Astariel

We like the colorful graphics and atmospheric background music of this freeware space shooter, though its feature set is a bit slim. The Eastern-themed Astariel plays like the classic arcade titles Galaga and Gyruss. As in those games, the object is to blast waves of enemy ships and collect power-ups. Using the keyboard or mouse, you move your spacecraft, fire your cannon, and turn your shield on and off. It's all very straightforward, though you'll have to read the help files if you want to figure out how to access the customization options (such as the ability to play along to your own MP3s). The game's graphics and soundtrack are both quite polished for a freebie, and the dual-player mode is a nice touch. Astariel may not reach gaming Nirvana, but it ought to please arcade fans nonetheless.