AstroPop

Infobox VG
title= AstroPop


caption= "AstroPop" screenshot
developer= PopCap Games
publisher= PopCap Games, Glu Mobile
distributor= Various
designer= Sukhbir Sidhu and Jason Kapalka
series=
engine= PopCap Games Framework
version= 1.0 (April 6, 2004)
released= 1.0 (April 6, 2004)
genre= Puzzle
modes= Single player
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (E)
platforms= Macromedia Flash, Windows, Xbox Live Arcade, Mobile phone
media= Download
requirements= OS: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista. Memory: 128 MB RAM. DirectX: 7.0. Processor: Pentium II, 350MHz or faster.
input= Gamepad (Xbox 360), Keyboard, Mouse (PC)

"AstroPop" is a real-time computer puzzle game developed and published by PopCap Games. Players can play the Macromedia Flash version online for free at several different websites, or a deluxe version can be downloaded and unlocked for a fee. The game can also be found on both the Xbox and Xbox 360 versions of the Xbox Live Arcade, where it can be purchased for 800 Microsoft Points. The game has also been ported to cell phones, although the controls are simplified and one of the characters (Vixx) has been omitted.

Gameplay

The object of the game is to clear a certain number of bricks in each level in order to fill up the "Brick-O-Meter". Players control a ship which moves horizontally along the bottom of the screen. The ship can grab and release bricks (up to 6 of the same-colored bricks at a time), moving them from one column to another. If the player releases bricks such that 4 of more bricks of the same color are touching, the bricks explode. As bricks explode, the bricks below move up to fill in the gaps. If this causes 4 or more bricks of the same color to meet, they too will automatically explode (referred to as a "combo").

New rows of bricks continuously arrive from the top of the screen, at a rate directly proportional to the level of play. The game ends when any column of bricks touches the bottom.

Pilots

There are four pilots, each with their own ship: Vector (default), Vixx, Sprocket and Turbot. Not all of the pilots are initially available, but can be unlocked by completing certain requirements in the game. Each of the pilots has a powerful weapon known as a "SUPA Weapon". SUPA Weapons are used as a last resort, clearing a large number of the bricks on the stage when activated. However, a SUPA Weapon can only be activated if the "SUPA Meter" has reached full capacity. SUPA Weapons are upgraded with increased damage or duration, as well as a decreased period of time between uses, as players progress through the game. Each pilot's SUPA weapon differs, as follows:

*Vector: SUPA Plasma Cannon - Allows rapid shots for a limited period of time. These can be aimed at specific bricks, breaking them from the bottom.

*Vixx: SUPA Psychic Blast - Provides cursor-like manual control over which bricks are broken for a limited period of time. Can break bricks higher up on the screen, triggering combos.

*Sprocket: SUPA Fusion Warhead - When activated, automatically destroys some percentage of the bricks on-screen, as well as all of the bricks in the bottom rows.

*Turbot: SUPA Neutron Pulse - Releases a blue pulse, clearing certain types of troublesome bricks and freezing time. Has no effect on ordinary colored bricks.

Bricks

As the player moves onto higher levels of the game, additional types of bricks above and beyond the simple colored bricks are introduced. Some of these bricks are beneficial, while others are a thorn in the player's side. The bricks are as follows:

*"Color Bomb": Destroys all same-colored bricks when detonated or when matched with other bricks of the same color. Generally triggers additional combos.
*"Column Nuke": Destroys an entire column of bricks.
*"Freeze Bomb": Featuring a snowflake, these bricks freeze time temporarily, preventing new bricks from appearing.
*"Hyper Brick": Multi-colored, flashing bricks which help fill the Brick-O-Meter when detonated or released. If not detonated within a certain time period, they revert back into ordinary colored bricks.
*"Radial Bomb": Destroys all adjacent bricks when triggered.
*"Row Nuke": Destroys all bricks in the row where triggered.
*"Steel Brick": Similar to Stone Bricks, except that they require two nearby explosions in order to completely destroy them.
*"Stone Bricks": Solid bricks which cannot be grabbed or moved. The only way to destroy them is to trigger nearby explosions.
*"Supercharger": Creates explosions that destroy nearby bricks when triggered.
*"Toxic Brick": As with Stone Bricks, can only be destroyed by nearby explosions, but actually spread as an infection to nearby bricks if not quickly removed.

Game modes

* Classic (Arcade): Destroy bricks to fill the Brick-O-Meter in order to work through levels of ever-increasing difficulty. Every 4 levels, SUPA Weapons are upgraded and a new checkpoint is earned (so that play can be resumed at this level after death).

* Survival: Struggle against a never-ending stream of bricks for as long as possible, in an attempt to "beat the clock".

* Bonus Rounds: Found during Classic Mode. Puzzles involving a field of bricks which must be carefully cleared. Clearing all of the bricks earns a bonus, while each uncleared bricks reduces the total score.

Easter eggs

* Funky Town: The buttons on the main menu each play a different tone when you mouse over them. To trigger the easter egg in the PC version, play the melody to "Funky Town" by mousing over the following buttons in order: "Hall of Fame", "Hall of Fame", "Classic Game", "Hall of Fame", "Survival Game", "Survival Game", "Hall of Fame", "Options", "More Games", "Quit Game".

Reception

Most reviews of the game indicated that, while somewhat similar to existing offerings, it offered enough new elements to be worth playing. In a review of the Xbox 360 version, TeamXbox concluded that "AstroPop" offers enough fun in its gameplay and design to warrant the purchase." [cite web | url=http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1170/Astropop/p1/ | title=Astropop Review (Xbox 360) | last=Ahearn | first=Nate | publisher=TeamXbox | date=2006-05-03] This resulted in the title receiving a score of 8.0 out of 10. GameSpot, reviewing the mobile version of the title, felt that it played well and that it "should appeal to virtually every mobile gamer out there", resulting in a score of 8.5 out of 10. [cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/mobile/puzzle/astropop/review.html | title=AstroPop for Mobile Review | last=Palley | first=Steve | publisher=GameSpot | date=2005-07-06]

References

External links

* [http://www.popcap.com/gamepopup.php?theGame=astropop Official "AstroPop" website at PopCap Games]
* [http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/astropoplivearcadexbox360/ Xbox.com "AstroPop" game details page]