Planetoids

HISTORY

Planetoids is a clone of Atari, Inc.'s Asteroids arcade game published by Adventure International for the Apple II in 1980 and TRS-80 in 1981. Each was originally an independently sold game, neither of which was titled Planetoids. The Apple II version, programmed by Marc Goodman, was published as Asteroid. The TRS-80 game was written by Greg Hassett as Fasteroids by Adventure Works. Fasteroids was still sold by Adventure Works at the same time Planetoids was available through Adventure International. The TRS-80 version includes features not present on the Apple II or arcade original.

Gameplay

Planetoids is a version of the 1979 arcade game, Asteroids. The TRS-80 adaptation includes three additional modes: high-speed asteroids, very slow moving asteroids, and a dogfight with only enemy ships.

Reception

Ian Chadwick reviewed Planetoids in Ares magazine #11 and commented that "it's enjoyable and [...] well done. It's a must for fans of the arcade game". In 80-U.S. magazine, Bob Liddil called Fasteroids, "Asteroids with GUSTO" and called out the ability to save high scores to tape and the pause feature as positives.

References

STORY

Stay cool and calm and you'll survive the onslaught of passing planetoids.

Dodge and swerve using your thrust button, turn on a planetoid... fire! But beware - the alien ship moves fast to destroy you with the cluster bombs.

And when it comes to the crunch, use your hyperspace button!