Synopsis
by Brett Alan Weiss
Dispensing with the tough-to-duplicate vector images found in the coin-op classic, the space rocks in Asteroids for the Atari 2600 are rendered via raster graphics, which are colorful and certainly adequate, but in this case blink when the screen gets crowded. Luckily, the game keeps intact what made the original great -- namely the fun and challenge of flying around space while destroying asteroids and listening to forboding, explosive sound effects. The ship is a little harder to maneuver, but the designers cleverly incorporated the five-button control scheme into Atari's one-button joystick. There are numerous gameplay options not found in the original, including various difficulty levels and the ability to play without satellites or UFOs, and without the potential for extra lives. In addition, players can substitute shields or a "flip" function (turns the ship 180 degrees in a split second) for hyperspace. The ship can only fire off two bullets at a time (as opposed to four) and the asteroids don't change course or velocity when shot, but this is an excellent arcade port nonetheless, especially considering the limitations of the system.
Screenshots
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Extra Creditsby Brett Alan Weiss
Asteroids took the Space Invaders concept of shooting in outerspace and turned it on its ear by featuring a ship that you could fly in all directions and enemies (space rocks, in this case) that floated all over the screen.
Also Available On
Platform
Publisher
Developer
Year
Arcade
Atari, Inc.
Atari, Inc.
1979
Atari 7800
Atari Corporation
Atari Corporation
1986
Atari Video Computer System
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Atari, Inc.
1981
Game Boy
Accolade, Inc.
The Code Monkeys Ltd.
1992
Game Boy Color
Activision, Inc.
Syrox Developments, Ltd.
1999
Hybrid PC/Mac
Atari, Inc.
Atari, Inc.
2007
IBM PC Compatible
Selectsoft Publishing
Atari Interactive, Inc.
2003
IBM PC Compatible
PopCap Games
2006
Extra credits by Brett Alan Weiss
Asteroids took the Space Invaders concept of shooting in outerspace and turned it on its ear by featuring a ship that you could fly in all directions and enemies (space rocks, in this case) that floated all over the screen.
Also Available On
Platform
Publisher
Developer
Year
Arcade
Atari, Inc.
Atari, Inc.
1979
Atari 7800
Atari Corporation
Atari Corporation
1986
Atari Video Computer System
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Atari, Inc.
1981
Game Boy
Accolade, Inc.
The Code Monkeys Ltd.
1992
Game Boy Color
Activision, Inc.
Syrox Developments, Ltd.
1999
Hybrid PC/Mac
Atari, Inc.
Atari, Inc.
2007
IBM PC Compatible
Selectsoft Publishing
Atari Interactive, Inc.
2003
IBM PC Compatible
PopCap Games
2006
Controls: Joystick/Gamepad
Flags: Based on an Arcade Game
Included in Package: 12-page Instruction Manual