Asteroids Hyper 64
- January 01, 2000 00:00 AM PST
Reviving the old rock-blasting action of the ancient arcade Asteroids sounds like fun, but it's a rocky road ahead for Asteroids Hyper 64. Sure, it's the same game that became a classic in the late '70s, but� well, this isn't the '70s anymore.
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New, But Not Improved
Asteroids Hyper 64 is basically the same game you've seen all your life, whether it be the vector-graphics extravaganza of the '70s, or the newfangled PSX remake of the old classic. What Hyper 64 adds is a little variety in "level design" (you blast the rocks in front of different backgrounds as the game progresses) and a new multiplayer mode called Color Clear, in which each player can only shoot rocks of their same color to gain points. Of course, there are new power-ups and new types of space debris that you can shoot at, but you're basically doing what you've done all along. You spin around and shoot at drifting rocks.
It's not all bad, especially if you were a rabid fan of the original game. If you walked right past Space Invaders and Tempest to get to that well-loved Asteroids machine, then you'll get right into this N64 remake. It really is Asteroids, cloaked behind new graphics, some new gameplay features, and a multiplayer mode that allows you to share your fun/misery with others.
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Folks who can't care less about the old-school Asteroids won't give this one a second look. The graphics boil down to a roughly space-like background with big polygonal asteroids that your tiny ship must shoot. Sounds consist of a spacy-yet-forgettable musical score, with the appropriate sounds of shooting lasers and rocks blowing up. Controls consist of spinning your ship around, using your thruster (where most of the fun comes into the game) and shooting at the rocks. You also have a shield and a warp, which more often than not get you into more trouble than just spinning about and shooting.
If you really want a modern-day remake of Asteroids that's fun and rewarding to play, check out Armada for the Dreamcast. This version tries to be old-school rock candy, but it ends up leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
