Astroids Codex

A modern browser recreation of the classic Asteroids arcade experience with a switchable wireframe and shaded rendering mode. Pilot a nimble ship, blast apart drifting asteroids, outmaneuver UFOs, and chase a persistent high score.

Features

• Responsive inertia-based ship controls with rotation, thrust, shooting, and hyperspace.
• Asteroids that split into smaller fragments when destroyed.
• UFO encounters with targeted enemy fire.
• Toggle between classic vector wireframe and modern shaded rendering styles at runtime.
• Local high score persistence and HUD overlay for score, lives, render mode, and mute status.
• Simple Web Audio sound effects for thrust, shooting, and explosions.
• Responsive layout that scales to the current browser window.

Getting Started

1. Clone or download this repository.
2. Open index.html in any modern desktop browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari).
3. Press Enter to start playing.

No build step is required—everything runs using native ES modules. For local development with live reload you can serve the project via any static server, e.g.:

npx http-server .

Then browse to http://localhost:8080 (or whichever port your server provides).

Controls

Action	Keyboard
Rotate	Left / Right arrows or A / D
Thrust	Up arrow or W
Shoot	Spacebar
Hyperspace	Left Shift
Toggle render mode	M
Toggle mute	P
Start / Restart	Enter

Render Modes

• Wireframe — faithfully mimics the original vector display using white strokes on a dark background.
• Shaded — fills ships, asteroids, and UFOs with subtle gradients for a modern take while preserving readability.

Toggle modes anytime with the M key. The last selected mode is stored in localStorage for future sessions.

High Scores

The highest score achieved is stored in the browser's localStorage and displayed in the HUD and game over screen. Clearing browser storage resets the high score.

Project Structure

.
├── docs/
│   └── asteroids_spec.md   # Detailed specification and design plan
├── index.html              # Game entry point
├── src/
│   ├── asteroid.js         # Asteroid class and helpers
│   ├── audio.js            # Web Audio sound synthesis
│   ├── bullet.js           # Bullet representation
│   ├── game.js             # Game manager and loop
│   ├── input.js            # Keyboard handling
│   ├── main.js             # Bootstraps the game
│   ├── ship.js             # Player ship logic
│   └── ufo.js              # UFO behaviour
├── style.css               # Global styles and HUD layout
└── README.md

Specification

The complete design reference, including mechanics, rendering requirements, and acceptance criteria, lives in docs/asteroids_spec.md.

Future Enhancements

• Add particle-based explosion effects and screen shake.
• Implement difficulty scaling tuned to the original arcade pacing.
• Expand audio design with stereo panning and additional cues.
• Consider adding cooperative multiplayer or challenge modes.