BLASTER! IS BACK – The 1997 Arcade Classic Returns to Steam and GOG

Karlsruhe, Germany – October 9, 2026 – Almost 30 years after its original release, BLASTER! is back! TopWare Interactive is proud to announce that the classic 1997 sci-fi arcade shooter is now available on Steam and GOG.

Originally developed by Metropolis Software House and known in Poland as Katharsis, BLASTER! returns in an extensively restored and carefully refreshed edition for modern PCs. Considerable effort has gone into bringing this piece of gaming history back to life while preserving the original gameplay, levels, enemies, and mechanics.

For the first time in the game's history, BLASTER! is available in English and Russian, opening up this classic to a much wider international audience.

BLASTER! is a classic Defender-style side-scrolling shooter – fast, direct, and deliberately challenging. Reflexes, timing, and knowing when to unleash your firepower determine how far you get.

The new edition has undergone an extensive restoration process, carefully preserving the authentic 1997 experience while refreshing its audiovisual presentation.

Players can choose between the original video sequences and sound effects or reworked cutscenes and enhanced sound effects. The launcher allows switching between Original and Enhanced presentation at any time.

The original gameplay remains intact. This is not a reinterpretation, but a carefully restored version of the classic, complemented by additional presentation options, two bonus levels, and an extra Eagle skin.

The mission sounds simple: get the Super Bomb to its target.

The road there is anything but.

Players pilot the Eagle on its mission to Nestia, fighting through 20 levels across five major stages, alternating between underwater combat and deep space.

Underwater, players must protect the Super Bomb and clear a path through enemy formations, defensive installations, and dangerous obstacles. In space, survival becomes the top priority.

At the end of each stage, the action shifts into a dedicated 3D Mega-Boss battle, featuring a different perspective, different controls, and an entirely new style of play.

The multi-tier weapon system allows players to upgrade their arsenal from a basic laser through Torpedoes and Homing Torpedoes to powerful special weapons. But stronger weapons consume valuable energy, and once the shared reserve runs dry, the Eagle drops back to the previous weapon level.

In BLASTER!, it's not just about how fast you shoot – but when, and with what.

Developed by Poland's Metropolis Software House in 1997, BLASTER! belongs to an era when PC action games demanded precision, persistence, and skill.

Released in Poland under the title Katharsis, the game also found its way to international markets through TopWare in the late 1990s.

Nearly three decades later, its return reconnects TopWare Interactive with an important chapter of its publishing history.

Rather than reinventing the game, the extensive restoration preserves its distinctive arcade character while making it accessible to today's players. With English and Russian language support available for the first time, a new international audience can now experience this piece of gaming history.

For players looking for even more content, the BLASTER! – Digital Deluxe Upgrade adds four additional Eagle skins, four extra in-game music tracks, Bonus Pickups for additional firepower, and four digital wallpapers.

The BLASTER! – Original Soundtrack: Extended & Remastered brings the game's carefully restored music beyond the cockpit, featuring additional tracks and an exclusive remix of the BLASTER! Main Theme.

The BLASTER! – Master Edition combines the restored base game, Digital Deluxe Upgrade, and Extended & Remastered Soundtrack in one complete package.

Key Features:

• Classic Defender-style side-scrolling shooter gameplay

• Extensively restored and carefully refreshed 1997 original

• 20 levels across five stages with underwater and space combat

• Protect the Super Bomb on its mission to Nestia

• Multi-tier weapon system with progressive upgrades and tactical energy management

• Dedicated 3D Mega-Boss battles with shifting perspectives and controls

• Original or Enhanced cutscenes and sound effects

• Two bonus levels and an additional Eagle skin

• English and Russian language support for the first time

Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4959180/Blaster/

GOG:
https://www.gog.com/game/blaster

Watch the Official BLASTER! Trailer:
https://youtu.be/DoWN1G0QxBI

Founded in 1988, TopWare Interactive has been bringing originality and fresh ideas to the interactive entertainment industry for nearly four decades.

With a publishing legacy spanning generations of gaming, TopWare has brought an extensive portfolio of PC, console and mobile titles to audiences worldwide. Its diverse portfolio covers numerous genres, including role-playing games, real-time strategy, action-adventure and casual gaming.

TopWare Interactive's best-known brands include Two Worlds™, Earth™ and Battle vs Chess™.

today, TopWare Interactive continues to build on its rich heritage by developing, publishing and preserving gaming experiences for new generations of players.

TopWare Interactive
press@topware.com