Blasto

Blasto
Blasto Manual (Front Cover)
Publisher(s)	Milton Bradley
Original Retail Price	$24.95
Programmer(s)	Elaine Henshon & Bob Harris
Part#	PHM 3032
Format(s)	Solid State Software Command ModuleTM
Release	1981 (1st Quarter)
Genre(s)	Shooter, Puzzle

Blasto is a port of the 1978 Sega/Gremlin arcade game of the same name. Blasto was programmed by Elaine Henshon and Bob Harris. It was published by Milton Bradley, although it was distributed by Texas Instruments. Blasto sold for $24.95 originally, and was made available during the 1st quarter of 1981. It was released on Solid State Software Command Module^TM.

Gameplay

Although a port of an arcade game, Blasto for TI-99/4A has some singular differences that set it apart from the original Sega/Gremlin Blasto. The original Blasto was in black and white (more a product of the era due to technological limitations), versus full color for the TI version. The original featured a spaceship while the TI port portrays tanks blasting away at mines. Besides those two changes, the Texas Instruments port and the original are for all intents and purposes, identical.

One Player Mode

In one player mode, the player attempts to clear the entire field (playing area) of large blue mines. The field is also littered with small green mines. The small green mines don't have enough power to affect the tank, however; getting too close to a large blue mine when it explodes will send the player's tank into a spin-out returning it back to its starting point. The goal is to completely clear the field of all large blue mines in the allotted time.

One Player Options

There are three options to choose from in one player mode:

• Speed: Determines the length the game lasts and has three options:

* Sluggish: 90 seconds
* Rapid: 75 seconds
* Full Tilt: 60 seconds

• Tanks Trails: Defines whether or not there are trails that the player can maneuver through at the beginning of the game.

• Mine Density: Determines how many mines the field contains.

Two Player Mode

Two player mode provides a few unique options. Time limits per round for two-player mode is always 90 seconds. The object in two player mode includes shooting the opponent as well.

Two-Player Options

• Tank Motion: Tank motion can either be "Normal" or "Invisible." In invisible mode, the tanks are invisible while moving, whereas, in normal mode, the tanks remain visible at all times.

• Battleground: In two-player mode, there are two options, "Mine Field" and "Obstacles." In mine field mode, the field is similar to the mine field in one-player mode, except the players not only need to make sure not to be too close to an exploding mine, but have to elude being shot by his/her opponent. In obstacle mode, there are no mines. The players simply navigate through a maze and attempt to hit their opponent.

Downloads

• 

  1981 Blasto Cartridge (Black on Black)

• 

  1982 Blasto Cartridge (Red on Black)

• 

  1983 Blasto Cartridge (Red on Beige)

• 

  1981 Blasto Manual Cover (Old-Style)

• 

  Blasto Manual Cover (European-Style)

• 

  1982 Blasto Manual Cover (Modern-Style)

• Blasto Manual (pdf format)
• Blasto MAME/MESS Rom (rpk format)

External Links

• Video Game House: Blasto