What is Asteroids (MacSoft)?

Asteroids, the quarter-sucking arcade behemoth, rattled some cages in its day. Old-school game fans can rejoice now that MacSoft has updated this classic space shooter. This newest version is the prettiest incarnation to date, but the game is really just an old horse wearing a brand-new hat.

Gameplay remains largely unchanged. Three different spaceships are available for selection at the start. The game requires players to destroy asteroids and enemy spaceships. This new Asteroids offers five distinct, themed stages and 75 different levels to scoot around on, but the actual play never really varies in any great way — which is fine for about 20 minutes.

MacSoft has added 3D graphics, high-resolution backgrounds, and cool explosive effects. Space boulders tumble on all three axes and shatter in a gorgeous display of red pyrotechnics when hit, although most ships and floating objects appear pixelated. There are also more varied enemies and player-controlled spaceships.

You control the game through the Macintosh keyboard, and thankfully MacSoft has Included the option to customize key commands. In addition to the standard Asteroids commands (Fire, Thrust, and Hyperspace), players must make room for a surprise Wildcard Weapon, Shields, and a Rip Ship command that rotates the ship. The game requires lightning-fest response time, so most players will likely feast on frustration until they get used to the control scheme.

Simply put, the new version of Asteroids relies just as much on “blast-'em-all” gameplay as its predecessors did — and the thrill of pulverizing space rocks ad nauseam holds only so much appeal.

Orlando, Greg. (December 2000). Asteroids. MacAddict. (pg. 71).

Download Asteroids (MacSoft) for Mac

Architecture

IBM PowerPC

System Requirements

From Mac OS 8.1 up to Mac OS 9.2

Compatibility notes

Emulating this? It could probably run under: SheepShaver