Enhanced games - part 3

Land of Enhancement

The previous Atari STe compilations went well, so I thought we needed a third stab at this. If you're curious, the first two can be viewed here(1) and here(2). Let’s crack on and see which games I've picked…

Aerial Kombat was released in 1995 by Colin Polonowski and is a two-player head-to-head duel. It puts each player in the cockpit of a World War I biplane for frantic dogfights across scrolling battlefields. That can be changed to cars or choppers. The idea is to outwit and outgun your opponent - with DMA sound effects! It's a shame there's no support for player vs computer, but if you have a willing mate, then this game rocks! The download is available at Atarimania.

Candyman is a PacMan-style maze-chaser released in 1996 by Mika Poikonen where we zip around a labyrinth scoffing sweets while being chased from an “evil tooth-fairy,”. Just try and clear the levels before she nabs you. The Blitter is (umm) being used, and you can enjoy a repeating loop of a 2 Unlimited song! If you can stand that tune, then Candyman is actually a great game. That tooth fairy chases well, I enjoyed this! The download is available at Atarimania.

Final Fight was released in 1991 by US Gold, and immediately sets the bar high by acknowledging its running on enhanced hardware. Well, stop right there because that doesn't mean Blitter, hardware scrolling, or DMA audio. No, they just use the extended palette and feature extra on-screen colours. Sure, it looks better than when running on the STf, but it's so disappointing to be tricked like that. The game takes place in the crime-ridden streets of Metro City, where the mayor’s daughter has been kidnapped by the Mad Gear gang. We take control of one of three heroes to battle through waves of gang members and bosses to rescue her. You know the sort, and the gameplay follows the usual side-scrolling beat ’em up formula, with plenty of punching, kicking, and weapon-grabbing as you face wave after wave of street punks and gang bosses. Not the best beat'em up, but certainly nothing like the dreaded Street Fighter. Downloads are available from Atari Legend.

Revenge of the Mutant Camels was released by Jeff Minter for a few different specs of "ST", but I'm playing the 1MB STe version with all the crazy DMA audio! This game is a gloriously bizarre side-scrolling shooter where you ride a mutant camel and blast your way through waves of silly enemies. Along the way, you grab power-ups ranging from apples to spliffs, with weapon upgrades adding to the chaos. The result is pure Minter madness: stupid, psychedelic, and utterly unlike anything else. Make sure you grab the right version from these listed on Atarimania.

Warriors of Light is a first-person dungeon-crawler by Jon S. Stock and Tom Walker. We are a Warrior of Light, one of the last monk-warriors combining magic and combat skills. Your mission is to storm the fortress of the exiled Gorgon sorceress Haephaestia, avenge your fallen comrades, and uncover the dark reasons behind her devastating attack. Sadly, I don't think this was ever fully completed, but I cannot verify that as I've stopped using most social media. Very promising game, I hope it gets finished. The download (w/ source code) is available at Atarimania.

That was quite a mix of incredibly different games, but you cannot deny that those Mutant Camels come out as winners. I can also see the potential of Warriors of Light, and Candyman is excellent too. As before, compiling this list was fun, and all titles have been added to our ever-growing Enhanced Games page.

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

Hunt down your mate - in a car - and kill him!

Surprisingly, a belting game of chase, but ... ugh ... that repetitive audio!

Could have been so much better with a little help from the Blitter...

Crazy, surreal, insane, trippy, absurd, and we all love it!!

Possibly too much for STOS to handle? Who knows, I just hope it gets finished!

4K Pacman

4KB Legacy

When Pac-Man isn't actually Pac-Man? But it's only 4Kb in size, so you'd be an idiot to demand more. 4k Pacman was released in 1995 by The Chaos Warriors and programmed by Edge, possibly around 1995 (my estimate). You know, I remember first seeing this "game" and wasn't too impressed, so I guess I was that idiot(!).

Use the cursor keys, not a joystick, to control our little Pac-Man. They are very sensitive, and you (ahem) may find real hardware is better. You get three lives, and hitting the space bar quits to the desktop. From the start, you will see how the ghosts try to get you. The AI is more like H-Mec than Pac-Man because the ghosts don't wander; instead, they blindly mirror your XY position. It's best to try to trap the ghosts rather than having them free to chase, but don't worry too much because it's really tough and (IMHO) quite impossible.

What a curious oddity, a tiny game compressed into the size of something a Vic-20 would run. An incredible achievement, and it might be worthwhile checking out the source. A programmer could easily alter the ghost AI and more. However, that guy isn't me, so I'll shut up and hope someone takes a stab at it.

• The game and source are included in the download via Atarimania and Demozoo.
• Of course, because 4K Pacman uses the Blitter, it goes straight into this list of Enhanced Games!

You've no idea how impressed I was with my performance here!!

This is the best I could do. Can you beat me?

Collection Complete!

ARC Legends Assembled

After a few years had passed, Atari figured out that games sell and wanted to get in on the action properly with a new gaming label of their own. Thirteen games were released over a short period around 1989/1990. There were some crackers, but some I'm unsure about (atm). Which is weird coming from Atari themselves, especially when you consider the lack of support for their enhanced computer - the Atari STe.

Well, at long last, after years of hunting and saving the pennies, I’ve finally done it - my Atari ARC collection is complete! Every last one of their games is now sitting proudly on my shelf. I can’t even put my finger on why I’m so fond of ARC, but there’s just something about them that’s always drawn me in. They released a variety of games across different genres, ranging from serious war games to jolly platformers.

Let's take a stroll through ARC’s impressive library. Yes, I said impressive and sticking to that...

• Defender II. Where do I begin with this outstanding blaster? Well, regular visitors will remember that I reviewed it with a well-deserved rating of AtariCrypt Smash!! You should click this link and check it out right away. One of the best shooters for the Atari ST. Miss this at your peril!!
• Pyramax. This blends action and puzzle in a top-down ascent, where you climb a six-level pyramid in pursuit of the Crystal of Thaal, a relic of a lost civilisation. It offers straightforward yet tough gameplay: no flashy effects, just explore and shoot everything. Well, that's my initial impression!
• Enterprise. This is a top-down space shooter that puts you at the helm of a spacecraft defending your base while bombing enemy installations. Perhaps not as polished as more prominent ARC titles, but its rough edges were acknowledged playfully via a hidden developer message that reads, when reversed, “Enterprise is rubbish”. Yikes, imagine spending money only to discover that!!
• Chronicles of Omega. This is the only game in their catalogue to feature STe support, which is kinda odd when you think about it. Anyhow, I remember playing this and having to push through the pain barrier because of the fluffy controls design. The firing mechanics are pretty lame, but once I got used to that, I found myself enjoying this platformer a bunch. However, I'm still at odds with it because the STe may have DMA audio and silky smooth 50fps scrolling, but its older brother has more on-screen colours and the chip music is far better than a stodgy tracker tune. Swings and roundabouts, uh? Regardless, check out my review, as I think this game will surprise you.
• Star Breaker. This is a smooth-scroller, not (ahem) unlike other games we've played. A horizontally-scrolling shooter where we pilot a spaceship, battle waves of enemy fighters, and feel the need to kill everything. New to me, and one of those shooters I need to make time for soon!
• Photon Storm. This is a rarity, and was the game that (finally) completed my ARC collection. It's a mouse-controlled top-down shooter by legend, Jeff Minter. Players pilot a nimble craft, collecting plutonium pods while blasting frenzied alien enemies, with dual controls letting you fire and thrust in separate directions for dynamic movement. Come on, play this beauty now.
• Hellraider. A top-down sci-fi shooter where you command the mothership HMS Raider. Our role is to pilot one of four smaller escort fighters called Orbitals to fend off attacks from hostile ships, turrets, and mines. If you lose all Orbitals, you gain direct control of the lumbering Raider, which is tougher but far less manoeuvrable. Looks nice, but I need to practice with this a lot more...
• 9 Lives. This is the only other platformer released by ARC, but most people have bad memories of it. However, its poor reputation isn't deserved. Sure, the giant sprites look brilliant, but they were a stupid idea as they're too big for the ST's screen. It's this clumsy implementation that doesn't work very well, but the game has many endearing properties. It's clunky, but fun, and nowhere near as bad as people say, so check out my mini review before taking it for a playtest.
• Badlands Pete. The game that has everything a guy desires - we're a cowboy, we have a gun, we're in a western, and there are pies, beers, and girls. How can you mess up that winning combination? Well, the graphics are uniquely superb and perfectly depict a town on the Frontier. However, the game isn't fun to play as the NPCs are on steroids and constantly out to get you!! So it's a game of dodge, run, hide, and death! Argh, why ARC? WHY?? Check out my review, if you dare!
• Prince. A real-time strategic war game where two rival princes compete for territorial dominance through military manoeuvres. War takes place on a procedurally generated island where we unleash our squads via commands - scout, attack, and more. From what little I've played, this is a rewarding game that demands patience, determination, and a few spare hours!
• Gettysburg/Armada/Borodino. I'm bundling these three together because I think it's sneaky to release the same game with a different theme and graphics. Yes, I'm being facetious because all three are genuinely mind-blowing tactical war games. So, which one takes your fancy...
• Gettysburg – Command Union or Confederate forces in the pivotal 1863 battle, manoeuvring troops and artillery to seize key positions and decide the fate of the American Civil War.
• Armada – Relive the 1588 naval campaign as England or Spain, directing fleets across the Channel to outmanoeuvre and outgun your opponent in a bid for maritime supremacy. I reviewed Armada, and it shocked me - never have I played a game that took me so long to get into (and write about). The learning curve is legendary because you're thrown in at the deep end, without a paddle. But it's rewarding, and I would describe it as unmissable. So, don't be daft and click that link - I worked hard writing it, lol!!
• Borodino – Take charge of French or Russian armies in Napoleon’s bloody 1812 confrontation, using strategic troop movements and artillery barrages to break enemy lines and claim the battlefield. If the other two didn't appeal, then this surely will.

CryptO'pinion

ARC’s line-up might not have been perfect, but it was wonderfully varied with inventive shooters like Photon Storm, Star Breaker, and Hellraider, to quirky action-puzzle hybrids such as Pyramax and Enterprise. Alongside these came their more serious offerings with historical war games like Gettysburg, Armada, and Borodino, not to mention the multiplayer strategy challenge of Prince (I can't wait to play this one properly).

So, what did you think of my ARC hoard? Any favourites here, or are there any games that you hate with a vengeance? I'm sure there is, so let me know in the comments below. Every game can be downloaded for floppy and hard drive over at these great ST websites: Atarimania, Atari Legend, and 8BitChip.

Stay ARC... STay Atari.

🤭

Defender II is a challenging joy to play! Amazing game.

Pyramax is a top/down shooter, and I'm looking forward to playing more.

Must-read-the-manual for this 3D space shooter!

Chronicles of Omega - the only game for both the Atari ST and Atari STe.

Star Breaker is one smooth shooter!

Photon Storm, one of the zaniest ST games to play. It's brilliant!!

Hellraider is tough, so you gotta master the quirky controls.

9 Lives is great, but the sprites are way too big.

Wanna be John Wayne? Better off just buying the outfit instead...

Armada is truly terrifying! To learn and master, that is.

Prince adopts a new approach to war games. Gonna enjoy playing this one.

Ignore my camera (and editing skills), these are my 13 Atari ST ARC games!!

Archipelagos

Killer trees?

Astral Software's Archipelagos was developed in 1989 by (for me) a coding legend, Paul Carruthers (the man behind Resolution 101 and Quadralien). This is a surreal game that doesn't look, sound, or play like anything else, and still feels unique even today. You’re dropped into a strange, dreamlike world of floating islands, where your job is to smash eggs, topple an obelisk, and try not to get eaten alive by mutant trees.

Archipelagos is a first-person puzzler within hundreds of procedurally generated islands. Each map has egg-like stones and an obelisk. Smash all the stones, and you trigger a countdown, forcing you to leg it to the obelisk before the land collapses around you. To get there, harvest energy to build bridges and cleanse corrupted tiles, all while corkscrew trees creep closer, spreading their taint and making life miserable. It’s all about planning your route, staying one step ahead, and then surviving the panic of the endgame dash.

The islands were once part of a paradise world that pesky humans have probably ruined. So, Mother Nature hit back hard - mutating trees into some kind of twisted lifeform like something from an old 60s horror movie. This also left the land shattered into chunks, drifting in a toxic void. Yeah, this place sounds great, eh? Well, that’s where we come in as a "restorer" tasked with cleansing the islands by destroying corrupted stones(?) and toppling the obelisks that anchor the blight. Just don't get eaten by the monstrous wildlife.

This is one weird game - I mean, it's an FPS without a shotgun! However, it is uniquely different in terms of hypnotic aesthetics, most certainly unlike anything else I can remember playing. It's not easy, and occasionally cruel, but the mix of exploration and frantic strategy is exciting. So, smash those obelisks - only another ten thousand to go! This is one of the most captivating games you could play. And you should.

• There is a range of menu disks at Atari Legend for those wanting the floppies.
• The installable game for the hard drive is available at 8BitChip.
• Atarimania has access to a nifty cheat and loads of magazine ratings.

Alien Busters 4

What happened to the first three?

Back in 1996, Daniel Fielding released Alien Busters 4, a multiplayer shooter with one simple rule: kill your mates before they kill you. The action takes place in an arena where up to five players can jump in and shoot the living daylights out of each other. Hey, I remember the carnage of Death Chase, so this should be great!

Gameplay is simple: move your man with a joystick or keyboard, grab whatever weapons appear, and blast anything that moves until it explodes in a shower of blood and dismembered body parts. Pistols provide endless ammo, but the fun comes when you grab something better: machine guns, lasers, and rocket launchers. Even the scenery isn’t safe: trees get shredded, rockets blast rocks into smithereens, and barrels love triggering chain reactions. Rounds are fast and furious, and only end when every other player is brown bread.

While the game technically supports up to five players, you’ll probably need a parallel port adapter once you’ve got more than two joysticks already attached. I haven’t fully tested that, but just imagine the glorious chaos around an ST with a full party of eager shooters. If you’re a sad, lonely gamer, then simply hit keys 1-5 on the player select screen and your Atari ST will happily pretend to be your murderous mates.

Alien Busters 4 is all about gathering your friends around the computer for a riotous time. It’s a pixelated party full of guns, gore, and hilarious carnage - made even sweeter by the superb DMA samples on the STe. What an absolutely excellent multiplayer with chaotic, quick-fire, addictive carnage. I absolutely love it!

• Gather your mates and grab the download from Atarimania.
• Seeing as this game is enhanced, it gets instantly added to the STe gaming list.
• While you're here, check out another outstanding game by Daniel - Death Chase.
• If you enjoyed duelling against mates, then there are more here.

Have some of my rocket pie...

...Yeah, that little man didn't stand a chance!

Yep, it's always the same rule. Use real hardware for best results!!
Emulation won't be good enough. You'll see...