In SteamBirds you'll be able to play the role of the pilot and use professional precision to defeat your enemies while taking the least amount of damage possible. The game starts you off at a comprehensive timeline that briefs you on the upcoming level. After that you're taken to a tutorial level that teaches you the ins and outs of the game. The main tutorial will show you the basics, but there is much more you need to know to be successful.
SteamBirds focuses primarily on strategic trajectory, which means you'll need to carefully plan the rout of your aircraft, while at the same time predicting the moves of your enemies. If you plan for the wrong route, and your enemy takes an unexpected turn, you could end up the prey instead of the hunter. To gain an advantage on your enemy, or to catch up with a plane that is far away, then you could use the super speed icon which is located right next to the arrow that emerges from your airplane. Clicking on the super speed icon will cause your projected path to extend to greater lengths, thus giving you better chance at narrowing in on your enemy. However, the super speed icon is not to be overused, as it is very possible to overshoot your boundaries fairly quickly.
Once the level is complete, you will be shown your score, and you will be shown how much damage your plane incurred. If yo score enough points, then you'll be able to unlock upgrades and bonus levels. The various historical and expandable aspects of SteamBirds make it an extremely interesting and addictive game to play.