```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<game>
  <title>UFO Shooter</title>
  <slug>ufo-shooter</slug>
  <short-desc>Defend against alien invaders in this fast-paced UFO shooter! Aim your cannon, blast targets, and avoid decoys to get the high score.</short-desc>
  <categories>
    <category>Shooter</category>
    <category>Arcade</category>
    <category>Space</category>
  </categories>
  <keywords>ufo game, space shooter, alien shooter, arcade game, cannon game, HTML5 game, browser game, retro shooter, emoji game, skill game</keywords>
  <content>
# About UFO Shooter

UFO Shooter is an exciting retro-style arcade game where you command a powerful cannon to defend against an onslaught of extraterrestrial targets. Set against a deep space backdrop, your mission is to shoot down UFOs, aliens, and rockets before they breach your defenses. Be wary, as not all that glitters is a foe – hitting friendly decoys will cost you precious lives!

The game features a clean, responsive design, making it enjoyable on both desktop and mobile devices. With its progressively increasing difficulty, UFO Shooter offers a challenging experience for players of all skill levels. How long can you survive the alien invasion and what high score can you achieve?

## How to Play

The objective of UFO Shooter is to score as many points as possible by shooting down enemy targets.

-   You control a cannon positioned at the bottom of the screen.
-   Various targets, represented by emojis (🛸, 👽, 👾, 🚀), will descend from the top of the screen.
-   Shoot these enemy targets to earn points. Each successful hit on an enemy target also slightly increases the speed at which new targets appear, making the game more challenging.
-   Beware of decoy targets, represented by a sparkle emoji (✨)! Shooting a decoy will cause you to lose one of your lives.
-   If an enemy target (not a decoy) reaches the bottom boundary of the screen, you will also lose a life.
-   You begin the game with 3 lives. The game ends when you run out of lives.
-   Your current score and remaining lives are displayed at the top of the screen.
-   When the game is over, your final score will be shown, and you'll have the option to play again.

## Features

-   **Classic Arcade Action:** Fast-paced, addictive shooter gameplay reminiscent of retro arcade hits.
-   **Dynamic Difficulty:** The game gets progressively harder as targets spawn faster over time and with each successful hit on an enemy.
-   **Variety of Targets:** Encounter different alien emojis (🛸, 👽, 👾, 🚀) as enemies and tricky decoy emojis (✨) to avoid.
-   **Responsive Controls:** Play seamlessly with keyboard, mouse, or touch input for intuitive cannon control and firing.
-   **Retro Aesthetics:** Enjoy a deep space theme with a retro "Courier New" font, techy borders, and emoji-based characters.
-   **Explosion Effects:** Successfully hitting a target results in a satisfying visual explosion.
-   **Instant Play:** No downloads required, play directly in your browser, adapting to your screen size.

## Controls

You can control the cannon and fire projectiles using the following methods:

-   **Keyboard:**
    -   Use the **Left Arrow Key** or **'A' Key** to move the cannon to the left.
    -   Use the **Right Arrow Key** or **'D' Key** to move the cannon to the right.
    -   *Note: Firing with the keyboard (e.g., Spacebar) is not active; use mouse click or touch tap to fire.*

-   **Mouse:**
    -   **Move** the mouse cursor horizontally across the game area to position the cannon. The cannon will center itself under your cursor.
    -   **Click** the left mouse button to fire a projectile.

-   **Touch Devices:**
    -   **Drag** your finger horizontally across the game area to move the cannon.
    -   **Tap** anywhere on the game screen to fire a projectile.

## Tips & Strategies

-   **Prioritize Threats:** Focus on shooting targets that are closest to reaching the bottom boundary first to avoid losing lives.
-   **Identify Decoys Quickly:** Learn to distinguish enemy targets from decoys (✨). Hitting a decoy costs a life, so accuracy is key.
-   **Controlled Firing:** While it's tempting to shoot rapidly, there's a slight delay (fire rate) between shots. Aim carefully to make each shot count, especially when decoys are mixed with enemies.
-   **Anticipate Movement:** As the game speeds up, you might need to slightly lead your shots if you are moving the cannon quickly while firing, though projectiles are generally fast.
-   **Stay Calm Under Pressure:** As more targets appear and their speed increases, maintain composure to aim accurately and make smart decisions about which targets to engage.
  </content>
  <faq>
    <question>How do I save my progress in the game?</question>
    <answer>The game does not save your progress or high scores between sessions. Each game is a fresh start when you click "Play Again" or refresh the page.</answer>
    
    <question>Can I play this game on mobile devices?</question>
    <answer>Yes, this game is designed to be responsive and is fully compatible with mobile browsers, supporting touch controls for movement and firing.</answer>
    
    <question>Is this game free to play?</question>
    <answer>Yes, UFO Shooter is completely free to play in your web browser.</answer>
  </faq>
  <specifications>
    <multiplayer>false</multiplayer>
  </specifications>
</game>
```

An interactive game created with AI assistance