Astro Chase
Encyclopedia
Astro Chase is a scrolling shoot 'em up
game, licensed by First Star Software to Exidy games for release as an arcade game
. The game was originally released by First Star Software
in 1982, on December 7th
. The player is an astronaut who pilots a saucer-shaped fighter ship against aliens bent on destroying Earth. The enemy aliens attack the player with an endless supply of attack saucers; however, they are but a mere distraction. The real threat to Earth are the 16 Megamines that start at the end of the universe and then slowly and silently make their way towards planet Earth, displayed in the center of the screen. If a single Megamine manages to reach Earth, the planet explodes in a spectacular explosion. The player's saucer scrolls in eight directions and the player can shoot in all directions. The game features Single Thrust Propulsion, which lets the player lock their ship on course and continue to travel in the desired direction while simultaneoulsy shooting in ANY of the 8 directions. The game's music is an endless loop of the 1812 Overture
. Once the player destroys all 16 Megamines in a given level, he or she is able to move to the next level. Every four levels, there is an animation in which the pilot receives a hero's welcome with a parade that grows with each viewing.
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
game, licensed by First Star Software to Exidy games for release as an arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
. The game was originally released by First Star Software
First Star Software
First Star Software, Inc. is a computer game development, publishing and licensing company, founded by Richard Spitalny and Fernando Herrera in 1982. It is best known for its classic Boulder Dash franchise and Spy vs. Spy titles, originally written for 8-bit home computers like the Apple II, Atari...
in 1982, on December 7th
1982 in video gaming
-Events:* December 27 - Starcade, a video game television game show, debuts on TBS in the United States.-Notable releases:*October 13 - Mystique releases the Custer's Revenge adult video game for the Atari 2600 home console....
. The player is an astronaut who pilots a saucer-shaped fighter ship against aliens bent on destroying Earth. The enemy aliens attack the player with an endless supply of attack saucers; however, they are but a mere distraction. The real threat to Earth are the 16 Megamines that start at the end of the universe and then slowly and silently make their way towards planet Earth, displayed in the center of the screen. If a single Megamine manages to reach Earth, the planet explodes in a spectacular explosion. The player's saucer scrolls in eight directions and the player can shoot in all directions. The game features Single Thrust Propulsion, which lets the player lock their ship on course and continue to travel in the desired direction while simultaneoulsy shooting in ANY of the 8 directions. The game's music is an endless loop of the 1812 Overture
1812 Overture
The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture or the Overture of 1812 is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1880 to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of...
. Once the player destroys all 16 Megamines in a given level, he or she is able to move to the next level. Every four levels, there is an animation in which the pilot receives a hero's welcome with a parade that grows with each viewing.