Almost three decades since it first blazed onto screens, BLASTER! — the legendary 1997 sci-fi arcade shooter from Poland’s Metropolis Software House — has officially returned. Publisher TopWare Interactive launched the extensively restored edition on Steam and GOG on 9 October 2026, bringing a long-lost piece of European gaming history to a worldwide audience for the very first time.
The Story — From Katharsis to the World
Originally released in Poland as Katharsis for MS-DOS, BLASTER! was one of the country’s earliest and most ambitious homegrown shooters — a fast, ferocious Defender-style side-scroller where you pilot the starfighter Eagle across 20 levels, fending off swarms of enemies while protecting vulnerable ground targets. For years, it remained largely unknown outside its homeland — until now.
This restoration preserves every level, enemy, mechanic, and gameplay beat exactly as it was in 1997. Nothing has been rebalanced, redesigned, or dumbed down.
Restored, Not Rewritten
The team’s philosophy was simple: respect the past, refresh the presentation. You can switch between two modes at any time via the launcher:
| Mode | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Original | Pure 1997 experience — untouched graphics, audio, and cutscenes |
| Enhanced | Upgraded visuals, reworked cutscenes, remastered sound effects — all layered over the unchanged gameplay |
What’s New for 2026
- Official English & Russian language support — a first in the game’s history
- Two bonus levels — fresh challenges built in the original style
- Additional Eagle skin — fly in style without altering the action
- Full modern PC compatibility — runs natively on Windows 10/11, no DOSBox required
- Deluxe Edition extras — remastered soundtrack, four extra ship skins, bonus power-up, digital wallpapers
Release Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Original Developer | Metropolis Software House (Poland, 1997) |
| Publisher | TopWare Interactive |
| Release Date | 9 October 2026 |
| Platforms | Steam + GOG (PC) |
| Price | ~$7.99 / €7.99 — Launch discount available |
| Deluxe Edition | Base game + soundtrack + extras — ~$10.99 / €10.99 |
| Playtime | 20+ levels — tough, unforgiving, authentic arcade length |
On the Restoration
“BLASTER! is not being remade — it is being remembered. We didn’t want to reinvent it. We wanted to make sure it could be played, seen, and heard exactly as its creators intended — by everyone, everywhere.”
— TopWare Interactive
Metropolis Software House, the original studio behind Katharsis / BLASTER!, later became part of CD Projekt and closed in 2009 — making this release something of a final tribute to their pioneering work.
Why It Matters
In an era of endless remakes and reimaginings, BLASTER! stands apart: a restoration, not a rewrite. It’s a window into 1990s Polish game development — ambitious, uncompromising, and fiercely fun — now accessible to all. Whether you lived through the DOS era or just love tight, reflex-driven arcade action, this is one blast from the past worth taking.
The Eagle is airborne again. The galaxy needs you.
More Info – https://s.team/a/4959180
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