Asteroids

The first few levels play just like the original Asteroids game. Your ship starts in the middle of the screen, spins, and blasts asteroids. You can thrust about and pick up some nifty power-ups, but the game doesn't really heat up until later stages. For example, the second stage introduces dangerous black holes that you must avoid. Strangely enough, the final levels play somewhat like another classic game, Missile Command.

There are lots of hidden goodies in this game, from new ships to an embedded version of the original wire-frame Asteroids. Fortunately, this version offers more than a simple facelift to the ageing arcade game. Asteroids is simple enough to pick up and play for a few minutes, yet addictive enough to keep you occupied for hours. Retro arcade fans should put this one on their shortlist. --T. Byrl Baker

Manufacturer's Description
Asteroids is the revolutionary, new 3-D space shooter and ever-more addictive remake of the 980s arcade blockbuster. Featuring immersive 3-D worlds, highly evolved gameplay, and replayability designed to perfection, Asteroids promises to be the action game hit of the year! Classic Franchise Intensity: Activision's all-new Asteroids melds the classic fire-shield-thrust style of gameplay and nostalgic sound effects with vast new hyperspace 3-D worlds, explosive effects, cinematic cut-scenes, plus more enemies, weapons and modes of gameplay. Brave a multitude of distinct space worlds or "Zones," each comprised of sub-levels of advancing difficulty, a bonus level and major boss. Zones vary from a 3-D update of the classic to a Black Hole world with a deadly gravitational pull to a world where hostile suns shoot arching flames. Equip one of three asteroid-clearing ships with an additional unique weapon hidden in each Zone. Search for laser nets, repulser shields, shock waves, gun satellites that orbit and add to your ship's firepower and more.