RoadBlasters

RoadBlasters
Arcade flyer
Developer(s) Atari Games
Publisher(s) Atari Games
U.S. Gold (ports)
Composer(s) Brad Fuller
Platform(s) Arcade (original)
Mega Drive/Genesis, Lynx, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, C64, Amiga, Atari ST, NES[1]
Release June 19, 1987
Genre(s) Vehicular combat
Mode(s) Single-player
Cabinet Upright and sit-down
Arcade system Atari System 1
CPU 7 MHz Motorola 68010
Sound Yamaha YM2151, Atari POKEY, TMS5220
Display Raster, standard resolution, horizontally orientated

RoadBlasters is an arcade game released by Atari Games in 1987.[2] In RoadBlasters, the player must navigate a sports car through 50 different rally races, getting to the finish line before running out of fuel.

Gameplay

The objective of the game is to complete all 50 rallies without running out of fuel. There is no limit to how many vehicles a player can receive to complete a rally, as long as they have fuel. However, the destruction of the vehicle will subtract a small amount from the player's fuel tank. In the arcade, Genesis and Lynx versions, players could start the game at a higher rally, with additional opportunities to jump several levels from time to time. Players can continue their game from where they left off; however, the player has only one chance to complete the 50th and final rally. For completing the final rally the player gets one million points as a bonus. Players can get fuel in four ways: green globes, red globes, a checkpoint, and the rally point.

Each rally features a midway point, denoted by a line on the road which the vehicle crosses. At this point, the amount of fuel in the main tank is restored to what it was at the beginning of the rally (the amount of fuel in the main tank given at the rally's start fluctuates throughout the game). The amount of fuel in the reserve tank, however, is not restored.

When a player gets low on fuel in their main tank, a fuel light will blink on and an alarm will sound on the display. Using up the main tank can mean the vehicle then uses what reserve fuel is stored.

Promotions

A promotional giveaway was accessible on the original arcade version, where players could send in their name and "personalized secret code" after completing rally 50 and receive a free "RoadBlasters" T-shirt.[3][4] The promotion ended August 31, 1987.[5]

The game had a toy tie-in made by Matchbox. The toys were die-cast cars that could be customized with armor, lasers, machine guns, and rocket launchers and jet engines. There were two factions: Turbo Force and The Motor Lords. There also were play sets such as a mobile command base.[6]

Reception and legacy

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG5/10[7]
Crash84%[8]
IGN9/10 (Lynx)[9]
Sinclair User81%[10]
Your Sinclair8/10[11]
MegaTech72%[12]
ACE654[13]
The Games Machine62%[14]
Zzap!6475%[15]
Power Play (DE)75%[16]
ST/Amiga Format58%[17]
Amiga Action45%[18]
Raze80% (NES)[19]
84% (Lynx)

Atari Lynx

In a capsule review of the Lynx version for STart, Clayton Walnum praised the game's massive length and combination of "standard racing with heaps of action." He added that "If you liked Roadblasters on another system, you won't be disappointed in the Lynx version."[20] CVG Magazine also reviewed the Atari Lynx version of the game, Julian Rignall went on to say "Roadblasters is a challenging game and is technically superb, with stunning graphics and great speech." He said it was fun but the levels were frustrating finally giving it a rating of 76 out of 100.[21] Raze Magazine reviewed the NES and the Atari Lynx versions at the same time rating the NES version at 80% and the Atari Lynx version at 84%.[19]

Robert A. Jung reviewed the game which was published on IGN went on to say in his final verdict; "This is a mind-blowing awesome adaptation. I'd recommend it to most video-game players -- fans of driving games, fans of shooting games, fans of action games, and fans of the arcade original. It's a challenging, well-balanced arcade/action game, faithful to the original, worthy of the Lynx and offering lots of hours of fun. This goes right up there with Blue Lightning as one of the best Lynx games around. Grab yourself a copy, but don't be surprised if they disappear fast." He gave a score of 9 out of 10.[9]

Re-releases

The game appeared on the Sony PlayStation compilation Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 2 in 1998. It was also released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and PC as part of the Midway Arcade Treasures arcade game compilation.

A direct port can be played in Lego Dimensions via an Arcade Dock in the level "The Phantom Zone."

The game made an appearance in the movie Wreck-It Ralph as the game Turbo, the main villain, tries to commandeer (as shown in his backstory).

References

  1. ↑ "Video Shorts: Road Blasters." Nintendo Power. Vol.10, Pg.83. January/February 1990.
  2. ↑ "RoadBlasters". The International Arcade Museum. Retrieved 4 Oct 2013.
  3. ↑ "Photographic image : T-Shirt Giveaway" (JPG). I-mockery.com. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  4. ↑ "The Arcade Flyer Archive - Video Game Flyers: Road Blasters, Atari Games Corporation". Flyers.arcade-museum.com. 2001-10-07. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  5. ↑ "Photographic image : T-Shirt Giveaway" (JPG). Opdenkelder.com. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  6. ↑ "Roadblasters". MadMaxModels.com. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑
  9. 1 2 Robert A. Jung (6 July 1999). "One of the best Lynx games available". IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Smash TV rating, MegaTech issue 12, page 96, December 1992
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "Roadblasters review from Zzap 49 (May 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amr.abime.net. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  16. ↑ "Road Blasters review from Power Play (Feb 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amr.abime.net. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  17. ↑ "Road Blasters review from ST Amiga Format 11 (May 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amr.abime.net. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  18. ↑ "Road Blasters review from Amiga Action 19 (Apr 1991) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amr.abime.net. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  19. 1 2 Julian Boardman (February 1991). "RoadBlasters". Raze Magazine. p. 45. Retrieved 16 August 2018 – via archive.org.
  20. ↑ Walnum, Clayton (December 1990). "The Lynx Collection". STart. No. 39. Antic Publishing. p. 72.
  21. ↑ Julian Rignall (January 1991). "Latest Lynx Lowndown". No. 110. CVG Magazine. p. 136. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
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