Comet Busters! is a shareware Windows 3.x Asteroids clone with simultaneous multiplayer capability.
Play or download it on the Internet Archive: 1.0
, 1.4.
Examples!?!? Don't tell me you haven't seen this game before...!
- A.I. Roulette: The flying saucer shoots in completely random directions. While it's completely capable of taking out rocks, cronies, and players, it's not really trying to.
- Asteroids Monster: Just like in Asteroids, the big rocks break into several smaller rocks when shot, only being fully destroyed when shot at their tiniest size.
- Character Customization: In the "Players" menu, a set of five sliders lets you customize your ship's traits, and a radio button option lets you pick which special ability you want. In a distinct lack of Obvious Rule Patch, you can even change your ship's traits mid-game — unless you're playing online.
- Competitive Multiplayer: Ended up being the focus of the game. Tournament Mode disables normal Scoring Points and just gives 1 point to the last surviving player each round (of 7 total).
- "Have a Nice Day" Smile: Cronies are deadly smiley faces that live in the rocks on later levels.
- Killer Rabbit: Cronies are cute little yellow smiley faces that burst out of the later levels' rocks and Zerg Rush the nearest ship.
- Mêlée à Trois: Cronies will charge after the flying saucer just as readily as they'll try to kill you. The flying saucer, on the other hand, is oblivious to their bloodlust.
- Public Domain Soundtrack: The default background music is a MIDI of "Ride of the Valkyries".
- Shareware: Mostly honorware, with a very mild case of crippleware as only registered players could use custom music.
- Space Friction: The spaceships encounter resistance to acceleration and slow down if left alone, just like they would in an atmosphere. In later versions, the Disruptor acts as a "space brake" by massively upping this effect.
- Unintentionally Unwinnable: A 2-player Tournament Mode game with no rocks, non-deadly bullets, and neither player has a shield is impossible to conclude in any way but a draw.
