Astro Duel Demo

One thing that never quite made it past the 16-bit era in video games is the split screen/local multiplayer aspect. Naturally, we have better things now, arguably, such as online co-op or MMOs, but it’s not quite the same. Obviously, many developers are trying to keep local multiplayer alive, because there are plenty of people out there aching for classic couch duels with their friends.

Astro Duel is a retro shooter designed to be enjoyed in local multiplayer with your friends, which is why everything is kept as simple as possible. However, the gameplay mechanics are actually a tad more complex than they look at first sight, which is why the game keeps its appeal for a pretty long time. On top of that, it’s also very fun and engaging, even with the AI.

The goal of each match is for only one player to remain alive at the end. There are multiple game modes to choose from, on the other hand, including Ship Hunters and Pilot Hunters, which bring a little diversity to the table. However, survival is the main goal, regardless of the game mode you choose, and the fast-paced nature of the matches makes it very tough to stay alive.

After your ship gets destroyed, you still get a chance to continue if you manage to stay alive with your pilot only. Obviously, the pilot moves slowly without a ship, and it only takes one touch from an enemy craft to kill you. If you manage to survive for long enough, on the other hand, you respawn in a new ship and you can go on fighting.

Speaking of which, the combat revolves around good reflexes and various mini-abilities that are available for your spaceship, such as shields, lasers and a few missiles. Thanks to the simple controls and gamepad support, it should be a breeze for everyone to learn the ropes, regardless of any previous experience with video games. Speaking of which, the game requires very few system resources as well.

When it’s all said and done, Astro Duel achieves its purpose, which is to help you and your friends have fun like in the good old days. Hence, if you want some fast-paced action with retro graphics and gamepad support, Astro Duel is the way to go.