When you start playing, two things are noticeable. First, it plays like Asteroids. Guess the name actually fit. Secondly, it may play like Asteroids, but it sure doesn't look like Asteroids. This is one of them spruced up versions of Asteroids. You know where the asteroids look more realistic and spin. Sure does look mighty purty, but does it play as well? After a few games, I realized that I missed my old Asteroids. Not that this game isn't good, but there is something charming about the sheer simplicity of the original. This one is a bit too modernized for these old bones.

One of the most noticeable differences between this game and the original is that you do not die when hit by a rock. In this game, you can get hit numerous times before dying. You have one of them nifty health meters that goes down with each hit and every shot. It also goes up every time you hit something, so you are in constant struggle to keep from running out of energy. So you end up with one eye on the asteroids and one eye on the energy meter, which can cause you to go cross-eyed over time.

Another new feature in this game is the ability to switch ships. In the grand tradition of Transformers and whatever other series allowed you to transform into something else, Blasteroids allows you to become more than meets the eye! You can be a little ship that is fast, a medium ship or a very big and very slow ship. Each has advantages and disadvantages in regards to shooting, ability to take damage and speed. The nice thing is you can switch back and forth to your heart's content. If you are someone who is very indecisive, then you may want to avoid this game.

(Are you scared?  Mukor thinks you are!)

The last and biggest difference from this game and the original, is that there is an actual mission. You are not just wandering around aimlessly in space, trying to clear the space paths or something like that. You actually have an honest to goodness mission! There is this big head that floats around space named Mukor and thinks he rules space. Think of him as a poor man's Sinistar. He actually is pretty silly looking, like something out of Johnny Socko or Ultraman (or for you younger readers, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers). But don't let this butt ugly creature scare you, he is pretty easy to take down. But first you need to clear all the screens to even see the ugly mug.

While the new challenges and additions make it a interesting game, they couldn't capture the sheer terror of being stuck in the middle of an asteroid shower, knowing that if they hit you, it was all over. While the changing ships and the mission are nice additions, they are just window dressing. They do little to make this anything more than a modernized version of Asteroids that has been watered down in the process.

This is just a review of the arcade machine.  If you are looking for the actual arcade machine, you may want to check out ebay.  Click below to see if you can find this game.