Astro Chase
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Billy Blake, Richard Spitalny |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Astro Chase |
Astro Chase is a multidirectional shooter created by Fernando Herrera for Atari 8-bit computers and launched by First Star Software in 1982 as their inaugural release. The title was licensed by Parker Brothers, who issued cartridge editions for Atari 8-bit and Atari 5200 in 1983, followed by a Commodore 64 port in 1984. Additionally, Exidy produced an arcade adaptation housed in its Max-A-Flex cabinet.
Set on a two-dimensional scrolling map of space centered around Earth, the gameplay challenges players to protect the planet from an extraterrestrial menace. The core mission involves eliminating incoming Mega-Mines before they reach Earth's surface. While initially commended for its visual presentation, later assessments have described the gameplay as somewhat basic.
Gameplay
The experience starts with a simulated three-dimensional spaceport scene depicting the protagonist boarding their spacecraft.
Once in space, players maneuver using a joystick, allowing rapid scrolling of the screen in all directions to simulate navigation among celestial bodies. Engaging the fire button stops movement and enables weapon discharge independently, permitting simultaneous shooting and positioning.
Opponents consist of endless waves of attacking saucers, but the main hazard is represented by 16 Megamines advancing toward Earth’s location at the center of the map. Should any Megamine reach Earth, it results in planetary destruction and ends the game.
The soundtrack continuously loops the 1812 Overture. Successfully destroying all 16 Megamines progresses the player through one of 36 stages. Every fourth level concludes with the ship returning to Earth for a short cutscene.
Development
In 1981, Atari, Inc. introduced the Atari Star Award, a contest recognizing outstanding new software distributed via their Atari Program Exchange. The initial grand prize of $25,000 was awarded to Fernando Herrera for his children's title My First Alphabet.
Fernando was employed at a computer retail outlet owned by Billy Blake, who collaborated with Richard Spitalny, both producers in feature films at the time. Billy and Richard financed an interactive software company to highlight Fernando’s programming skills, establishing First Star Software. Their debut product, Astro Chase, was released on December 7, 1982.
An unreleased version of Astro Chase for the Atari 2600 was completed in 1983 but never brought to market.
Reception
The Atari 8-bit iteration of Astro Chase received acclaim in Video magazine’s "Arcade Alley" column, described as "a state-of-the-art space shoot-out" featuring "graphics of stunning virtuosity," and praised for its novel "single thrust propulsion" gameplay mechanic. It earned the "1984 Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Computer Game" award at the fifth annual Arkie Awards, recognized for its intense space combat and animated interludes.
Allen Doum from Computer Gaming World applauded its visual quality and fluid scrolling environment. Meanwhile, Softline characterized it as "an exercise in class and style" boasting "tremendous graphics."
In contrast, retrospective critiques have been less positive. Keita Iida labeled it "one big letdown," pointing out that impressive visuals concealed simplistic gameplay. The Video Game Critic assigned it an F rating, describing it as "all style and no substance."
Legacy
In 1994, MacPlay introduced a first-person version for the Macintosh platform called Astro Chase 3D.
External links
- Astro Chase on Arcade History