# Hi Res Adventure #0: Mission Asteroid <small style="color: gray">Last updated: January 30, 2026</small> ## Overview Hi Res Adventure #0: Mission Asteroid is a graphic adventure game that was part of Sierra On-Line's pioneering Hi-Res Adventure series[^ref-1]. Originally released in 1980 for the Apple II, the game was designed by Ken and Roberta Williams and represented one of the earliest graphic adventure games for home computers[^ref-2][^ref-3]. Despite being numbered as "#0," Mission Asteroid was actually the third Hi-Res Adventure released by Sierra, following Mystery House (#1) and The Wizard and the Princess (#2)[^ref-4]. The retroactive numbering decision was deliberate: Sierra assigned it the zero designation because it was intended as an easier introductory game aimed at younger players and newcomers to the adventure gaming genre[^ref-4]. As the Gaming After 40 blog explained, "Mission Asteroid was published after #1: Mystery House, and #2, The Wizard and the Princess, but as it was intended as an easier game aimed at younger players, Sierra retro-assigned it to number zero"[^ref-4]. The Hi-Res Adventures series represented a significant evolution from pure text adventure games by incorporating static graphics to enhance the gaming experience[^ref-5]. The game utilized the Apple II's color palette to demonstrate each scene and featured Sierra's early text parser system for player input[^ref-6][^ref-7]. While the visuals were described as "crude, static, monochrome line drawings"[^ref-8], they marked an important step in the evolution from text-only adventures to the fully graphical games that would define Sierra's later success. > [!info]- Game Info > **Developer:** [[Ken Williams]][^ref-2] > **Designer:** Ken Williams, [[Roberta Williams]][^ref-2] > **Publisher:** [[On-Line Systems]][^ref-9] > **Platforms:** Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, FM-7, PC-88, PC-98[^ref-9] > **Release Year:** 1980 > **Series:** Hi-Res Adventure > **Sierra Lineage:** Core Sierra ## Story Summary In Mission Asteroid, the player takes on the role of an astronaut who receives a critical mission from Mission Control[^ref-10][^ref-11]. The core objective is dramatic: "send a rocket up to an asteroid and blow it up before it reaches Earth"[^ref-10]. A large asteroid is on a collision course with our planet, and only the player can prevent catastrophic damage by intercepting and destroying it before impact. The game's science fiction premise was designed to be accessible to younger players while still providing the challenge of an adventure game puzzle structure[^ref-4]. The short, focused narrative allowed new players to experience the satisfaction of completing an adventure game without the extensive time commitment required by longer titles in the series. However, one reviewer noted a scientific inaccuracy in the game's premise, pointing out that "blowing up an asteroid doesn't make the matter disappear. It just breaks it into smaller pieces and starts them moving away from each other"[^ref-12]. Despite this logical flaw, the game captured the excitement of space exploration and heroic intervention that appealed to players of the early 1980s. ## Gameplay ### Interface and Controls Mission Asteroid utilized Sierra's Hi-Res Adventure graphics engine, which combined static, monochrome line drawings with a text-based command parser[^ref-8]. Players interact with the game by typing text commands using the keyboard, following the traditional adventure game format of verb-noun combinations[^ref-5][^ref-8]. The game featured crude but functional graphics that made full use of the Apple II's color capabilities to enhance the visual presentation of each scene[^ref-6]. The text parser was a defining characteristic of the Hi-Res Adventure series. Players could enter one- or two-word commands to interact with the game world, examining objects, picking up items, and navigating between locations[^ref-1]. This interface would evolve significantly in Sierra's later games, but Mission Asteroid represents an important early iteration of the company's approach to adventure game design. ### Structure and Progression The game is designed as a single-player experience with fixed screen presentation[^ref-7]. Players must navigate through various locations and solve puzzles to ultimately complete their mission of destroying the incoming asteroid[^ref-10]. The game was intentionally designed as a very short experience, allowing new players to complete it without the frustration of getting stuck for extended periods. The structure follows a linear progression: players receive their mission, prepare for the space journey, launch their rocket, and ultimately intercept the asteroid. Each step requires solving simple puzzles and making the correct choices to advance the narrative. ### Puzzles and Mechanics Mission Asteroid features adventure game puzzles focused on the central mission of launching a rocket to destroy an asteroid[^ref-10]. The game was specifically designed to be simpler than other entries in the Hi-Res Adventure series, making it more accessible to younger players and newcomers to the adventure game genre[^ref-4]. The puzzles typically involved finding and using objects in the correct sequence, a design philosophy that Sierra would refine in subsequent releases. The game included a save system that supported up to 15 save slots, though it required a separate save disk for storage[^ref-8]. This feature was valuable for players who wanted to experiment with different approaches without losing progress—a consideration that showed Sierra's early attention to player convenience. ## Reception ### Contemporary Reviews Mission Asteroid was released during the formative years of the adventure game genre, before formal review scoring systems became standardized. The game was recognized primarily as an introductory title designed to bring new players into the adventure gaming fold rather than as a landmark release in its own right. ### Modern Assessment | Publication | Score | Notes | |-------------|-------|-------| | MobyGames | 7.4/10 | User rating highlighting color graphics[^ref-6] | | MobyGames | 7.1/10 | Alternative user rating[^ref-12] | | MyAbandonware | 4/5 | Modern preservation site rating[^ref-8] | | Glitchwave | 1.75/5.0 | Lower contemporary assessment[^ref-14] | Modern retrospective reviews have been mixed, with the game receiving recognition primarily for its historical significance rather than its gameplay merits[^ref-14]. The game is acknowledged as an important early example of graphic adventure gaming, representing Sierra's transition from pure text adventures to the graphical adventures that would later make the company famous[^ref-2]. The disparity between ratings reflects different perspectives on how to evaluate vintage games. Those who appreciate historical context tend to rate Mission Asteroid more favorably, while those applying modern standards find its simplicity and brevity limiting. ## Development ### Origins Mission Asteroid emerged from Ken and Roberta Williams' efforts to enhance traditional text adventure games with graphics[^ref-2]. The game was inspired by existing text adventure games but was designed specifically to demonstrate the potential of combining visual elements with interactive fiction[^ref-15]. As one of Sierra's earliest graphic adventure games, it was developed before the company became famous for their King's Quest series[^ref-5]. The decision to create an entry-level adventure game reflected Ken and Roberta's understanding that the genre could be intimidating to newcomers. By creating a shorter, simpler experience, they hoped to expand the audience for adventure games beyond the dedicated hobbyists who had embraced earlier titles. ### Production The game was developed by Ken Williams, who created the early graphics using a graphics tablet[^ref-15]. Roberta Williams contributed to the design, continuing her role in pioneering graphic adventure games[^ref-5]. The development process was necessarily constrained by the limited memory and processing power of early personal computers, requiring creative solutions to present graphical content alongside gameplay. The Atari 8-bit version was later ported by Yosemite Software Products, Inc., expanding the game's platform availability[^ref-8]. Additional ports to Japanese computers (FM-7, PC-88, PC-98) were published by StarCraft, Inc., demonstrating the game's appeal to international markets[^ref-9]. ### Technical Achievements Mission Asteroid was one of the earliest Sierra games to feature color graphics, utilizing the Hi-Res Adventure series text parser and graphics engine[^ref-5]. The game demonstrated Sierra's early technical capabilities in combining static graphics with interactive gameplay, though the visuals were necessarily primitive by later standards. The game was distributed on 5.25" floppy disks and had relatively small file sizes ranging from 54-88 KB depending on the platform[^ref-7]: | Platform | File Size | |----------|-----------| | Apple II | 54 KB | | Commodore 64 | 56 KB | | PC-88 | 69 KB | | Atari 8-bit | 88 KB | These modest storage requirements allowed the game to run on the limited hardware of the era while still delivering a complete adventure gaming experience. ## Legacy ### Place in Sierra History Mission Asteroid holds historical significance as part of the seven graphic adventure games Sierra released before their landmark King's Quest series[^ref-5][^ref-16]. These early Hi-Res Adventures established many of the conventions that Sierra would refine in their later work, including the combination of graphics with text parser input and the focus on puzzle-solving within a narrative framework. The game was included in the 1997 Roberta Williams Anthology, cementing its place in Sierra's historical catalog[^ref-5][^ref-17]. This compilation recognized the game's importance in the company's history and allowed new generations of players to experience Sierra's earliest work. ### Genre Evolution While Mission Asteroid retired early from Sierra's active catalog, it represents an important step in the evolution of graphic adventure gaming and Sierra's development as a major adventure game publisher[^ref-5][^ref-15]. The lessons learned from creating accessible entry-level games influenced Sierra's later approach to game design, including the difficulty scaling options that would appear in later titles. ### Preservation The game continues to be documented across gaming databases[^ref-18][^ref-19] and preservation archives[^ref-20], ensuring its place in adventure gaming history is maintained for future generations. Abandonware sites and emulation communities have made the game accessible to modern players interested in experiencing the earliest days of graphical adventure gaming. ### Alternative Versions Historical records indicate the game was released in multiple versions, including a "White Folder Release" and "Black Box Release"[^ref-12]. The game was also known by alternative titles in different regions, including "Hi-Res Adventure #0: Mission: Asteroid" and "Mission: Asteroide"[^ref-12]. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Details | |---------------|---------| | Genre | Adventure, Interactive Fiction[^ref-7] | | Setting | Sci-Fi / Futuristic[^ref-7] | | Perspective | Text-based with Fixed/Flip-screen graphics[^ref-7] | | Input | Keyboard (text commands)[^ref-8] | | Save Slots | 15[^ref-8] | | Media | 5.25" Floppy Disk[^ref-8] | | Business Model | Commercial[^ref-7] | | Players | Single-player[^ref-7] | ## Downloads **Purchase / Digital Stores** - Currently not available on major digital distribution platforms - [GOG Dreamlist](https://www.gog.com/dreamlist) - Community Dreamlist **Download / Preservation** - [MyAbandonware](https://www.myabandonware.com/game/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid-4yl) - [Lutris](https://lutris.net/games/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/) - [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/Sierra_On-Line_Hi-Res_Adventures_Catalog) - Sierra On-Line Hi-Res Adventures Catalog ## See Also ## References [^ref-1]: [Sierra Fandom Wiki](https://sierra.fandom.com/wiki/Hi-Res_Adventure) – Hi-Res Adventure series information [^ref-2]: [Old Games Download](https://oldgamesdownload.com/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/) – Development and platform details [^ref-3]: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-Res_Adventure_%230%3A_Mission_Asteroid) – Historical context and early graphic adventure games [^ref-4]: [Gaming After 40 Blog](http://gamingafter40.blogspot.com/2012/06/adventure-of-week-mission-asteroid-1981.html) – Game numbering and target audience explanation [^ref-5]: [Sierra Fandom Wiki](https://sierra.fandom.com/wiki/Hi-Res_Adventure_#0:_Mission_Asteroid/Development) – Roberta Williams design credit and series context [^ref-6]: [MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/game/15281/hi-res-adventure-3-cranston-manor/) – Graphics description and user rating [^ref-7]: [Pixelated Arcade](https://www.pixelatedarcade.com/games/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/) – Technical specifications and platform details [^ref-8]: [MyAbandonware](https://www.myabandonware.com/game/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid-4yl) – Technical specifications and save system details [^ref-9]: [MobyGames Releases](https://www.mobygames.com/game/15282/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/releases/) – Publisher and platform information [^ref-10]: [Lutris](https://lutris.net/games/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/) – Game plot description [^ref-11]: [Retro Game Strove](https://www.retrogamestrove.com/game/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/) – Mission Control and asteroid plot [^ref-12]: [MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/game/15282/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/) – Carl Muckenhoupt review and scientific critique [^ref-14]: [Glitchwave](https://glitchwave.com/game/mission-asteroid-hi-res-adventure-0/) – Modern assessment and rating [^ref-15]: [SierraGamers](https://www.sierragamers.com/mission-asteroid/) – Development details and graphics tablet information [^ref-16]: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Entertainment) – Sierra Entertainment history and adventure game development [^ref-17]: [Sierra Fandom Wiki](https://sierra.fandom.com/wiki/Hi-Res_Adventure_#0:_Mission_Asteroid/Trivia) – Roberta Williams Anthology inclusion [^ref-18]: [Giant Bomb](https://www.giantbomb.com/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid/3030-12459/) – Game database entry [^ref-19]: [IGDB](https://www.igdb.com/games/hi-res-adventure-0-mission-asteroid) – Game database entry [^ref-20]: [Archive.org](https://archive.org/details/Sierra_On-Line_Hi-Res_Adventures_Catalog) – Sierra On-Line catalog preservation