I love finding Atari ST/e demos I've not seen in years and here is one I enjoyed. It's called Van Eijk Collection, developed in 1994 by Van Eijk. A time when most of us had powered off the ST to play Doom...
Anyhow, this is a collection of GFA Basic screens featuring dots, colour cycling, and a familiar tune you will simply adore. The presentation is a little sluggish and a few screens are dated, but there are many that I did enjoy - that morphing is superb. All text is in Polish so don't expect to read anything. Well, unless you're Polish, of course!
This and many other Atari ST videos are on my YouTube Channel.
Credits & download links can be found on Demozoo or AtariMania. Crank up the volume! 🎧
This game is basically an old skool-styled shooter and the idea is to blast many aliens, use power-ups, kill the end-of-level boss, and repeat. These aliens are constantly invading the screen in waves using various attack patterns - and from three sides of the screen. Our spaceship can only fire upwards but can move in all directions rather than being limited to just left/right, ala Space Invaders. It works brilliantly too I might add!
Righto, let's quit the reading for a few screenshots...
Each type of alien is unique and the power-ups will help to recover lost lives and much more!
Sardonic is an arcade-style shooter so I loved it from the start.
Hey, check out that funky mothership!
Interestingly, our Atari ST conversion has a few enhancements = extra power-ups, different enemies and new attacking styles. This is pretty cool and even more so when you remember than this is Jose's first Atari release!! Hold onto your hat because he's also implemented support for both ST models making use of the Blitter and the STe's hardware scrolling = ultra-smooth 50fps action!
Boy, is this a tough game? At first, I didn't last long and it took a few more attempts before I came close to reaching the first boss! The action feels familiar but it isn't some cheap clone of Space Invaders, Phoenix or even Galaga, but instead feels more like a game of dodgeball - in space! You can only fire a couple of shots at once and the enemy will come at you using some seriously wacky patterns so be prepared to battle hard.
Blasting five of these blighters into smithereens will result in a random bonus for speed, armour, bombs and so on. This will help newcomers and thus I eventually got into the flow and reached the fourth guardian - which you can see in my video recording. Hint: if I was you, I'd save all those bombs for these bosses!
Wimps need not apply. Hey, come back!!! Here are some more screenshots...
After attacking from all directions, their boss shows up for some gun love!
I hate Stealth ships, they're so tough to destroy.
...and then their Mummy Stealth turned up to the fight!
16-Bit Aesthetics?
Well, no. There's not much to see beyond a black background populated with a few stars, so quite disappointing. The enemy sprites make up for that with nice colours and brisk movement and I'm talking 50fps which is gloriously smooth. Love it, I just wish the background had "more" to it other than a few stars.
The title screen is great with funky chiptune music but it's less impressive afterwards. The in-game sound effects are insufficient with the YM chip having only three uses: firing, pickup, and explosions. That is it! I personally think more could have been done to dazzle? Especially, for the Atari STe using DMA samples.
It's hardly another Xenon II in terms of aesthetics but who cares about that...
Can you believe this? I made it to level four WooHoo!!
Until the boss turned up and whooped me...sigh!
So cruel... LOL
The CryptO'pinion?
Sardonic is a good shooter alright. I love how the aliens attack in many different formations and the frequency of power-ups is excellent. It's quite repetitive, but this is a fun arcade blaster and addictive. It's impressive to think that one guy was behind all the development and also supported Atari STe graphical hardware.
A slick shooter and something new that I have really enjoyed. So go and grab Sardonic now!!
Zynaps is a Nemesis-Esque shoot 'em up that spookily reminds me of another Hewson title, Slayer. We pilot the Scorpion Mk1 Fighter through the heavens in search of a secret alien base. Along the way, are hoards of alien scumbag - some in ships, or a variety of ground-based defences, and even motherships. Very original, right?
Update: you know, to this day I have never played Slayer. How odd is that!
Hewson released Zynaps in 1988 and it was developed by Howard Ball of Microwish Software who was responsible for Ikari Warriors, Victory Road, Slayer and 5th Gear. I've always felt this was a game coded by someone who knew the Atari ST hardware very well but Howard only ever made this shooter and nothing more. At least it's quality!
Hey, why aren't you watching the video above? Ah well, perhaps just a couple of screenshots instead then...
The first level is cool but it isn't long before a guardian appears!
That thing bounces around the screen like an old-school demo!
Shoot! Kill! Shoot some more!!
Our Scorpion spaceship is pretty snazzy and comes with different levels of propulsion along with various weapon upgrades. However, we do start off quite limited with sluggish movements and firing - so shoot that first wave of bad guys to collect their loot for speed-up. Then look to improve lasers or even bombs and missiles. It's simple - pimp your ship!
Activating these power-ups is a little strange. When a group of baddies snuffs it, they leave behind a pod. Collecting that changes the power-up being displayed in the status bar. So when something appears that you like the look of - hold down the fire button during the next pick-up to be granted permission to use it. To be fair, this is a bit weird and rather naff - especially during the heat of battle. Surely this could have been designed much better?
The enemies attack in predictable formations, which kinda reminded me of Wizball oddly enough. At first, firing accuracy is difficult so hitting the bad guys feels a lot harder than it should be. This learning curve I found to be massive - it took a great number of attempts before I started to destroy an entire wave and then begin collecting the pods!
Sigh, that's annoying, isn't it? Well, let's cheer ourselves up and see some more screenshots...
Woo! What's happened to the landscape backgrounds on the next level?
Getting past those asteroids is tough but now it's a boss fight and he's a bit weird...
Practice makes perfect!
Most levels take you through beautiful environments whereas others might take you into an asteroid field. No matter where you are, watch out because the slightest collision loses a life which is easily done too. This is made worse by ultra-cramped areas thanks to the bulk of that scenery (and the status bar). Fly like Buck Rogers... or die.
Eventually, you will reach an end-of-level boss and most are really tough so it's doubtful you will see many victories on your first go! The first boss hops around the screen like a sprite from an old skool-styled demo. Rarely did I see the end of the second level (without using a trainer) but, YMMV. Just don't give up, you wimp and keep playing!!
Wimps only ever see the first level so practice and you might see more! Screenshot time...
Things get freaking on level 3 but it's a good kind of freaky :-)
Well, except for the boss(es). Very lame!
Graphics
Zynaps is a gorgeous shoot 'em up, it really is. Sure, I know games like Xenon 2, Magic Boy, Gods, Deathbringer, and others blow it out of the water but, this old shooter (from 1988) holds its own thanks to the efforts of Pete Lyon!! The title screen is wonderful - pure art - and many of the levels feature a Menacing array of beautiful environments.
But that's not all, the sprites move fast and very smoothly following those incredibly difficult flight patterns. But what about the scrolling? Programmers without talent tell us the ST cannot scroll. Well, don't worry because it's nigh-on perfect and very smooth so feels just dandy during gameplay. Yep, this is another quality Hewson product.
For me, Hewson where a company that was always consistent without resorted to lame ports...
Things get a little Menacing for the fourth level.
It looks stunning - if deadly. I never beat it...
Sounds
Zynaps theme tune is outstanding thanks to the talent of one of my favourite musicians, Dave Rogers: a man responsible for many of my ZX Spectrum memories, not to mention ST beauties like Ranarama and Cybernoid.
Okay, the sound effects might pale in comparison to the music but they're still excellent and offer an arcade-like style which I really admire. I love that sharp "zing-zing" when you shoot, the crunchy death effect, and how you are mocked when it's game over. Like the visuals, I think that a lot of love went into the audio which is brilliant.
Yep, the audio proves what the Atari ST can sound like. Wanna hear it...
The Crypto'pinion
Zynaps is one of those games which has it all but, many give up after a few goes because of its learning curve. The action is relentless so you're always on the edge of your seat wondering what's coming next. The method of using power-ups might be flawed but these are essential to enhance the Scorpion with better firepower and manoeuvrability.
Hewson rarely disappoints and Zynaps is yet another corker from their incredible library. Sure, I've moaned about a few things but nothing is perfect. I forgive it because of its "Can-I-have-one-more-go". Very addictive!! What an extraordinary shoot 'em up and it's a great feeling to end my Super Pack series on a high. You need to play this game.
