Dispensing with the tough-to-duplicate vector images found in the coin-op classic, the space rocks in Asteroids for the Atari 2600 are rendered via raster graphics, which are colorful and certainly adequate, but in this case blink when the screen gets crowded. Luckily, the game keeps intact what made the original great -- namely the fun and challenge of flying around space while destroying asteroids and listening to forboding, explosive sound effects.

The ship is a little harder to maneuver, but the designers cleverly incorporated the five-button control scheme into Atari's one-button joystick. There are numerous gameplay options not found in the original, including various difficulty levels and the ability to play without satellites or UFOs, and without the potential for extra lives. In addition, players can substitute shields or a "flip" function (turns the ship 180 degrees in a split second) for hyperspace.

The ship can only fire off two bullets at a time (as opposed to four) and the asteroids don't change course or velocity when shot, but this is an excellent arcade port nonetheless, especially considering the limitations of the system.