Persifal

Jump. Fall. Splat! Swear!! Repeat.

This is one of those games I’d honestly never heard of before, yet somehow I stumbled across it purely by chance. And I'm so glad I did. When I first booted it up, I expected it to be horse doodoo, but... it isn't. It's actually a very, very good platformer from 1989 by Oliver Merklinghaus and Markus Reiser. Interestingly, I'm wondering if the name Persifal is possibly a twist on Parsifal, the medieval knight?

We play as Persifal, a hapless court jester on a mission through a bizarre world of wacky rooms packed with the expected dangers - like treacherous swamps, fire, and deadly spikes. The basic idea is to run through the screens, looking for five keys to unlock the exit to the next level. It’s clear where the inspiration comes from - this is a platformer with a familiar vibe that will appeal to fans of Giana Sisters, Terry’s Big Adventure, and the like. The joystick controls are light and responsive, with that trademark floaty feel thanks to gravity and inertia. We can walk left and right, and jumping gets extra height if you hold the stick a bit longer.

There are a LOT of power-ups to collect, and most will do something pointless like increasing your score. Others are essential and add extra time to the clock (yes, there's a timer!). However, never have I known a game with so many near-duplicate pick-ups that more or less do the same thing. There are lots of extra points/time, which is bizarre. Thankfully, there are a few more that provide either something helpful or annoying:

• Spell out "BONUS" to earn an extra life.
• Fire extinguishers help with flames (surprise!).
• Freeze enemies for a breather. (can also hit spacebar)
• Bombs wipe out everything on screen (Defender-style).
• Some pickups reverse your controls. Argh!!
• Others mess with gravity - in a bad way.

Forget the cheesy graphics and ripoff ideas; what really won me over was the level design. It’s simple stuff, but each screen is cleverly laid out and fun to explore. Nothing feels unfair, and there’s a good mix of challenge without (too) much frustration. Heck, it even supports two players (not at the same time) and appears to utilise the Blitter on machines like the Atari STe (although it feels the same when played on my Blitter-less STM. YMMV). Sadly, I don’t have a trained version, so I only made it to the second level before it was (ugh) Game Over. If anyone out there has a cracked version with infinite lives - please get in touch!

I would give Persifal a solid 75%, maybe more if I weren’t so utterly useless with my crabby joystick. Seriously, this is one of the most surprisingly enjoyable (PD) ST platformers I've played in ages. Grab the download from Atarimania, after you've viewed these screenshots, of course. You won't regret it.

• Interested in more 'PD' platformers? Then click right here, big boy!
• Since it's a Friday, here are a bunch of great games to play over the weekend.
• And there are loads more sections listed down the right... check 'em out!!

Ohh, I wonder what that heavy-looking axe does?

Possibly the hardest screen of all if you want that key. Watch out for spikes!

See that bomb? You might wanna use it; otherwise, this screen is impossible!

Only one enemy bounces from left to right, but it's still tough!

This is a seriously hard room. A snail is guarding that key!

Yep, I've beaten the first stage and am rewarded for my efforts.

I reached the second stage, but died after 3/4 rooms. Can you beat my high score?

Titan

Bouncing to Glory

Titan is a clever twist of the Breakout formula released in 1989 by Titus. Use the ball to blast away the bricks, but instead of a paddle moving horizontally at the bottom of the screen, we are now viewing the action overhead. So, rather than controlling this paddle independently from the blocks, in a separate part of the screen, we're within a scrollable arena twice the size of your typical screen (scrolls in all four directions).

We navigate a block around the screen (across both X/Y axes) using the mouse or joystick (press F2 during the game for the much-superior mouse). The walls, obstacles, and blocks are around us - rather than distantly placed. This also means the ball isn't knocked out of play, and will bounce around the screen waiting for your help to redirect it to the location of the remaining blocks. The goal is the same - break every block to win. Later levels have power-ups and enemies, but I've played the first three levels and didn't see 'em!!

At first glance, Titan looks plain, but clear and uncluttered, making it easy to keep track of the ball. And if the tone doesn't suit, hit F4 and cycle through a variety of alternative palettes. Where Titan really struts its stuff is in the scrolling, which is buttery-smooth on either computer: older STf models have a slightly smaller playfield thanks to a chunky (but excellent) status panel, while the STe goes full show-off with its hardware scrolling. Either way, everything glides along at a rock-solid framerate - yes, on both computers.

The sound effects are rather basic, so brace yourself for a lot of "dink-dink" as the ball pings about the screen like a toolbox during an earthquake. The STe gets DMA music on the title, something I never expected for 1989. Okay, it's not the best quality you'll hear, but I appreciate the effort Titus put into this.

I'm not exactly a huge Breakout fan, but I still quite enjoyed it. Technically, Titus has transformed the game with some interesting mechanics and technical achievements, but sadly, it hasn't fully worked. There is no feeling of skill, as our task is to merely get in the way, so hitting the ball correctly felt like pure luck. That innocent thrill of "just one more go" isn't here, so by the third level, my interest had waned.

Sadly, I'm rating this a disheartening 65%. Am I right? Let me know in the comments below.

• Atari Legend has access to various (floppy) menu disks.
• Installing onto the hard drive is provided by 8BitChip.
• Don't leave without checking out other Enhanced Games for the Atari STe.
• There are better Breakout games listed in this section.

Cool loading screen with DMA music too!

The first level is dead easy. I like "dead easy"!

The second level is a long slog...

The third level is better, and we need to break the blocks so the ball to get through!

Hit F4 anytime you like for a range of alternative palettes!

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.

Power Drift

More Speed, Less CPU Strain

This is an arcade racer I’ve always loathed. I remember playing the ST conversion and instantly taking a dislike to it. Looking back, I reckon it was probably because the game was too ambitious for a 512KB 16-bit computer. I wouldn’t have thought that at the time, of course, but that’s how I translate my old memory.

Now, don’t take this for a review - it’s more of an excuse to add another game to my STe Enhanced section. Yes, AtariCrypt actually has a section dedicated to enhanced games! Bet you didn’t even know that, did you? Well, take a look to the right of any page, and you shall see a link to this list (WIP - loads more to come).

Wait… what? Power Drift is STe enhanced? Well, yes and no. It makes use of the Blitter, which is something within every Atari STe. The standard ST is supported - if you were lucky enough to have one installed - like the Mega ST (I also believe late-model STfms had an empty socket waiting to be filled?). Okay, considering the game was released in 1989, I would have been using my older 520 STfm (without a Blitter). That would certainly explain my long-standing grudge against this racer, which I never bothered loading up again - until now!

Fast forward way too many years, and I’m lucky enough to own both machines (though Hatari’s a decent option). So, booting it up on an ST without a Blitter, and the framerate is awful. Fire it up on an STe, and it’s a different story. The Blitter kicks in - probably handling the sprites - and the framerate feels much better. That might sound dramatic to some of the ST Nutters out there, but trust me, it makes all the difference.

If I'm honest, I only ever expected a small improvement. Something hardly noticeable because I still expected to be unimpressed by a rubbish port. Turns out, I was completely wrong! Power Drift is actually a blast, and I can’t believe I’ve spent decades ignoring it. Sure, it's not the best racer we have because it's far too ambitious for any 16-bit computer. But if you use an Atari STe, download this game and give it a whirl.

It's weird how an old game surprised me like this. Power Drift isn't a serious racer; rather, one to take lightly, but it's fun. Highly recommended and I'm confident to rate it at 75% (50% without Blitter).

• Atari Legend has the best disk - Dodgysoft #75 https://www.atarilegend.com/games/power-drift
• 8BitChip has a version for hard drive https://atari.8bitchip.info/SCRSH/powerdrf.html
• If you’re too lazy to glance right for more enhanced games, just hit this link right now https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/enhanced-games.html

Master those corners, and you have a cracking racer. Well, on an Atari STe!!

Jungle Hero

Take cover fast!

I remember those episodes of classic 80s TV shows like The A-Team, where they would trek through a jungle in some third-world country to rescue hostages held by the cartel. It was so cheesy and totally unrealistic, yet always entertaining. I really miss the 1980s, especially the TV shows and the music!

Anyway, let's not dwell too much because Jungle Hero takes us back to those days. It’s a straightforward game created in STOS for the Atari ST (not the STe) by Jason Holliday in 1989. There are just four screens, but the objective is simple - on the first screen, there’s a sleeping guard. Sneak up and take him out, but watch out for three twigs precariously lying on the ground. Breaking them will alert the guard.

The second and third screens are about ducking and dodging until you get close enough to take the shot. Unfortunately, I failed, so I jumped through and exploited an obvious bug in the code. The final screen’s a breeze - just shoot the boss holding the (invisible) hostage. Then, it's back to the beginning to repeat the whole thing, like an endless nightmare lol. I managed to rescue one prisoner, but that was as far as I got.

I think it's clear by now - this game is an absolute disaster. It’s awful beyond words. The controls are so finicky that even the smallest mistake gets you shot. The basic mechanics make no sense, and you just die over and over again. It's a constant cycle of frustration. Also, the graphics look like something I would have drawn, and the animations are a joke. Honestly, it’s probably the tackiest game I’ve ever played.

So why on God's green earth am I featuring Jungle Hero?

Easy. Because this is a brilliant game. It's ridiculous, makes no sense, and is mind-numbingly pointless. However, I kept on playing. I couldn't stop. Not only that, but the death scenes are incredible, packed with 'gore'. There might only be four badly designed and senseless screens, but trust me, you’ve got to give this a go.

Jungle Hero is so bad it's great! No, it's actually terrible, but I absolutely loved it.

• AtariUpToDate https://www.atariuptodate.de/en/5899/jungle-hero
• Atarimania https://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-jungle-hero_39132.html
• Hang Loose http://ftp.pigwa.net/collections/AtariSTarchive/HangLoose/JungleHero/...

He's fast asleep but too far away. Tread carefully and shoot him when close enough.

You're supposed to be able to duck from his firing, but I found that impossible.

This giant won't even shoot if you hop towards him like Bugs Bunny!

One final shot rescues the hostage. Not them all, just one...

Puffy’s Saga

Cheesy Gauntlet

What do you get if you mix Gauntlet with Pac-Man? If you guessed Puffy’s Saga, well done - you’ve clearly read the title! Released in 1989 by UBI Soft and developed by Claude Sablatou, this adventure sees Puffy and Puffyn trapped in a 20-level dungeon on an alien world. Naturally, it’s packed with monsters lurking around every corner, ready to attack or (hopefully) be avoided. The goal is simple - collect all the power dots and escape.

Each level is designed much like Gauntlet, with a similar look and feel. There are plenty of traps to avoid (if you can), and the monsters are a bizarre bunch - jellyfish, living puddles of water, and relentless eyeballs that will chase when you get too close - and they can’t be killed! The joystick controls are responsive, especially for Puffyn, who moves with a bit more agility (Puffy is stronger with better weapon fire).

You can play as either character, but this isn’t a multiplayer fest like you might first assume, but rather solo. However, there’s a small co-op element in the form of character switching, though this relies on a collectable item called a Magic Gom. Picking one up lets you swap characters, gain better firepower, move faster, and so on. If you’re lucky enough to find more, you can even skip a level or slow down the monsters.

Playing Puffy’s Saga is a fun, familiar experience because it feels like Gauntlet. However, it is more like a chaotic game of chase in a maze (I like how that sounds). There are tons of monsters eager to hunt you down, and every touch drains your energy. That is displayed on the status panel and gradually depletes over time. So you will need to constantly hunt for food to keep going, which detracts from the fun of exploration.

Ultimately, Puffy and Puffyn are essentially playing Pac-Man - grabbing dots, dodging enemies, and rushing to the next level in a bewildering panic. The challenge is with the monsters' sheer number (and strength) because there are way too many to cope with. As a result, your energy drains far too quickly, which was my biggest gripe - it's not balanced and feels restrictive. Because of this, I never made it past a handful of levels.

Okay, let's take a small break and check out a couple of screenshots...

Being chased, losing valuable energy... at least I have a near-pointless map!

Looking remarkably like Gauntlet for the second level, I thought.

Monsters, Power-Ups, and Other Stuff!

The main menu is essentially a help sheet, so take a good look before you start blindly. It showcases the monsters - some, like eyeballs, are invincible and best avoided (if you can), while others can be defeated or lured away. You’ll also spot a list of power-ups, though I only managed to find extra speed and firepower!

Interestingly, the function keys unlock a variety of “hidden” features:

• F1 will pause the game.
• F2 flips between 50/60Hz.
• F3/F4 will slow/increase the speed of the game.
• F5 utilises that empty part of the screen with a map (requires two Magic Goms).
• F6 provides a training mode that whisks you to level 7.

These power-ups require one magic gom to work:

• The HELP key will switch between the two characters.
• F key will give you bad breath as temporary firepower.
• S key provides a speed bonus.
• Pressing H adds 100 points to your health.

These two functions require two magic goms:

• The UNDO key zips you off to the next level.
• And the M key slows the monsters down.

Hang on, what's a Magic Gom? It’s a blue ball - grab them whenever you can. That said, keep an eye out for food as well, as it restores health. It only adds 100 points, which isn’t much, but hey, it’s better than nothing!

Right, I'm hitting the F1 key to pause the chat for a couple of screenshots...

Pods, keys, beef, and magic are what you need. Stay clear of the "monsters"!

On this level, I was struggling with my health and needed food. Use the map!

Aesthetics

The visuals are a bit odd and left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the design might be a bit familiar (cough - cough - totally ripped idea), but everything still looks great. I really liked the use of colour, and the cartoon-like designs of the sprites and items are superb. The scrolling is fairly smooth, though it can slow down a little when a bunch of enemies are chasing after you. The real bummer is that older STs (without a Blitter Chip) suffer from awful push-scrolling, which is horrendous for a "must-scroll" game like this.

Surprisingly, this game supports the Blitter! Yep, the Mega ST and all Atari STe computers will produce real scrolling instead of that push muck!! In all honesty, I was shocked by this discovery as it fees like a hidden backdoor attempt of supporting the Atari STe? Almost a secret!

Perhaps this is the first game to support the Atari STe? Although it appears to have been released before the computer itself. Or rather the first game to support the Mega ST as that had a Blitter from 1987. But it would require TOS 1.04 because the game isn't compatible with TOS 1.02.

My head is about to explode!! Anyhow, kudos to Claude for going that extra mile!!

The audio is delightful, with samples for every action - eat something, and you hear “YUM!”. When low on energy, you’re warned about death. It’s all cute and in a French style we love. However, and I hate to say this, but after a while, it can get a bit grating. I would’ve loved the option for YM effects instead. That said, I’ve got to tip my virtual hat to Claude for going the extra mile with so many silly sound samples.

Could this be one of the first Blitter games? Let's see some screenshots while we ponder over that...

As with Gauntlet, keys unlock the barriers blocking our path.

I just started the level, and immediately I'm surrounded by those damn jellyfish!

The CryptO'pinion

Puffy’s Saga was always going to be seen as a Gauntlet knockoff, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been a decent game. Unfortunately, it falls short due to its cumbersome design. You're always in a panic, worrying about dying due to the lack of health and food pick-ups. The hordes of monsters become nearly impossible to defeat when they all swarm. Factor in the complexity of the power-ups, Magic Goms, and the absence of a default map, and it all becomes too much to handle, making it more frustrating than enjoyable.

Wow, this isn't looking good, is it? Despite my whinging, the core gameplay isn’t bad - running through Gauntlet levels and killing monsters is fun. I liked the speed of Puffyn and the power of Puffy; this spices things up nicely. Plus, like many French games, the aesthetics are lovely - stunning visuals and silly samples.

Puffy's Saga needed more energy and greater rewards from food pickups. Not to mention better use of items/power-ups and dumping that bad idea of Magic Goms!! All this would’ve eased the difficulty, making it balanced and more enjoyable. As it is, I struggled to get too far without running out of energy!

I reckon I need to rate this based on the hardware. On older STs without a Blitter, the push-scrolling is painful, so I’d have to give it a rather brutal 35%. But on something like the Mega ST or Atari STe, it runs much smoother and plays way better. The proper scrolling makes it a lot more enjoyable - so I'd say it deserves a surprisingly decent 60%. At the end of the day, though, Blitter or not, just play Gauntlet II instead.

• Atari Legend has a floppy disk by The Midland Boyz.
• 8BitChip has an installable hard drive game that supports the Blitter.
• It's not often I record videos these days, but check out the ST scrolling...

Axel's Magic Hammer

The son of Thor!

Axel is a young boy with a hammer. No, he's not a raging lunatic but a young lad on a mission. His girlfriend, Lucy, has been kidnapped and is held in the dungeon of Mystic Castle. How did this tragedy happen, I hear you cry. Well, a nasty green dragon called Nilmerg is the villain responsible. To rescue Lucy, he must be slain. Of course, Nilmerg is far away; we must cross several large continents before reaching his castle.

This journey is going to be long and treacherous. It begins in an old Roman village before climbing the "cliff section" to reach the ice caps that lead to a tropical jungle. The Egyptian Pyramids are next, preceded by a rather interesting industrial stage. The penultimate level is within caves and woodlands before eventually reaching the castle. Could Alex have simply travelled in a straight line? Who knows lol

Anyhow, every level is crammed with nasties, so Axel must defend himself with his hammer. But that's not all we can do, as each screen has many destructible areas. Those can help gain rewards or access to other regions. I love platformers, and this one sounds rather interesting, especially being able to break stuff!

Let's pause my blabbering for some nifty screenshots from the earlier levels...

Each level has a secret or two to discover. These are often places with high rewards.

The second level takes us underground. Hey, they look quite familiar!

Things get chilly for the third level, so bring a heavy coat and scarf.

Let's play!

Axel walks, leaps, and bashes critters (and blocks) throughout the levels. Anything can be killed if you hit it enough times like an insane serial killer. Only ghosts are immune to your clobbering, but they are rare until later. The status bar displays the score, items collected, and two bars for energy and a timer. Yes, a timer...

Getting around each screen is a breeze with responsive joystick controls. However, jumping diagonally is (initially) annoying because it's something you cannot do mid-jump. That needs to be initiated from the start to make the intended jump. Yeah, that might sound awkward, but you easily get used to it.

Each screen offers the same troubles - monsters, obstacles, and destructible blocks. The addition of smashing blocks is a fantastic feature that reveals many different power-up bonuses. Most of these provide extra points, but you can also find weapon upgrades and energy/timer replenishment. Also, keys are scattered throughout, which will unlock restricted areas with loads more bonuses. Yes, this game certainly loves bonuses!

I enjoy most platformers because of their mix of adventure, dexterity, and exploration - run, leap, fight, and explore new screens. That's it. I'm happy that Axel has this in abundance thanks to its great design, which is interesting and engaging. The added mechanic of block bashing isn't only for fun or power-ups - this can carve a different path to climb further in the room, collect (even more) bonuses, or uncover hidden places.

Let's take another pause for some rather sexy screenshots...

Jumping straight to level 5, we find ourselves in a place Daniel Jackson would love.

This is the entrance of an industrial complex, which I enjoyed a bunch.

Finally, I'm at the castle. It's spooky and difficult near the end. Very difficult!

Aesthetics

From the moment I saw the loading screen, I thought this game was gonna suck big time. I'm not exactly a fan of its crude and childish artwork. Perhaps I'm being harsh there? Anyhow, the game itself is much better; all eight levels are attractive and diverse, using a Kid Gloves/Mega Twins style I found most appealing.

There is no scrolling as the push effect is used to move from "room to room". If this was a Mario/Giana clone, it would fail miserably. But it's not. So, each screen has its own distinct mini-adventure and plays as such. Ignore what you might have heard, there is no need for scrolling whatsoever.

Disregarding the Egyptian level, all of the other levels are incredibly beautiful. Terry Lloyd designed gorgeous scenarios that are high in detail. I liked the sprites the most, as the creatures are cute, cunning, and well-drawn. You might even see some similarities with those from Rick Dangerous, for the obvious reason.

Musically, things are less impressive with one main theme tune by Ben Daglish. It's a good chiptune and suits the "young theme", but hardly his best work. There are no in-game tunes, but the sound effects are superb, with many silly samples that work well. Like the graphics, you might hear the odd familiar sound effect.

Right then, I've got one more batch of screenshots to share before the gripping conclusion...

This is your big chance to slay the beast and grab the girl!

Of course, I did it and got a kiss too!! All without a trainer... ahem...

The map proves walking in a straight line would have been much quicker ;)
Hey, can you beat my score? Nah, I bet you can't.

CryptO'pinion

I'm sure you can tell how much I've enjoyed playing Axel's Magic Hammer. It's a straightforward platformer with great controls and interesting levels, and we've been given a hammer to bash animals with. Not only that, but this tool is also utilized to reach difficult parts of the screen, uncover bonuses, and hidden rooms. This adds so much depth to almost every room you visit. Yes, I have thoroughly enjoyed being young Axel.

As you might expect, nothing in this life is perfect, and I have one or two niggles. Along with the weird diagonal jump, which takes some getting used to, I found a few rooms rather troublesome as their difficulty was suddenly harder than the rest of the game. Also, there is a completely unnecessary timer - whhhhhhhy!!

Axel is a humble platformer without many distinctive qualities, but that doesn't stop it from being interesting and damn good fun. I have enjoyed hopping and bashing my way through the levels. It's playable and addictive, not to mention we have a hammer. I rate this a respectable 80% and highly recommend you have a bash!

• Floppies can be nabbed via Atari Legend, and 8BitChip has the hard drive version.
• I've since released hi-res game maps of this wonderful platformer.

Rotor

Another one for my collection

In the not-too-distant future, everything will be impossibly expensive. Jobs will become very scarce with no decent opportunities for the majority of us (yikes, what a surreal prediction). Hmm, perhaps we should move on quickly? Anyhow, there is the prospect of joining the Roto-Raiders who pilot huge tanks through dangerous caverns for a lucrative reward. Only the brave need apply because the missions are deadly.

Dare you sign up? What, really? Yeah... Of course, we do so count me in!

Gravitar-Esque games are popular for the Atari ST. We have killer titles that are extraordinarily awesome - Oids and Thrust instantly come to mind. That means Arcana had to bring something new to the table in order to stand out from the crowd. Plus, I naturally had high expectations considering the strong competition!

Before we crack on, I bought Rotor off eBay, so let's look at all the goodies...

It's hardly in perfect condition, but it's pretty good, and I like the design too.

  
Mind-blowing content? It's minimalistic, but it's a piece of hiSTory.

Get to it, I wanna blow stuff up!

Rotor is like Thrust with numerous tasks split into separate missions. We begin with a training simulator to learn the controls, how to collect items, and kill the many different types of enemies. This is a great way to understand the basics and to learn (or rather grasp) the technical user interface. Oh, and the training needs to be fully completed before moving on to the real missions. That sounds like a con, but it is a good thing.

You can attempt each mission in many different environments - earlier levels are tame compared to the torturous ones later. Every cavern has antagonists (as the manual loves to say) who are enemies like Cannons, Laser Guns and Gravity Generators. Some can be destroyed, whereas others can be temporarily disabled.

Our spaceship is a large circular craft with adequate but sluggish manoeuvrability. Physics plays a part, so there is gravity to consider, and you can only accelerate in the current facing direction. The caverns are vast and claustrophobic due to the ship's size and lacklustre abilities (feels leaden compared to Thrust or Oids).

All missions follow the path of having to complete requirements like shooting Container Pods for their contents. Destroying them and killing the enemies rewards extra points. All this is within the time constraints of limited fuel and armour. Once you're finished, exit coordinates detail where to go to escape.

Simple stuff, so let's take a peep at a couple of early screenshots...

The training missions are a fantastic way to learn the ropes.

In this simulator, we only need to shoot (and then collect) what's in that box. Easy!

Power-ups & other stuff

Rotor could have been a simple game of shooting/collecting stuff. But it's not. Arcana obviously thought this would be far too boring, so jazzed it up with pointless clutter. Let's begin with its user interface...

On the left-hand side, is a map detailing your position, the dots above that are your remaining lives. The coordinates of zeros will change once the mission is complete to show the exit location to rendezvous (the other coordinates are your current location). The three icons between these are 1) the time left until a bomb explodes. 2) The time left until a disabled laser resumes. 3) The required number of crystals to gain exit coordinates.

At the bottom of the screen is the radar and this shows helpful information like the state of your armour, cargo, and remaining fuel. However, it also displays potential enhancements that can be gained by collecting pearls. For example, the second icon is for the ship's rotational speed. The third icon improves upon its lethargic thrust.

Hang on, what was that about Container Pods and Pearls? Container pods offer a variety of goodies like fuel, upgrades, explosives (potential traps) and sun crystals (to exit the level). Pearls affect performance significantly: collect two, and the ship rotates faster. Pick up a third, and you can upgrade the thrusters.

I cannot help but wonder why they needed to be earned rather than come as standard? It feels unnecessary to upgrade the ship during a mission instead of concentrating on the task. Too convoluted.

Let's take another look at some more screenshots from my victorious venture...

Blast those gun turrets before attempting to sneak by.

Things are getting hectic in Lego land, which is very difficult to manoeuvre through.

Tips and level codes!

• Don't even think about skipping the training missions. Trust me!
• Bombs automatically activate after first shooting the pod. You have two options, leave the screen safely and survive or collect the extra cargo and take it home.
• Beware of how much cargo you're carrying. Extra weight means a slower ship using more fuel.
• Watch the walls, take your time and let the scrolling catch up with you.
• If something is able to shoot at you then it's best to shoot that first and clear the way.
• I hate to say this, but don't worry about ship upgrades as this wastes time (and fuel).
• I said don't skip the training but, if you really can't wait, here are the level codes:

Level 1 = GAG,

Level 2 = LIP,

Level 3 = SLY,

Level 4 = MEW,

Level 5 = AWE,

Level 6 = TNT.

 

As tough as it is groovy-looking. Must admit, I do love the weird palette!

Argh, this level looks so passive but is insane! I died straight after taking this screenshot.

Input & Output

Controls are as familiar: fire button to (erm) fire, upwards to thrust, and left/right rotates your craft. I doubt there would be any reason to change this asteroid-ripping formula because it's tried, tested and great. However, my problem is the craft's manoeuvrability, which is too sluggish by default, and that's a bit rubbish.

Graphically, Rotor is lovely, with a futuristic/Tron-like feel for the training simulator. Later levels look funky with colour and a design that feels 8-bit in some respects. The screen scrolls in all four directions smoothly, but it will struggle to keep up with your ship if you go too fast. Hmm, at least that forces you to be more careful!

The sounds are acceptable, albeit not the best you've heard. There are effects for the engine, shooting, enemies, etc. They hold back the deafening silence of space and make Rotor pretty much what you expect.

I think it's time for the final run of sexy screenshots...

Later levels are far too hard (for me) because there's too much going on for your sluggish ship.

Another later level, which has far too much going on for my reactions to cope with!

The CryptO'pinion?

I've enjoyed Rotor but not nearly as much as I should have. Don't get me wrong, Rotor has some good points like the training missions and groovy graphics. However, it complicates what should be a fun shooter for no decent reason. The worst is the necessity of ship upgrades during the game rather than after each stage.

There's a lot to moan about, I guess? I have enjoyed Rotor, it's good to play and something new. But let's not kid ourselves, it's bordering on mediocre compared to Thrust and Oids. Close but no cigar!

PP has adapted Rotor to be run from a hard drive, and Old Games Finder has the floppy disks.