Arcade Gems

Asteroids Deluxe

September 9, 2021

Each week for Arcade Gems we highlight some must-play titles. These games are favorites of those in-the-know, and, once you give them a try, we think you’ll agree that they’re worthy classics.

This week’s Arcade Gems is Asteroids Deluxe (Atari, 1987).

In the “Deluxe” version of Asteroids, vector graphics are swapped out for bitmaps, but overall gameplay is the same. This space-themed multidirectional shooter arcade game, control a single spaceship in an asteroid field that is periodically traversed by flying saucers. The object of the game is to shoot and destroy the asteroids and saucers, while not colliding with either, or being hit by the saucers’ counter-fire. The game becomes harder as the number of asteroids increases!