Astrosmash Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · Published October 12, 2023 · Updated October 11, 2023

For this Astrosmash Review, we play a game that was originally designed for the Intellivision console in 1981 by John Sohl and quickly became one of the most popular games. It sold more than a million copies and earned a spot as one of the top 5 best-selling Intellivision games ever. The space-themed game has players using a laser cannon to destroy incoming meteors, bombs, and other targets.

Astrosmash Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
578.14MB download size.
Full controller support.
Shmup gameplay.
Three ways to play – campaign, vs, and multiplayer.
Local leaderboard.
Can change your nickname for the game.
You can rebind controls for each individual player.
Supports up to four players locally.
Four vehicles to play as, two ships and two land vehicles.
All the vehicles are just cosmetic.
Simple easy-to-learn gameplay.
The goal of the game is to stop meteors hitting the floor, you go from side to side to stop it.
Powerups can drop like smart bombs, dual shots, and Shields.
You have a speed boost button for clearing ground faster.
Very addictive.
Meteors can bounce off your shots or break into smaller pieces etc.
Catchy soundtrack.
Arcade presentation.
Hold down a button to auto-fire.
Fantastic-looking locations.
Vs settings – location and time limit.
Ten locations – starry Valley, alpine threat, fire mountain, Kilimanjaro, the pyramids, lost city, dolomites, the keep, Bora Bora, and moon base alpha.
Multiplayer is two, three or four players locally and you just set the area to play in.

Astrosmash Review Cons:

No Steam achievements.
Doesn’t have a tutorial.
There is no history or talk of the game itself.
No graphics settings.
Rebind controls only show keyboard controls.
Does not have a pause button!
Calling it a campaign is a stretch as it’s just a case of surviving as long as you can and going to different areas.
The Replay ability of it all is just score-chasing or nostalgia.
No online leaderboards.

Astrosmash:

Official website.

Developer: BBG Entertainment

Publisher: BBG Entertainment

Store Links –

Steam

Summary

Astrosmash, a shoot ’em up game from yesteryear, offers a new visually appealing experience with its decent graphics and fantastic-looking locations, including Starry Valley, Alpine Threat, Fire Mountain, and more. The game is a hefty 578.14MB download, but it comes with full controller support and allows for up to four players locally. It offers three modes of play: campaign, versus, and multiplayer, with the campaign mode being more about survival and score-chasing.

The gameplay is simple and addictive, with the primary objective being to prevent meteors from hitting the ground. Power-ups like smart bombs, dual shots, and shields can drop to aid in your mission. The game also features a speed boost button for quick ground clearance and an auto-fire option for continuous shooting.

Despite its engaging gameplay, Astrosmash lacks certain features. It doesn’t have a tutorial, Steam achievements, or online leaderboards. Additionally, the control rebinding only shows keyboard controls, and there’s no pause button. The vehicles in the game are purely cosmetic, and there are no graphics settings.

Overall, Its simple yet addictive gameplay, coupled with its arcade presentation and catchy soundtrack, makes it a great choice for those seeking a nostalgic gaming experience.