Mindless but fun blasting action
For a trip into the early days of 3D action adventure, then the likes of Castle Master and Starglider 2 make for fascinating experiences and while Moon Blaster lacks the sophistication of even these efforts, it remains a mindlessly enjoyable blaster that keeps the old trigger finger in shape. It's a typical slice of science fiction, with the player thrust into the cockpit of a flashy skimmer and charged with exploring planets and wiping out whatever vicious alien life forms are to be found there. There a three different types of planet to explore (moon, plain and ice) although they don't really differ in terms of anything other than visuals, but at least it does provide some nice graphical variety to keep you entertained. There's no real story or objective to the game other than blasting whatever you find into a greasy paste but there is a nice range of enemy types to vaporise and this again helps to maintain interest. The blasting action is certainly solid enough in a mindless kind of way and if you enjoy the likes of Battle Zone, then this should be right up your alley. It is a pretty challenging game but fortunately it is fun enough to keep you coming back for another go in an attempt to get a better score. Visually, Moon Blaster actually holds up very well, with some attractive 3D graphics that are bright, vibrant and atmospheric and which certainly score the game some extra points. It's not going to set the world on fire but for a good old-fashioned slice of 3D shooting action, this is perfect for a wet Sunday afternoon.
