By 1987, the golden roar of the arcade had softened. The neon was still glowing, cabinets still humming, but the crowds that once packed shoulder-to-shoulder around every new release had thinned. It was a strange in-between moment for the industry — not the explosive boom of the early ’80s, yet far from the decline many feared. Into that quiet pocket of history drifted Blasteroids, a fast, colorful space shooter bursting with energy at a time when the arcade scene itself was catching its breath.
Experiencing the smooth animations, upgrades, and cooperative chaos was full of intrigue — the kind of experience that might have dominated the floor just a few years earlier. Instead, Blasteroids became one of those fascinating late-’80s gems: a title rich with polish and ambition, released during a lull that muted its spotlight, and remembered today less as a blockbuster and more as a brilliant survivor of an industry in transition.
A Sequel with a Different Attitude
Where Asteroids thrived on minimalist vector lines and stark abstraction, Blasteroids arrived saturated with color, animation, and personality. Developed by Atari Games during the industry’s transition from vector monitors to vibrant raster displays, the shift was immediately visible. Thin white wireframe rocks drifting in silence were replaced by large, vividly colored asteroids that shattered into fragments with bright, dramatic bursts. The screen rarely sat still — debris, lasers, and enemies often filled the playfield — creating a constant sense of motion and urgency that stood in sharp contrast to the calm precision of its 1979 ancestor.
Players still piloted a rotating spacecraft with the familiar rotate-thrust-fire control scheme, but the similarities quickly gave way to new layers of depth. Weapon upgrades and temporary power-ups could transform the ship’s capabilities, offering spread shots, shield options, and specialty ammunition that encouraged experimentation and tactical decision-making rather than pure reflex survival. What had once been a meditative endurance test evolved into a faster, louder, and more dynamic space shooter that rewarded adaptability as much as skill.
The social dimension expanded as well. Blasteroids introduced two-player cooperative gameplay, allowing friends to battle side-by-side while still confirming their own scores. This blend of cooperation and rivalry mirrored the late-1980s arcade culture, where shared cabinets often became gathering points for both teamwork and friendly competition. Combat itself also grew more complex with the addition of hostile alien spacecraft and occasional boss-style threats. Some enemy ships could even steal player upgrades, forcing quick pursuit and recovery mid-battle and adding a layer of tension that went beyond simply dodging environmental hazards.
Cabinet design supported these changes with dual control setups that preserved the intuitive feel of Asteroids while benefiting from smoother, more responsive hardware. By the mid-1980s, Atari Games had separated from the original Atari Inc. and was actively experimenting with modern reinterpretations of its classic properties. Blasteroids emerged from that era as a deliberate evolution rather than a remake — brighter, more social, and technically advanced. Its raster graphics allowed for shading, color gradients, and animated effects that simply weren’t possible in the earlier vector era, helping it stand out on increasingly flashy arcade floors while still honoring the core mechanics that made its predecessor iconic.
Factual Trivia & Fun Details
The name Blasteroids itself was a purposeful fusion of the words “blast” and “asteroids,” instantly conveying both its lineage and its louder, more explosive personality. Gameplay expanded well beyond the original formula through a variety of temporary weapon power-ups that could replace the standard laser with wide-angle spreads or rapid-burst fire, dramatically improving crowd control in hectic moments. Adding to the tension, certain alien enemy ships had the ability to steal player upgrades, forcing quick pursuit and recovery mid-battle if you wanted your advantage back. Visually, many asteroids were color-coded to indicate durability, with tougher rocks demanding more hits before they shattered. Although it was not labeled as a numbered sequel, Blasteroids is widely considered one of the most substantial spiritual follow-ups to Asteroids in arcade history. Unlike many of Atari’s biggest successes, however, it never saw broad home console penetration, a factor that has helped cement its reputation as a cult favorite among dedicated arcade enthusiasts.
In terms of rarity, exact factory production numbers were never formally published by Atari, but collector research has offered rough estimates over the years. Notably, the Vintage Arcade Gal (VAG) PRICE GUIDE | vintagearcadegal price guide cites an approximate manufacturing figure of around 2,000 cabinets, a number frequently referenced within arcade collecting circles when discussing the game’s relative scarcity compared to earlier Atari blockbusters.
Legacy
Blasteroids remains a highly underrated (and beloved) title amongst a wall of many from the 80's arcade era, and while it never eclipsed the legendary status of Asteroids, it succeeded in something arguably more difficult: making a 1970s concept feel modern in the late 1980s. It blended nostalgia with innovation, offering longtime fans a fresh experience while welcoming new players who had never touched a vector-based cabinet. Today, it remains a favorite among retro arcade collectors and preservationists — a vivid reminder that even the simplest ideas can be reinvented with the right mix of creativity and technical evolution.
In the glow of neon marquees and the hum of CRT monitors, Blasteroids proved that sometimes the best way to honor the past is to blow it up — spectacularly.
Check out this fantastic YouTube video about Blasteroids:
Check out the original arcade cabinet specs on KLOV:
Blasteroids - Videogame by Atari Games | Museum of the Game
I really hope you enjoyed reading this article. Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers,
—Jayde
