Boring old asteroids again?
Blasteroids builds on the classic Asteroids formula. You pilot a lone starfighter, navigating hostile sectors filled with tumbling space rocks and aggressive aliens. It’s the same old story: the galaxy is overrun with rocks that need smashing to smithereens. These rocks come in all shapes and sizes, and some are downright strange, like popcorn rocks that inflate before freezing. Then there are red rocks that leave behind crystals to conveniently recharge your shield. It's rehashing the old favourite, so are you ready for more rock blasting?
I hope so because this is frantic, and we're not alone as aliens frequently rear their ugly heads! These should be killed quickly to reveal a range of nifty power-ups - such as a double shot or the impressive Ripstar.
Let's pause the pointless chitter-chatter with some screenshots...
Who ya gonna be? Quite the selection for different gamers.
But how tough are ya? Come on, be brave and don't wimp out on me now!!
Who ya gonna be? Quite the selection for different gamers.
But how tough are ya? Come on, be brave and don't wimp out on me now!!
It's all rocks and aliens!
Blasteroids is divided into segments, each further subdivided into smaller sectors. Completing these unlocks a gruesome End Of Level Boss - the monstrous Mukor! Your ship boasts upgradeable weapons, a powerful shield, and the ability to transform. Once all the rocks are pulverised, a transporter whisks you away to the next sector. Don’t be disappointed. How else could they enhance Asteroids without overcomplicating it?
After clearing all sectors, you’ll finally face Mukor, a festering evil entity who launches miniature spaceships from his tentacles. My tip: shoot these first. Then watch him scuttle away like a cowardly, bloated coward. I genuinely enjoyed our battles; they’re fun without being impossibly difficult. It's not often you can say that!
This game is superb and features cool graphics I admire. Wanna see some screenshots...
Attacks from all angles and tremendous BAM BAM BAM fun!!
Asteroids, but with flashy backgrounds and colourful pixels? You are a cynic!!
Joyslick action?
The controls are excellent and responsive. Rotate the ship with left/right, up to thrust, and keep slamming the fire button to shoot anything rocky. It’s predictable, but gravity and momentum affect performance. Don’t worry, your shield will help to compensate for any poor piloting skills – not that I have any, ahem.
Pulling back on the joystick transforms your ship into one of three different models: the agile Speeder, the well-armed Fighter or the burly Warrior. Best of all, friends can join in at any time with impressive cooperative two-player support. This is a superb feature you shouldn’t overlook - I can’t stress it enough!
Fantastic stuff, right? Well, it's time to stop reading and see some cool screenshots...
The gravitational effect between sectors is superb...
...and then it's more rock-blasting again!
Aesthetics
The graphics are stunning, transforming what was once a visually stark experience into something truly captivating. The beautifully animated rocks rolling through space are a highlight, while the enemy ships are superb. All other sprites are large, detailed, and well-animated. Interestingly, the backgrounds are four-coloured, but this is hardly noticeable due to their clever design and impressive artistic flair, which I admire.
Unfortunately, the audio disappoints with lame bleep-bleep sound effects instead of samples. The ST would have easily handled that for a game like this. The music is also a bit of a letdown as it quickly becomes repetitive. Thankfully, this can be switched off, but it only emphasises the inadequate sound effects.
Looks fantastic, but sounds poor. Can't have it all, eh? Let's view some screenshots...
Shoot!! Kill!! Destroy everything!! <insert evil laugh>
BAM!! BAM!! BAM!! BAM!! BAM!! So-much-fun!!
The CryptO'pinion?
This is a fantastic conversion, though a few minor niggles detract from its otherwise great rock-smashing experience. Asteroid purists might not appreciate the changes, but keep an open mind; this game is incredibly fun. Ignoring the sound effects, they’ve done their best to elevate the genre without adding unnecessary bloatware. I love this game a bunch, so take the time to play this outstanding BLASTER!!
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