Time Bandit

HiSToric gaming!

Microdeal released Time Bandit in 1985, ranking 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, my first impressions weren't good, as I felt this was a cheap Gauntlet ripoff. I continued to play until my sanity returned.

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

Time Bandit is an isometric arcade adventure where we play as a roguish thief hopping through different eras of time in search of valuable artefacts. We begin in The Timegates, a place that permits access to the many strange worlds. Each one is a compact, monster-infested, trap-filled place where the objective is simple: grab the loot, avoid or outwit the enemies, and make it to the exit alive. Simple stuff, right?

These different words help make this game weird, as they range from ancient Egypt to a bomb-making factory and other surprises - like Pac-Man land. They have their own style and objectives with gameplay reminiscent of Gauntlet. This is quite unique, blending genres: primarily, it's an action-adventure, but it incorporates puzzle-solving elements and even short text-adventure segments depending on the world we are exploring.

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 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.

Time Bandit is a cracker with interesting levels to plunder that offer a unique charm. It might look like Gauntlet, which it predates, but it's so much more!! Additionally, each world is very different, with such a huge variety of gameplay that increases in difficulty with each attempt. No other similar game comes close to having so many styles, yet it keeps its own uniqueness to become a true Atari ST classic you shouldn't miss.

Yes, I said all that, and (shockingly) for a 1985 game, too!! One of the best Atari ST games.

• Budding time lords should download this game for floppy or your hard disk!!

- 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 so 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.

Laserball 2015

Wear your thinking head, Worzel

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

To complete a level, the 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 toward distinct directions. These can be physically moved in all four directions - and move continuously until blocked by an object or wall.

This first appears simple in nature, but turns out to be furiously challenging. If you've ever played Deflektor and the like, you will immediately grasp the basic concept. There are many screens of increasing difficulty, each featuring a laser gun that shoots a straight beam of light. So, it's paramount to stop and think.

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!

Your thinking determines where to position the mirrors to perfectly align the light beam - so it can blast that red blob! However, doing so proves a LOT harder than you might imagine at first, 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 must be activated with 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 felt rushed the player and somewhat spoiled the fun. So, I would like to thank Thomas for implementing a feature to disable it!! 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 is easy? Let's take a look at the next screenshot to shut you up...

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

Aesthetics?

Visually, this is a nice-looking one thanks to its clean, clear display style that suits the theme. Each screen is free of unnecessary clutter, whilst also featuring an appealing, youthful style that I really admire. Sadly, there aren't many sound effects (ahem) beyond the few key clicks and funny jingles. That doesn't matter in the slightest because Laserball features charming chip music by xFalcon that suits the game perfectly.

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

Now things have changed once again with new mechanics I couldn't grasp at first. Killer game!!

The CryptO'pinion?

I've learned many things about myself playing Laserball, as a gamer and as a person. Like my patience, or rather lack of it!! I can spend so much time on any level, constantly replaying it, only to be utterly flabbergasted by what is often a simple solution I failed to work out. Argh, it's so infuriating!!

This is a fascinating puzzler too, and 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. That's saying something when you consider how many awesome puzzlers are already out for the Atari ST!!

Download Laserball for floppy & hard drive

   
Update: check this out - a brand new AtariCrypt level!!!

Thank you, Thomas, for making this :-)