First released in 1997 for MS-DOS, Blaster! is an arcade sci-fi shooter that has returned on Steam and GOG with a new and enhanced port. Also known as Katharsis, Blaster! is one of the oldest games developed in Poland. However, it is also considered a forgotten game because it never received official English-language support until its arrival on Steam in 2026.
Regarding the re-release, publisher TopWare Interactive said, "Blaster! returns in an extensively restored and carefully refreshed edition for modern PCs." Like many classic side-scrolling shooters of its time, Blaster! features spaceship combat and alien enemies. However, one interesting twist is that boss fights in this game change the player's perspective, pitting them against 3D monsters instead of the game's 2D mobs.
An acclaimed 2D game released back in 2009 is suddenly back in the spotlight after its original creator announced an official sequel.
Priced at around $8, Blaster!'s PC ports on Steam and GOG feature enhanced visuals and audio for the base game and cutscenes. However, players looking for the same experience as the 1997 release can turn off these changes and play Blaster! as originally intended. Interestingly, the new port also adds two bonus levels and an extra skin for Eagle, the game's primary spaceship. There is also a deluxe edition that "adds four additional Eagle skins, four extra in-game music tracks, Bonus Pickups for additional firepower, and four digital wallpapers."
In terms of story, Blaster! depicts a dystopian future in which alien spacecraft attack Earth.
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