The Vodka Demo

Alcohol is good for you

For me, The Vodka Demo stands as a defining moment in the Atari ST demoscene. It pushes 16-bit limitations far beyond (my) expectations. It also bridges the gap between older and newer demo styles, with some rather cool screens. Released by the mighty Equinox in 1991, it showcases some impressive technical wizardry, especially its game-like menu. Of course, each demo pushes the ST to its limits with stunning colours, speed, full-screen displays, and gorgeous YM2149 sounds. It’s pure early 90s black magic.

I'm reaching that point where I always say the same thing: download and play this megademo on a proper Atari ST if you can. It's far superior and the best way to experience this outstanding production.

Demozoo has the download, plus a dedicated group page for Equinox.

Credits

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Fab - Music (Unlimited Bobs screen)

Krueger - Code

Moby - Music (Intro)

Starlion - Code

Steprate - Code

One of those screenshots that does no justice to the smooth movement of colour.

I guess no screenshot ever does a demo justice? Yep, like this one!

Never did I understand the concept of these sprite challenges. Use it in a game!

Wow, this demo is mind-blowing. Love it. Love it. Love it!!!

Oh dear, why did I take these screenshots? Look, just get the demo downloaded.

I love how smoothly the dragon moves. Those eyes though.. Arghh, those eyes!!

A nicely timed capture, and the message is right. The ST is better than Psygnosis thought.

A hidden screen, and it's by one of my favourite groups too!

Yeah, this demo has style by the bucket load!!

No megademo is worth its salt without a cool reset screen :)

SpaceWar: The Next Generation

SpaceWar!

Steve Russell developed this unique space-combat video game in (wait for it) 1962. Two players control spaceships, nicknamed "the needle" and "the wedge," engaged in a dogfight while manoeuvring within the gravitational pull of a central star. Sounds simple. It is, but it was groundbreaking back then.

Fast-forward thirty years, and along comes Howard Jones (no, not that Howard Jones, so don’t expect any pop/synth music), who decided that the Atari ST definitely deserved a slice of this historic action. His 1992 remake keeps the soul of the original while sprinkling in some extra ST magic. And if you’re lucky enough to have an STe, you even get enhanced DMA sound effects to really crank up the atmosphere.

The gameplay is dead simple: two ships, one star, and a cargo hold of torpedoes. The needle/wedge is replaced with something that looks kinda like Grav, but the game itself remains the same. You’re locked in a frantic tug-of-war with gravity, constantly fighting against the star’s relentless pull while trying to line up your shots. Matches are fast and chaotic, with extra options to tweak gravity, add ship functions, and more.

Visually, it's fairly minimal, but also excellent because the gravitational field doesn’t just drag your ship around – it bends pixels in a way that feels almost T2K hypnotic. As for the audio, the STe’s DMA is brilliant with loads of crunchy shots/blasts/death, but even on a regular ST, the sound effects are great.

SpaceWar honours the original very well, and for such a simple idea, it’s incredibly addictive!

• Atarimania has the download, including the documentation.
• Check out YouTube if you're wondering what a game from 1962 looked like.
• SpaceWar proudly blasts its way into the Enhanced Games list.

Tinker with the game, bounce mode is fun, but I preferred wrap.

Red is trying to catch up, but is getting a bit too close to the star.

Death to all blues!

Woo, getting a bit too close there!

Weeeee, we love to fly!

Death!

Ultima IV

And so it begins...

I've been lucky the last few years and enjoyed a number of great games like Cosmos Chronicles, Times of Lore, Shadow Sorcerer, Questron II, Phantasie, and more (but not Knightmare!). So, I went on the lookout for something new (to me), and Ultima IV struck a chord, as it's not something that's been played before. Plus, the storyline was very different, and I fancied a game that would last for the long term.

This won't be a walkthrough or anything silly like that; I simply wanted to enjoy the journey. So, I'm approaching Ultima IV as I would have done back in 1988: armed with the original map (albeit an online copy - thanks AL), my notebook, and a willingness to get muddled and lost. I'll be looking forward to learning how Britannia works, as I'm completely new to it. However, only as I write this am I wondering why I'm not beginning with the first game (well, Ultima II for the ST). Yep, I'm just very awkward.

So what is the storyline? Well, this was quite a shocking moment, as there doesn't seem to be a big bad baddie to slay - or at least die trying. Nope, Ultima IV is set after the defeat of Exodus (from the third game). Peace has returned to Britannia, but I fear that Lord British isn't totally happy, as monsters still roam the land and darkness resides in people's hearts (as always). So, we have been summoned to become a good example for all, to prove ourselves worthy of a far greater title. You guessed it, that Avatar malarky.

I gotta admit, I was shocked by this alternative storyline objective. Britannia isn't saved by the clang of swords, but by the spirit; our goal is to master the Eight Virtues through exploration and wisdom. Yikes, this journey kinda worries this old melee warrior, but it also appears quite compelling, too. I'm all in!

The legendary opening sequence of Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar...

Day one...

So, I dug out PP's version of Ultima IV, as it supports installation on the hard drive and saves don't require a floppy. It's brilliant and highly recommended over any cracked menu disk. My first few hours have been a mixture of wonder, excitement and complete bewilderment. The interface is straightforward enough, presenting Britannia from an overhead perspective, while the controls remind me a little of Questron II. Initially, I thought the command-driven approach was a bit over the top, but that was simply me being a knob. Need to open a door? Press O. Ready a weapon? Press R. Wanna attack something? Press A. /etc/etc...

Emerging from the castle, I found myself outside in the fresh air after finally figuring out how to escape using ladders and doors. I went for a wander and immediately loved the environment and the way enemies appeared rather than materialising out of thin air. This makes Britannia feel more realistic, like a living place rather than a collection of random encounters. Exploration is a cinch and enjoyable, but I stayed close to his castle because I didn't fully understand the fundamentals of survival. i.e., health, food, recovery, and so on. Plus, I could see a skeleton getting closer. What should I do? Run back inside or stand and fight?

Of course, I fought! And this part of the game reminded me a lot of Cosmos Chronicles (or should that be the other way around, lol). Of course, fights are turn-based, but the action flows quickly enough that encounters feel exciting as you scurry to ready a weapon. These battles are superbly thought out and a lot of fun - especially as the music changes, which enhances the atmosphere. More so with a Roland MT-32!!

At this moment, I'm staying close to the safety of Castle Britannia and a town called Britain (great names). I don't wish to travel far in case I get poisoned by a snake, jumped on by monsters when camping, run out of food, and so on. I need to grind, earn some XP and get more gold to afford supplies such as food, weaponry, armour, and so on. I expect this grind will last a while before I feel comfortable. Also, I should consider forming a party, as it's lonely atm. Yep, I haven't even scratched a millimetre off its surface.

I have no plans for future updates, but you never know. Follow my progress on X (Twitter) by using this tagged link. I'm going to enjoy this adventure! Hey, are there any fans out there? Silly question, right?

Oh, and I'm playing using real hardware, so there are no nice screenshots coming...

Yep, I recently acquired a Roland MT-32. Beautiful music!

So I'm still quite new here. Hence, heading out into the dangerous world alone.

Gotta love the characters you meet. I need a spicy woman!

A little later on, someone was selling a horse. So, I bought it. No idea why!