Friday, July 24, 2015

Prophecy I - The Viking Child



Brian the Viking!

Viking Child is the tale of a young boy who is thrown into an adventure that takes him through several medieval lands in search of his friends. He needs to rescue them from the clutches of the evil demigod, Loki. Now, it might look spookily familiar to a console gamer but don't be put off, this is a great Atari ST game in its own right.

There are a humungous 16 levels of platforming fun to plunder with 8 bosses to battle long before you even think of reaching Loki. Walk and leap over all obstacles and use your weapon to kill anything that looks likely to hurt you. After a monster is slain, coins are left behind to be used as currency in the local power-up store which offers better weapons and the usual assortment of goodies. I love the fire weapon but I first advise that you upgrade your weapon - a dagger.

Graphics are excellent with super-smooth scrolling proving yet again that the STFM is more than capable when in the hands of a talented programmer. I love its gorgeous cartoon-like scenery and the sprites are well-detailed, even if the animation is humble. Sound effects work great but you can exchange those for excellent chiptunes if desired.

Viking Child is a creative and technical masterpiece. What it lacks in originality is more than made up for in playability. Entertaining, interesting and challenging gameplay throughout with aesthetics to drool over! This is a cracking game and you soon realise why it's one of my favourite platformers on the Atari ST. I highly recommend this one, folks!!

Download for hard drive thanks to 8BitChip.
Floppy disk images can be grabbed via Old Games Finder.
Here are a few level codes to skip your way forward:
Forest level: DENIS<E>
Landbridge: THE BLIZ
Labyrinth: SHARKMAN
The Desert: NYMHARSW







Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Overscan Invaders


Overscan Invaders was released in 1994 by Janet Dean under the esteemed Budgie UK licenceware label. Obviously, this is a Space Invaders clone but one with a rather unexpected twist not normally exploited. Yes, I think you've guessed it? It's running in overscan so uses lots of extra pixels and also breaks the 16-colour limit.

This is a great twist on the original Space Invaders which plays as good as I'd have hoped and is really addictive. Ironically, it's the sound effects which I love the most - yes, even more than the overscan! They are superb and so authentic. Just listen in the video recording for all those childhood memories to come flooding back.

Overscan Invaders is definitely one of the better clones and I’m sure any Invader fan will love it. I did.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Ghost Battle



The demoscene is here!

Thalion games always oozed a superior visual and audio style that few others could match. However, I don't think I ever played Ghost Battle which is very odd as I'm a fan of platformers and Thalion. So, let's play...

We are the stereotypical muscle-bound hero who needs to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend who was recently whisked away by a giant hand. Yeah, that's right, a giant hand!! At least you get to travel to some of the most beautiful places trying to find her and along the way, you should kill everything in your wake! However, I fear the control and basic gameplay mechanics are a little awkward and affect your movement which feels stiff, so will take some getting used to.

The initial weapon isn't exactly great because of its poor firing rate, which isn't nearly enough to match the demands of a quick kill. So, no matter how many times you try to rapidly hit that fire button, most monsters will manage to survive just long enough to zap your precious energy. It's frustrating and spoils what might have been.

This is a lot like the Ghouls And Ghosts with similar level designs and a few puzzles. The action is predictable but very hard and will surely torment the most discerning gamers. Did Thalion employ beta testers? It's very difficult...



Okay, what's up with those freaky eyes!! That's drugs for ya, kids!


What a cute intro... Well, until a giant hand appears and whisks away your dolly bird!


- Graphics & Sounds -

The graphics are astounding with stunning artwork by Henk Nieborg. The scrolling is silky-smooth and is best viewed on the Atari STe (and older STs that might have a Blitter). It reminds me of a mix of Ghouls And Ghosts, Risky Woods, Stormlord and maybe even a tickle of Shadow Of The Beast? It's hard to imagine a prettier platformer but this is!

Like the visuals, the audio is outstanding and matches the pixels for their quality in equal measure. I think you'll guess who's behind the music and it's nothing less than fabulous! Mad Max helps prove that chip music will last forever.



The opening level is stunning and scrolls beautifully smooth. Now, master those controls!!


There are lots of enemies and they look gorgeous. Watch out for that chainsaw guy!


- The CryptO'pinion -

Ghost Battle could so easily have been a crackerjack platformer as it's got so much going for it and is aesthetically one of the best 16-bit games on the planet. However, it suffers from its own stupid design flaws thanks to some of the most awkward control mechanics I've ever seen. Argh, so frustrating because its potential is immense but you'll see very little unless you spend years mastering the cruel learning curve. Okay, you could just cheat and use a trainer?

Ghost Battle looks and sounds incredible but it's going to need lots of time otherwise don't bother. However, once you've mastered that and progressed beyond the confusing open levels, there's a good game here - nothing beats seeing a zombie on a pogo stick! Overall, quite good but the unbalanced gameplay and controls let it down.

Sadly, there are better games to play on the Atari ST although I doubt they'll look or sound as good!

The floppy disk can be found using Old Games Finder
And 8BitChip has the HDD version.

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Sea Of Colour


Credits and my ultimate respects get sent to the following :
Evil - coding | Excellence in Art - music | Gizmo - data | Templeton - graphics

Stop! Download Sea Of Colour demo for the Atari STe right now!

Friday, July 03, 2015

Dragon Lord


Have you ever spent time trying to learn a game only walk away completely baffled and wondering why you bothered? Well, here is Dragon Lord, an extremely unusual multi-screen platformer released in 1990 by 16-32 Diffusion. We are playing the part of a huge dragon who appears to be living in a whole wide world of weird! The objective is to become the new dragon lord which means plundering through over a hundred screens looking for artefacts, killing some fascinating creatures and ultimately battling an evil guardian.

Gameplay is simplistic thus easy to pick-up and it's fun breathing fire onto a scorched enemy. I found the map design a little laborious and would often end up getting lost so I would instead spend my time burning down the bad guys!! However, the control a clumsy because we are a massive dragon sprite moving around tight environments.

The visuals are quite (ahem) unique. Pretty amateur artwork that looks like it was coloured in by somebody suffering from colour-blindness. Ignoring this graphical nightmare because Dragon Lord’s sprites are massive and also of a great and humorous variety! Sadly the sound effects are pretty much a joke and the less said the better!

Overall, I was quite disappointed because I can see the potential but it doesn’t gel together very well. Dragon Lord's poor mechanics and eye-bleeding graphics spoil what could have been an interesting game. Having said all that, I did find myself having “just one more go” yet I cannot for the life of me think why. Perhaps I'm going mad?

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Ghosts 'n Goblins



Hard as nails!

This morning I powered on my Atari ST and decided to play the classic platformer Ghosts 'N Goblins. However, I suffered the most amazing run of quick games because I kept on dying, over and over and then over again!

Finally, during a later game, I managed to get passed the red goblin which is a major success because he normally beats me to a pulp. Sadly, it wasn't long after this that I died. ARRRGGHHHHH!! such an annoying game (that I love)!!

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Time Bandit



HiSToric gaming!

Microdeal released Time Bandit in... wait for it... 1985 so it ranks as one of the first Atari ST games. Programmed by Bill Dunlevy, long before any developers knew how to push our 16-bit computer. However, but my first impressions weren't good as I felt this was a cheap Gauntlet ripoff but, I continued to play. Until my sanity returned.

Yup, ignore my foolish first impressions because I fear there might be a funky game lurking behind those old 8bit visuals. Fwiw, Time Bandit was released for the TRS-80 a couple of years before Gauntlet.

We begin in The Timegates, a place that permits access to numerous strange worlds and each is completely different. These range from ancient Egypt to a bomb-making factory and other weird surprises - like the Pac-Man land. They have their own style and objectives with gameplay reminiscent of Gauntlet, to a degree.

For each world, the exit is blocked, so we need to find the key(s) or complete tasks to escape. Interestingly, each world can be played again for an increased level of difficulty and a variety of fascinating design changes all of which keep the gameplay interesting and progressively challenging. Battles are fought using a rocket launcher and, best of all, you've been blessed with unlimited ammo too!! Very nice and that suits me just dandy.

Yes, this was a lesson in aesthetics and my ignorance. Never go off first impressions based on the look of a game. Time Bandit is a cracker with so many interesting levels to plunder and each offers its own unique charm. It might look like Gauntlet but it's very different and offers its own styles to become a true Atari ST classic.

Budding time lords should download this great game for either floppy or the superb hard disk version!!











- Sixteen whacky worlds -

 
Underworld Arena has many spectators and Darkside Dare is incredibly odd with unexpected twists.

 
Castle Greymoon is one of my favourite levels as is the dingy Excalibur spaceship!

 
Shadowland? Nah this is a Pacman ripoff lol. Welkin Island looks rubbish but is very cool.

 
Omega Complex, one vowel off being blocked. The Sentinel reminded me a little of Tutankhamun.

 
Gridville appears to have rude tomatoes but Hotel California allows us to play as John Wayne!!

 
Watch out for strange aliens in Major Hazard but the Old Bomb Factory takes that to another level!!

 
Cheops' Curse offers more than you think but there's a spooky graveyard in Ghost Town.


Guardian is tough even on the first attempt. Watch out for the creepy crawlies in King's Crown.

Sunday, June 07, 2015

Laserball 2015



Wear your thinking head, Worzel

Laser Ball was initially released in 1991 by Thomas Ilg and then updated in 2014 with bug fixes and larger screens. After months of tinkering and making even more improvements, we have the completed product: Laserball 2015. The game can be downloaded for free with the option of buying a boxed version - which is what I had to get!

This is a puzzle game which first appears simple in nature but turns out to be furiously challenging. If you've ever played Deflektor and the like, then you will immediately have a grasp on the basic concept. The game has many screens of increasing difficulty with all featuring a laser gun shooting out a beam of light in a straight line.

In order to complete a level, that beam must be redirected onto a red ball using mirrors and other objects. That means using the various mirrors by tilting them to redirect the light towards distinct directions. These can be physically moved in all four directions - and move continuously until blocked by an object or wall. So, it's paramount to stop and think.

Righto, let's take a gander at a screenshot of the first level that gently breaks you in (he says)...



This is the first level where I learned a lot about when and how to move those mirrors.


My brain hurts!

It's your calculative thinking that chooses where to place the mirrors in order to align the beam of light just right - so it can blast that red blob! However, doing so proves a LOT harder than you first imagine thanks to each screen's design. As you progress, you'll see lots of different types of objects that can either aid or restrict your options. For example:

Closed doorways need to be activated using the beam before they can be used. Easy that, init!
Some objects cannot be moved - except by the beam of light. I now hate timers even more.
Some eliminate walls and others present hidden functions. Dare you experiment?

Watch out for the timer. Sigh... Yes, there's a timer which I didn't like at all - I felt rushed which spoilt the fun for me (so I would like to personally thank Thomas for implementing a feature to disable it). Finally, try not to zap a bomb otherwise it's game over - but you can always come back to a particular level without replaying the previous screens. There is an insane number of levels to wade through - which should keep you busy for weeks! No, months.

Feeling brave? Think this game is easy? Okay, let's take a look at the next screenshot to shut you up...



A timer or not, this level is a ticking timebomb. Look closely and you'll see what I mean!!


Aesthetics?

Visually, this is a nice looker thanks to its clear-cut display style that suits the cute theme. However, let's face it, puzzlers are rarely jaw-dropping and how can they be? With that in mind, I think Laser Ball actually has excellent graphics. Each screen is without unnecessary clutter whilst also featuring an appealing type of youthful style that I really admire.

Sadly, there aren't many sound effects (ahem) beyond the few key clicks and funny jingles... But that doesn't matter in the slightest because Laserball features charming chip music by xFalcon that suits the game perfectly. It's beautiful.

So, it looks nice and sounds great! I think it's time to celebrate that fact with the final screenshot...



And now things change once again with new mechanics I couldn't grasp at first. Killer game!!


The CryptO'pinion?

I've learnt many things about myself playing Laserball both, as a gamer and as a person. Like my patience - or rather lack of it!! The fact that I can spend so much time on any level - constantly replaying it over and over. But then be utterly flabbergasted at what is often a simple solution that I failed to work out. Argh, it's so infuriating!!

But this is a fascinating puzzler too and I've been quoted saying, "Probably one of the best thinking games ever released for the Atari ST". You know what? I think that humble sentence pretty much nails it and definitely sums up this game. And that's saying something when you consider just how many awesome puzzlers are already out for the Atari ST!!

- Download Laserball for floppy & hard drive -


  
Update: check this out!!! Thank you, Thomas, for making this new level :-)

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Cerror Terror!



Music to your ears!

A Beginning is a music disk that was released to celebrate Roel Heerspink (aka Cerror) and his joining of Dead Hackers Society. It's one heck of a production that was made with the excellent MusicMon software. The recording (above) features a minute, or so, of each track and they are all gorgeous chiptune goodness that your Atari ST/e deserves.

So get down and boogie, folks because it is chip-tune Tuesday!! :^)

Credits:
Cerror - Music
Evil - Code
Gizmo - Code
Proteque - Graphics

Monday, May 18, 2015

Elvira - The Arcade Game



A game with sex appeal

Elvira has graced our favourite 16-bit computer three times with two of them being adventures - which I own and cherish dearly. However, the third is a little-known platformer by Flair Software which is a platformer not too dissimilar to the likes of Turrican or Gods. Yes, that doesn't sound very original but I don't care. Also, it's enhanced on Atari STe thanks to the Blitter and lots of extra colours. So, kudos to the boys at Flair for supporting both computers.

For this game, we get to be the Mistress who finds herself awoken by a wizard. Yep, a wizard. Anyhow, he needs her to complete a mission (here we go) and, apparently, we need to recover the Queendom. Whatever the story, I'm in, but it does mean there are three ginormous worlds to explore. And guess what, there are also many demons to fight!!

Let's take a look at their loading screens which I thought are beautiful examples of pixel art...



Those looking for a tan might first wish to play the Underworld of Fire?


Or perhaps you prefer to plunder the cold depths of Arctic Earth? Bring a scarf!


Let's play with Elvira

If you're thinking this looks like Gods or Turrican, then you'd be right so no prizes for originality. There are two levels: Underworld Of Fire and Arctic Earth but the third cannot be played until these are completed. Each has a different range of baddies either walking the levels or flying in the sky. Hitting fire shoots a magical weapon with loud and exciting deaths - but it's shameless ripoff effect. There is constant action through huge, colourful levels stuffed with monsters.

The controls are good but turning this sexy woman around feels a little too slow. Elvira moves in a majestic way, it's quite something special to see her flaunt her legs when turning and jumping. The walk is quite funny as she stomps the ground but gravity appears low so jumping takes on the form of Neil Armstrong on the moon. Actually, this is great for killing the monsters as the jump mechanic itself takes longer so you can change direction as needed.

There's little here that feels new as Elvira is more than a little inspired by several different games. That's fine but it also means there's nothing unexpected so everything feels quite familiar. I also found the levels too big and quite bewildering. The ability to save progress via checkpoints could have been better. As you can imagine, I kept on getting lost!

Right then, let's take a peep at a jazzy screenshot of the fireworks you will get to experience...


Elvira doesn't waste any time flashing you a quick glimpse of her underwear!


Aesthetics

Visually, this is a corker with gorgeous levels that feature lots of colour and detailed sprites that exploded like it's bonfire night. Parallax scrolling is smooth but the action can get a little stuttery when there is a lot happening at once. The screen width has been squashed a little to maintain the framerate on older STs which is understandable.

The Blitter Chip is supported for both Atari computers if present (obviously, a standard on the STe). This makes the game run at a smoother albeit slower pace. So, an STfm without Blitter features a lower framerate but faster gameplay. Personally, I'm somehow preferring the game without Blitter support! :o

Theme music is by Sean Connolly and is excellent. The sound effects are very nice and pretty much Gods-like (S key toggles). To be honest, there's not an awful lot of effects and you'll hear Elvira stomping more than anything else.

Righto fellow ST Nutters, it's time for the final screenshot and guess what? It's beautiful too...


Elvira is so hot she can create sparks even in the cold Ice World.


The CryptO'pinion?

Sadly, not even the busty goddess is perfect because I feel the levels are perhaps too big and thus the quest soon becomes tiresome without more frequent checkpoints. Although the graphics are legendary, and I tip my hat to Flair for using the Blitter, I think dropping the parallax effect in favour of a larger display or spritelier scrolling would have been best?

Elvira The Arcade Game may never have been in the arcades but I don't care about that. Who doesn't enjoy dressing up as The Mistress Of The Dark? Oops, did I say that out loud? Anyhow, it might feel like a cheap Gods or Turrican clone but I've enjoyed it all. I'm sure Elvira will keep you entertained for many hours. Mmm, given half the chance...ahem!!

Who wouldn't help Elvira if she asked?
Exactly, so grab her by the floppy or hard disk!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

lotsa stars!



I figured that it was about time I uploaded this demo... I've had it for absolute yonks and I should have uploaded it straight away. Why? Because it's so impressive and needs to be shared out amongst the demoscene fanbase. I mean, come on just look at the specs: 1265 zillion+ stars, calculated in real-time and at 50fps. Incredible!!

I would like to see another 16-bit computer try this! So sit back and enjoy the show... Download from Demozoo.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Blood Money



No lame Amiga ports (for once)

This is one of my favourite Atari ST shooters and by Psygnosis, a company (more or less) synonymous with weak Amiga ports. This game features some of the best graphics you will see in any scrolling shoot'em up and it sounds excellent too.

It's all thanks to the talent of Wayne Smithson who proved the power of the ST when in the hands of a decent programmer - who needed no custom chips. Still, I cannot help wondering how an STe would have done... Just saying...

Okay, soak your money in blood and play this amazing game using either a floppy or off your hard drive.

  

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Do Things [Cream]



Chipmusic will live forever!

Here is a fantastic music disk for the Atari ST and STe, Do Things by Cream. Yes, it works on both machines but the colours are better on the Atari STe plus the tunes are in stereo. Which is lovely!! The disk features some fantastic #chiptunes by Tao, a talented musician I really admire and I think you will too after listening to this.

The demo also has a w
onderful tunnel effect which leads you to the main music screen where you'll find a huge list of chiptunes. But the fun doesn't stop there - press the spacebar to view an incredible comic strip with legendary artwork. Some of the best I've ever seen. Cream has done it again so download this now!!

  

All the Creamy credits go to this bunch of talented folk :
Abyss - Code | Agent T - Graphics | Candyman - Code, Music (End part) | Tao - Music

Atari STe demos playlist ( link )  |  Atari chiptune playlist ( link)
- Demo Encyclopaedia -

Monday, May 04, 2015

Turrican



Today I shall be mostly playing...

It's a bank holiday in the UK so I wanted to play something on my Atari ST while it's a big fat no-work day! Well, what could be better than either of these two platformers to blast away the free hours? Turrican will always be a firm favourite of mine. It's a beautiful 8-ways scrolling platformer where you explore and shoot at everything in sight. It's superb!

What about you guys? What's your equivalent favourite runner/gunner for the Atari ST?

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Fire And Brimstone



Tough as nails!

It's a well-known fact that games were much harder back in the day. Perhaps our generation where made of tougher stuff and today's kids are wimps? Hmm, I'd say that sounds right, and I think we have a game to prove it! (hey, before we begin... did you know that I've fully mapped this game? No??? Well, click on the "Game Maps" link to your right!)

Fire And Brimstone was released in 1990 by Firebird and is one of the most visually stunning platformers I have ever seen. The adventure takes place within a fantasy world of Norse mythology as the mighty Thor must battle against the forces of Hel. She has escaped and spread her lust for evil over the once-peaceful Nordic lands with her minions creating havoc! So, wait for it, it's up to us to clean up this hellish infestation and get home in time for tea.

Check out these screenshots with the first immediate puzzle (that makes no sense ironically). Gorgeous visuals...



This game blows you away from the start with an oddly puzzling demon who always wakes up!

Look out for witches with their rapid spells. Who are also tough to kill!


We are the mighty Thor!

We sure are. And there are five worlds (including Hel) to beat - Alfheim, Anaheim, Nidavellir, Muspell and Nilfheim. Each screen is a puzzle in itself that requires careful thought before you attempt to foolishly maraud through. Even the first screen can confuse and its solution makes little sense... Sigh, this style of trickery is something you will get used to.

Any level can only be completed once all the fragments from a key have been found and a boss slaughtered. This means each screen should be searched for any hidden objects before you leave otherwise you might end up being punished and sent back to revisit the previous screens. Which can be an agonising moment!

Thor doesn't only carry an axe but two individual weapons which we can flip between, including bombs and fire. There are also power-ups that will help improve our abilities against the hoards of baddies who come in all shapes and sizes - each one possessing a cunning yet humorous personality. Everyone is often really difficult to kill, from magic-throwing witches to goblins, old bats and things hiding in trees. It's impossible not to love this game's awesome charisma - I especially love the funky ghosts and creepy witches who fly by on their broomsticks. An incredible effort has gone into this!

Let's view another screenshot from this tough nut platformer with ghosts and a witch on her broomstick...



Watch out for all kinds of freaky monsters. Oh look, it's the mother-in-law on her broom!

We're in the creepy woods which are full of ghosts. And HIM too! Runnnnn!!!


Aesthetics

Fire And Brimstone offers an exceptional visual treat by Chris Sorrell. Astounding attention to detail using an artistic flair that perfectly complements the medieval and hellish atmosphere. The characters look fantastic and are superbly animated with scenic settings that are always beautiful. Jaw-dropping examples of extraordinary 16-bit pixel art.

Be warned, there is no scrolling. To an Amiga user, that probably translates to their usual pitiful Atari ST port whining. But wait, Fire And Brimstone was never meant to scroll and is perfect as a flick-screen platformer. Yes, perfect!

The title music is a thumping sample tune by none other than David Whittaker. It's brilliant and the quality is superb but I must admit to preferring his chiptunes over this if I'm honest. In-game sound effects are great for all the usual effects, but they obviously cannot come close to the majestic grade of the lush and detailed graphics.

Oh yeah, it sure looks and sounds the business alright, so let's see another couple of screenshots...


See that guy in red, I wonder what's his story?

Oh, each level has a secret room. Don't miss it otherwise, you'll be sent back!


The CryptO'pinion?

Fire And Brimstone is one of the most difficult platformers I've played with mechanics that are so unforgiving. But, give it plenty of time, learn how each screen functions, and you will make progress. However, even then, it's still too difficult after lots of practice so I'd rate this as one of the most irritating games there is. Hardly a glowing report?

Ignoring my painful progress, with a trainer enabled, this game is massively entertaining and potentially very rewarding for a determined player. I love how each screen is its own mini-adventure which ultimately provides natural longevity by its design. For all its faults, I love it!! However, I fear only the stupid brave should enter into this fantasy world of torment.

Brave warriors can download this for
either floppy or install onto a hard drive.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Teserae


Teserae was developed by The Albanian Sausage Corporation - the funniest name ever - and is a Tetris clone if you hadn't guessed. But this is different and pushes the Atari ST with fantastic aesthetics that no version of Tetris has ever seen before: I'm talking the whackiest and jazziest graphics ever seen. There's a cool wobbly logo, zooming backgrounds, a scroller and gorgeous music - and everything runs at 50fps!!

However, it wouldn't be worth its salt if the gameplay was rubbish. Fear not because it not only looks incredible but plays just as well as you would hope. Once you've got over the shock of what is a visual carnival, there is actually a challenging version of the classic game here. I'm not exactly a Tetris fan but I adored Teserae!!

Highly recommended but wear sunglasses before you hit AtariMania for the download.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Lights, Camera, Action! (take 2)

Following on from a previous posting, here are the remaining videos being played using a program called ST Video Player. Just like last time, these are running on a stock 8MHz Atari STe w/ a hard drive, of course.







Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Chariots Of Wrath

Whilst fighting for King and Country, an evil Baron kidnaps the beautiful Princess Arthena. So jump into your chariot and rescue her. Actually, this really means playing lots of different arcade-style games which surely can't be a bad day at the local war zone, right?

Released in 1989 by Impressions, Chariots Of Wrath isn't just one particular game but instead is a half-dozen bundle of retro gaming oldies. If there was ever a mixed-goody bag of various games (thrown together) then this is it. Each range in style, from a Breakout clone to a pretty nice shoot 'em up and each must be played in order before you can advance to the next.

Of course, each and every game will become progressively harder the further you venture. Initially, I didn't care for the "operation wolf" clone because it's far too easy and a little boring but, later on, I admit to liking this as it became a lot harder and thus more challenging.

The breakout game is pretty darn awesome and comes with a number of power-ups to increase the excitement. I found it rather enjoyable but I'm sure the Arkanoid fanboys won't be quaking in their boots! The platformer looks nice but the controls feel wooden and it has an incredibly frustrating and extremely unforgiving time limit. Asteroids also make an appearance and play very well with some nifty new touches that I really liked. Finally, I really enjoy the vertically scrolling shoot 'em up which is both loud and exciting. Sadly, it suffers from amateur mechanics and a little slowdown, but it is still great fun and I did enjoy it with its BOOM BOOM sound effects!

The graphics are pretty cool throughout each of the games with smooth scrolling and lots of colours, so overall my ears and eyes had little to complain about. However, in terms of playability, Chariots Of Wrath almost has a homebrew feel and, with a little spit and polish, we could have had a unique release? The potential is certainly there with this jack of all trades but I fear it sadly falls short and there are better individual games out for the Atari ST.

Play off a hard drive instead of the floppy thanks to 8BitChip!
For those who require a floppy disk version look no further than Old Games Finder.
Check out the superb video recording by CaptainD from Indie Game News.