Sam In Monster's Garden

The monsters are coming!

Every so often I find some kind of silly software that makes me smile for no peculiar reason. It doesn't have to be a game, just look at the Steve or BoinkSave articles. That's what I love about the Atari ST, the history is immense but can also be surprisingly frivolous. Well, here is a game that made me grin like the Cheshire Cat so I had to play it.

Sam in Monster's Garden was released in 1995 for the Atari STe by Sebald Loic [aka Sam23]. That's right, STfm owners should leave, because this game supports the Blitter, extra colours, and DMA. Now that you're expecting big things? Well, these images show that it's similar to Dig Dug with its screen laid out like a maze with several items to collect.

Remember, this is public domain! Okay? Right, let's check out a couple of screenshots...

He smiles but still looks rather worried. Or drunk? Yes, drunk, because of that walk!!

The yellow monsters are pretty dumb but often massive in number.

Dig Dugging through the garden

Sam in Monster's Garden is a simple game. Sure, it's a ripoff but I like it. Walk the screen, gathering the various items and, once all are collected, exit to the next level. Dead simple. Well, it would be but for the monsters! After all, we're in their garden so I guess they're not happy about us being there? From what I've seen, there are two monsters:

The yellow ones aimlessly wander whereas the purple ones come crashing in and can carve their own path through the garden. Each will materialise a few seconds after you begin a level, which offers a moment of grace. However, once they start to appear, their numbers are plentiful and they spawn fast and regularly.

However, there are ways to kill these dreaded beasts. The first is to use the garden's apples. Walking under these loosens the soil and they fall, crushing anything underneath. Another way is to push them Pengo-style. Lastly, we can use a gun that fires one bullet at a time. This bullet bounces around the open areas until it hits a monster (can be recollected).

That's all there is to this bizarre little game; collect the items as quickly as possible and begin the task again on the next level. As you progress, the difficulty increases with more enemies adding to the frantic gameplay. It's a bit mad!!

Hardly original but, it's silly and I'm positive the kids will love it. Let's check out some more screenshots...

I was panicking here as I had one last fruit to collect and these monsters are fast!

As you can see, they appear in droves but are as stupid as they are quick.

Aesthetics

Each level looks much the same; a basic green background with different places for the apples and other collectables. Sure, it's (umm) based on Dig Dug but everything is overly large thus creating a rather cluttered or claustrophobic feel later on. Apparently, the Blitter is used (for the sprites?) and the extra colours are displayed. Can you see 'em?

The sprites are the strongest aspect of the visuals with the monsters a quirky bunch with decent animation. Sam wobble-walks like Frankenstein's Monster and his dying animation is superb. Touch a monster and you'll see his body break up and fall to the ground. Fantastic!! Whether all this was Sebald's intention I don't know but, I love it.

The audio is very good with a boppin' chiptune playing in the background. The music is accompanied by a few DMA sound effects. It's hardly Death Chase for quality or quantity but good to have. Zero complaints here.

Hopefully, you've remembered this isn't a commercial game and are still here? If so, let's see more screenshots...

Broken body and dead. Reaching level 25 was my personal best.

In the following game, I bettered that to reach level 27. Sadly, I never beat this achievement lol

CryptO'pinion

If you have spare time to play something different from the norm, Sam In Monster's Garden is oddly great fun!! The gameplay has been kept simple, and I liked that, just collect the items, run around panicking, don't get caught, and repeat.

The first few levels are ridiculously easy and can be completed before any monsters appear. That grace period is most welcome later on when the action is frantic. However, it's these monsters that make and break the gameplay: 1) there are too many for a cramped screen. 2) there is some rather suspect collision detection that I fell victim to. 3) they can spawn where you are standing. I wish Sebald had tweaked these basic annoyances that spoiled what might have been.

I'd rate this around 55% as it could/should have been much better. However, I appreciated having something different to play and I'm positive your children will enjoy this for all its pointless mayhem. What do you think? Go on, download it and let me know in the comments below. I might then consider playing Sebald's other game, Sam In Monster's Land...