Astro Fighter
| Company type | Private (historical) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1976 in Japan |
| Founder | Tetsuo Fukuda |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Arcade video games |
Astro Fighter is a 1979 arcade shoot 'em up title created and released by Data East in Japan, with distribution in North America handled by Sega and Gremlin. The game cabinet was offered in multiple formats, including upright, cocktail, and cabaret designs.
Gameplay
In Astro Fighter, players face four successive waves of enemy ships advancing downward on the screen, followed by a refueling phase before the cycle repeats with heightened challenge. The objective is to destroy each wave while dodging incoming missiles and bombs, then replenish fuel by targeting the 'GS' vessel. Operators can adjust DIP switch settings to determine the number of initial lives (ranging from 3 to 6) and set bonus life criteria (either disabled or awarded at scores of 5000, 7000, or 10000 points). Additional scoring opportunities include earning 300 points for every group of six falling bombs destroyed, 950 points for striking the GS ship with the first shot, and a 10,000-point bonus for completing four waves plus refueling using only two shots above the minimum required.
Reception
During late 1980 in North America, Astro Fighter achieved the position of fourth highest-grossing arcade game according to the Play Meter rankings between September and October. For that year overall in the United States, it ranked fourth among arcade video games in revenue, following Asteroids, Galaxian, and Space Invaders.
In a 2007 review, Chris Wilkins of Eurogamer rated the game 8 out of 10, commending its level design, boss encounters, and demanding gameplay.
External links
- Astro Fighter at Arcade History