- Astro Blaster
Infobox VG| title = Astro Blaster
caption=Screenshot of Astro Blaster
developer =Sega
publisher =Sega
designer = Gary Shannon, Barbara Michalec
released = 1981 (Arcade)
platforms=Arcade Game
genre =Shooter game
modes =Single player , Up to 2 players, alternating turns
arcade system =Sega G80 Raster hardware
cpu=Z80
sound=Sound CPU :I8035
Sound Chips :SP0250 + samples
cabinet=Vertical
display=Raster, 224 x 256 pixels, 65 colors
input = 4 Buttons"Astro Blaster" is a
shoot 'em up arcade game released bySega in 1981. The player controls a ship (bearing a resemblance to the "Battlestar Galactica") which can fire and move left or right. The player must continuously monitor the onscreen temperature and fuel gauges; if the ship overheats or is depleted of fuel, it explodes.The player must battle through waves of enemies, which attack with varied formations and flight patterns. When a wave is destroyed, a new one appears. At the end of each sector, the player flies through an asteroid belt and can obtain extra fuel by shooting fireballs. After this, the mother ship is met, where the player docks and refuels for the next sector.
"Astro Blaster" speech synthesis, a novel feature that was shared with Midway's contemporary arcade title "
Gorf ", and had been pioneered a year earlier by Stern's, with "Berzerk ". "Astro Blaster" was also notable for rewarding secret bonuses for accomplishing certain things like shooting all enemies in a specific order or shooting all enemies without missing.In Sega's 1999
Dreamcast epic, "Shenmue ", an Astro Blaster cabinet can be seen in the YOU Arcade in Dobuita, but it has an "out of order" label on it and is not playable.High Scores
The currently recognised (Twin Galaxies) high score is held by Gus Pappas (USA, Arcade) with 299,100. [http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=22&pi=2&gi=3816&vi=645]
External links
* [http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=129 Astro Blaster at Arcade-History.com]
*KLOV game|id=6943
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