. The column will collapse, and the player standing on it will float in midair. Do not shoot the player on top.