Summary
- Release Year: 1981
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Gremlin Industries, Sega/Gremlin
- Publishers: Quicksilva Ltd., Sega
Astro Blaster (1981): A Retro Space Shooter That Still Packs a Punch
Astro Blaster is a classic arcade space shooter that was released in 1981. It was developed by Konami and published by Sega. The game is set in the year 2200, and the player controls a lone spaceship that must defend Earth from an alien invasion.
Astro Blaster is a side-scrolling shooter, and the player’s ship can move left or right and fire shots. The player must destroy waves of enemies, which attack with varied formations and flight patterns. The player must also monitor the ship’s temperature and fuel gauges; if the ship overheats, its weapon is disabled, and if it is depleted of fuel, the vessel itself explodes.
The game is divided into sectors, and each sector ends with an asteroid belt. The player can shoot the fireballs in the asteroid belt to obtain extra fuel. After completing each sector, the player docks with a mother ship to refuel and repair.
Astro Blaster was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the best arcade games of all time. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics and sound.
Gameplay
Astro Blaster is a side-scrolling shooter, and the player controls a lone spaceship that must defend Earth from an alien invasion. The player’s ship can move left or right and fire shots. The player must destroy waves of enemies, which attack with varied formations and flight patterns.
The player must also monitor the ship’s temperature and fuel gauges. If the ship overheats, its weapon is disabled. If the ship is depleted of fuel, it explodes. The player can obtain extra fuel by shooting the fireballs in the asteroid belts that appear at the end of each sector.
The game is divided into sectors, and each sector ends with an asteroid belt. After completing each sector, the player docks with a mother ship to refuel and repair.
Graphics and Sound
Astro Blaster’s graphics are impressive for an arcade game released in 1981. The game’s backgrounds are detailed and colorful, and the enemy ships are varied and well-animated. The game’s sound is also excellent, with catchy music and realistic sound effects.
Legacy
Astro Blaster was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the best arcade games of all time. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics and sound.
Astro Blaster has been ported to a number of home platforms, including the Atari 2600, the Commodore 64, and the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game has also been included in a number of retro game compilations.
Conclusion
Astro Blaster is a classic arcade space shooter that still holds up today. It’s a challenging and rewarding game with great graphics and sound. If you’re a fan of retro gaming, you owe it to yourself to check out Astro Blaster.
Tips for Playing Astro Blaster
Here are a few tips for playing Astro Blaster:
- Keep an eye on your temperature and fuel gauges. If your ship overheats, your weapon will be disabled. If your ship runs out of fuel, it will explode.
- Shoot the fireballs in the asteroid belts to obtain extra fuel.
- Dock with the mother ship at the end of each sector to refuel and repair.
- Try to shoot all of the enemies in a specific order to earn bonus points.
- Don’t miss any shots to earn bonus points.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to master Astro Blaster and become a space shooting legend!
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
