Easter Eggstravaganza

Happy Easter

I’m sure regular visitors over the years knew this Easter-themed posting was coming. Well, here is Easter Eggstravaganza, released in 1993 by Codemasters. It was especially made for ST Action, a magazine which I absolutely love. It wasn’t a new game giveaway but more of a rip-off, which I mean in a good way. Essentially, it’s a copy of their earlier, excellent game Fast Food with Easter-themed graphics featuring chicks, eggs, and other Easter-related items. Typically, it bypassed the real reason for the season - Jesus.

Anyhow, like in Pac-Man, we navigate a maze collecting eggs and stuff, while dodging cute enemies that either chase us or cleverly block our path. Various power-ups assist, and Dizzy’s quick and agile movements make this very playable indeed. If you liked Fast Food, you’ll likely enjoy this freebie, even if it's only more of the same with Easter visuals. It’s a simple yet eggcellent (sorry) game and perfect for a quick score chase.

You know, I rather enjoyed this eggceptional freebie maze chaser. Great fun!!!

Happy Easter, everyone ✝

• An image of the original ST Action disk can be found at Atarimania.
• Interested in trying Fast Food, then grab the floppies or a hard drive version.
• More "Pac-Man" games can be found in our (wait for it) Pac-Man section!

Grab those cute chicks and other stuff, but watch out for the baddies!

I thought those were burgers, but no, they're hot cross buns! Oops...

Another eggcellent level, but very tough too, I thought.

That floor background is rather OTT, isn't it?

ARGHHH, this level will take some practice to beat!!

My first game high score... Can you beat me?

Dynabusters+

Blitter Bombing

Following on from the original shareware "Dyna Blaster" release, Dynabusters+ was released a year later by The Sirius Cybernetics Corp in 1994 for the Atari STe (oh, and for the Falcon - a computer I still can't afford). It's like a Director's Cut of their classic game thanks to the colours, Blitter support, and stunning DMA audio. Honestly, the music and sound effects are brilliant; I could happily just sit and listen to the music for ages.

The gameplay is everything you expect - absolute mayhem! But now with better graphics, extra warzones, fresh bonuses, sound effects, bug fixes, JagPad support, and other stuff detailed in the docs. Up to six players can join the explosive party, although there’s no computer-controlled solo mode, which is a shame, as it would’ve added a lot. My daughter and I played the game using the keyboard and joystick, but other combinations are possible with adapters and the enhanced joystick ports. Untested by me as I've no friends, boohoo.

So, blast the blocks, wisely use bonuses to zest the action up further (you can blast the crappy ones). There is a myriad of different types, some nice and some not so nice - I hate when the controls are reversed! Please note that the screenshots are from emulation, and I had some visual glitches in the menus. Thankfully, everything was perfect using my STe (the controls felt better, too). Real hardware is always best.

If you love Bomberman and have a friend or two (or five), this game is dynamite. Oops, sorry!

• Both games are downloadable at Atari Legend using several cool menu disks.
• This and loads more 'Bomberman' variants are listed on Atarimania.
• Watch this video if you’re wondering how much fun can be had playing this game.
• There are lots of Atari STe games listed in our Enhanced section :-)

My daughter hates those men, but that didn't stop her from loving Dynabusters+!!

I know I always bang on about real hardware being the best, but it really is...

Do you have any idea how tough it was to grab a screenshot of an explosion? lol

But I eventually got the hang of it :)

Don't forget to change the arena, and enjoy killing your family members. Erm...

The Rise Of Love by Hemoroids

Hippie Musical Demo

Hemoroids, the amazing French demogroup, released The Rise of Love for the Atari STe in 2022. It came 1st at Silly Venture 2022 and is different from what I first expected. It abandons the usual mind-boggling, 68000-crushing technical effects for a groovy art demonstration. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a positive.

This demo features a vibrant, uplifting tone, showcasing a ton of pixel art in a groovy way while listening to super chip music. It’s got a funky 70s/80s flair with many memorable moments, reflecting a time when the world was much more sane than it is today. I even spotted the Ford Torino from Starsky & Hutch:)

This demo is brimming with a charming, nostalgic atmosphere. It’s a digital art showcase and a must-watch. Sure, the video is good, but nothing beats real hardware. So get it downloaded right now!

This will unleash your mellow inner hippy. LOL I just know it...

Credits and download

Dieu - Graphics

Dma-Sc - Music

Jade - Graphics

Nytrik - Graphics

pépé - Code, Graphics, video recording

Sink - Text, Other (Support, supervision)

Stranger - Other (Support, supervision)

YQN - Other (Sound effects)

Demozoo download - https://demozoo.org/productions/316212/

Even more AtariSTe demos - https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/AtariSTe

Hippie or not, this is stunning artwork. Love the colours.

HMD!! I've loved 'em since (iirc) Hemosound.

Ohhh, this is gonna be trippy...

Yep, I knew it. Hippie demoscene stuff.

Hehe, this is so groovy!

Girl playing Space Invaders... ;p

Say hello to the only guy alive who hasn't watched Star Wars!

Come on, this is class artwork with a superb palette tone.

Debbie Harry. Wow. Ahem... I'm saying nothing, or the wife will kill me!!!

Awesome artwork from start to end with stunning music throughout. Perfect.

Stront

DooDoo Gaming

Stront is a cheeky little Tron clone knocked together by Thomas Van Noorden (aka Phenomenon of Teenage) in 2000. Two players dash around another black screen, leaving trails, and the first to crash loses. You can use either the keyboard or a JagPad plugged into the side of your Atari STe. Yes, it's STe only.

The name might literally mean (ahem) "poop", but this is far from that (which is a massive relief, honestly!!). Okay, I doubt any Tron game really pushes our computer to its absolute limits, but this is seriously smooth with bucket loads of colourful lines and some astounding digi-sound by Niels Kleine (aka Tinker).

Crude name, great game, and the best gaming fun you'll have with a friend!

• Atarimania has the download and instructions.
• BSW Demo CD #113 contains Stront, so grab that at Demozoo.
• Hey, we have many more Atari STe games listed right here!

Hmm, Stront doesn't make for an exciting run of screenshots...

...but I did it anyway!

We enjoyed this little game a bunch.

Persifal

Jump. Fall. Splat! Swear!! Repeat.

This is one of those games I’d honestly never heard of before, yet somehow I stumbled across it purely by chance. And I'm so glad I did. When I first booted it up, I expected it to be horse doodoo, but... it isn't. It's actually a very, very good platformer from 1989 by Oliver Merklinghaus and Markus Reiser. Interestingly, I'm wondering if the name Persifal is possibly a twist on Parsifal, the medieval knight?

We play as Persifal, a hapless court jester on a mission through a bizarre world of wacky rooms packed with the expected dangers - like treacherous swamps, fire, and deadly spikes. The basic idea is to run through the screens, looking for five keys to unlock the exit to the next level. It’s clear where the inspiration comes from - this is a platformer with a familiar vibe that will appeal to fans of Giana Sisters, Terry’s Big Adventure, and the like. The joystick controls are light and responsive, with that trademark floaty feel thanks to gravity and inertia. We can walk left and right, and jumping gets extra height if you hold the stick a bit longer.

There are a LOT of power-ups to collect, and most will do something pointless like increasing your score. Others are essential and add extra time to the clock (yes, there's a timer!). However, never have I known a game with so many near-duplicate pick-ups that more or less do the same thing. There are lots of extra points/time, which is bizarre. Thankfully, there are a few more that provide either something helpful or annoying:

• Spell out "BONUS" to earn an extra life.
• Fire extinguishers help with flames (surprise!).
• Freeze enemies for a breather. (can also hit spacebar)
• Bombs wipe out everything on screen (Defender-style).
• Some pickups reverse your controls. Argh!!
• Others mess with gravity - in a bad way.

Forget the cheesy graphics and ripoff ideas; what really won me over was the level design. It’s simple stuff, but each screen is cleverly laid out and fun to explore. Nothing feels unfair, and there’s a good mix of challenge without (too) much frustration. Heck, it even supports two players (not at the same time) and appears to utilise the Blitter on machines like the Atari STe (although it feels the same when played on my Blitter-less STM. YMMV). Sadly, I don’t have a trained version, so I only made it to the second level before it was (ugh) Game Over. If anyone out there has a cracked version with infinite lives - please get in touch!

I would give Persifal a solid 75%, maybe more if I weren’t so utterly useless with my crabby joystick. Seriously, this is one of the most surprisingly enjoyable (PD) ST platformers I've played in ages. Grab the download from Atarimania, after you've viewed these screenshots, of course. You won't regret it.

• Interested in more 'PD' platformers? Then click right here, big boy!
• Since it's a Friday, here are a bunch of great games to play over the weekend.
• And there are loads more sections listed down the right... check 'em out!!

Ohh, I wonder what that heavy-looking axe does?

Possibly the hardest screen of all if you want that key. Watch out for spikes!

See that bomb? You might wanna use it; otherwise, this screen is impossible!

Only one enemy bounces from left to right, but it's still tough!

This is a seriously hard room. A snail is guarding that key!

Yep, I've beaten the first stage and am rewarded for my efforts.

I reached the second stage, but died after 3/4 rooms. Can you beat my high score?

Enhanced games - part 4

Five Star

Here we are again with another selection of games that are enhanced in some particular way when run on the Atari STe. What, you missed the other compilations? Shame on you, but I'll be nice and include the links to those articles right here(1), here(2), and here(3). Let’s crack on and see which games I've picked...

Birds of Prey is an unfinished project by Argonaut Software, with its intro released in 1991. While the game never reached completion, the surviving intro is a technical marvel, showing off the Atari STe with smooth 3D visuals and striking sound effects (all created on the ST). The gameplay would have been more of a lite-flight sim. Not really my cup of tea, but it's a shame that they cancelled it. It's definitely worth watching this intro, which is available at Atarimania.

Future Wars was released in 1989 by Delphine Software and was the first to use their "Cinematique" point-and-click engine. You play a window-cleaner who stumbles across a time machine and ends up bouncing through history - from medieval Europe to prehistoric eras and far into the future, all while trying to foil the evil alien Crughons. The game wowed everyone with its outstanding backdrops, smooth animations, and unforgettable DMA audio (ohh yeah). This little paragraph does it no justice. A true classic of its time, and the download is available at 8BitChip.

Leavin' Teramis was released in 1990 by Thalion Software and is often celebrated as one of the finest overhead shooters for the Atari ST. We are Nigel MacGibbons, an unlucky marine who wakes aboard an alien-infested spaceship and must blast his way through the levels. The gameplay is perfectly balanced, mixing frantic shooting with simple exploration with secrets and power-ups. This is one of the least "enhanced" games, but it's already a class act with supersonic scrolling, perfect music, and fantastic gameplay. Probably one of the finest shooters there is, so ignore the reviews out there and play it!! Downloads are available from Atari Legend.

Road Runner was released in 1987 by US Gold, where we guide the speedy bird across hazardous desert roads while avoiding Wile E. Coyote and his endless traps. It's like playing your very own cartoon! It's actually a fun game and a very enjoyable way to relive your childhood TV memories. Additionally, the game was updated in 2018 with Blitter support for the Atari STe by Peter Putnik. The download has both game versions and is at 8BitChip.

Robocop 3 is something of a masterpiece by Ocean in 1992. Obviously, based on the film, it mixes 3D Hard Drivin' with first-person shooting and even has a jetpack scene. So step into the metallic shoes of RoboCop to clean up the crime-ridden streets of Detroit. On the Atari STe, the game makes use of enhanced sound hardware, giving the gritty battles and explosive effects extra punch compared to the standard ST version. The download is available from Atari Legend.

That was quite a mix of incredibly different titles, and they're all good to play for different reasons. I really enjoyed Leavin' Teramis and Robocop 3, plus the improvement made to Road Runner is nice. However, there is no denying that Future Wars is something everyone needs to play. As always, compiling this list was fun, and each title has been added to our ever-growing Enhanced Games page. Go on, take a look at it.

I hope you enjoyed this fourth compilation. Stay enhanced... Stay Atari STe!!

You might not be able to play the game, but don't miss watching this intro!

What an absolutely epic adventure!!  >> Miss this one at your peril <<

Classy overhead shooter. Those with a keen eye will notice overscan (status bar).

MeepMeep... I'm reliving my 1970s/80s with this game!!

Way ahead of its time in terms of ideas, style, and performance.