Spikey in Transylvania

What, no Lucky Eddie?

Spikey is a Viking who crashlands near a village called Transylvania after suffering horrendous weather conditions in the North Sea. He has no weapon or shield but has kept hold of his helmet - just to maintain that Viking look. Weirdly, his shipmates have been rounded up and locked away in a dungeon - so it's our job to free them. Thankfully, the cell keys have been scattered about in different places. All we have to do is find them and free our comrades. Easy.

Is it just me or does Spikey look an awful lot like Hägar the Horrible? Anyhow, Spikey in Transylvania comes from the same Code Masters stable as the Dizzy series so it's hardly surprising that it looks familiar for both gameplay and visuals. Released in 1991 and programmed by Dave Clarke who sadly, didn't seem to do a whole lot more for the ST.

Hey, wanna see some screenshots of the earlier puzzles? Of course, you do! So gander at this lot...

Farmer Piles!!! It's like something from a Carry On movie. Brilliant!

The pixel art in this room is amazing. Love the cauldron, the wizard, and the king's painting!

So what's the plan?

Our adventure begins in a village of a few houses, including a pub and a very hungry farmer. After escaping from one of the houses, our task is to gain entrance to the castle where our friends are held captive. Surely an impossibility, as it's guarded by a really mean soldier (hmm, why not try bribing him with cash). If you've played any of the Dizzy games before then you will already know what to expect as you help Spikey scour many rooms for carelessly discarded prison keys.

Things begin simple and, if I'm honest, remain simple throughout. For example, the first puzzle is escaping from a house - the front door has no handle and there is a doorknob on the floor. This is the level of difficulty for most of the puzzles and I enjoyed that a bunch because they never came with baffling/vague clues - or a solution that made no sense.

Yep, that's the level of the difficulty which isn't bewildering but very entertaining. It's time for more screenshots...

I wanted to take this screenshot as the dog approached to take a bone. But he was quicker than me!

Bored, eh? I think he needs a Walkman to listen to. Showing my age now, right?

Explore, examine, scrutinize!

Once inside the castle, it's a myriad of mazes but nothing too overwhelming. And I liked that a lot. Getting around is very easy and makes exploration perfect. Once again, there are puzzles to solve but nothing mind-blowing. For example - a drink for a thirsty guard, ghosts will flee from the Cross, and you should wear Wellington boots in the mud. The only puzzle I failed to instantly solve was with the cannon - which was dead simple and something I didn't even consider!

Walking around the village and castle areas is never too troubling but there are still some dangers to look out for. Spikey only has four lives and each has a finite amount of energy that depletes when coming into contact with angry soldiers, rats, ghosts, dripping acid and so on. Sadly, health replenishment is scarce (very scarce actually) with only the odd pieces of chicken or bread left lying about. Stay clear of rotten foods that will only make Spikey feel a lot worse.

Unlike the adventures Dizzy endured, Spikey can walk left/right but cannot jump. Instead, he moves diagonally in/out of the screen which is pretty cool. Sadly, it's not perfect as you can occasionally get stuck on objects or walls. The inventory is a cinch, just hold fire and move up/down to pick up/drop and left/right to select what object you wish to use. Dropping most objects near another character will solve that puzzle as they will automatically collect it and reward you.

This isn't a huge game but it's big enough for a pub, which is never a bad thing. Check out these beer swiggers...

The local Wetherspoons! My kinda place. But then everyone stops and stares at me! Creepy.

Hmm, weren't there some gloves carelessly left lying about?

Aesthetics

The graphics are by Jonathan Smyth who also did Cj in the USA and Cj's Elephants Antics. As you would expect, they are gorgeous and would look perfect in any cartoon with a colourful design. The backdrops are good but it's the characters that feature stunning details - I loved the beedy-eyed rats who watch Spikey. Sadly, there is little animation which, I'm not too bothered about, but it would have been nice to see a roaring fireplace rather than a static flame.

The audio fairs differently with a choice of chip music or sound effects that can only be selected on the title screen. The music is by Ashley Hogg (who worked on Cj in the USA and Cj's Elephants Antics) and is superb. Sadly, there is only that one tune which loops around constantly during play. If you opt for sound effects instead then you shall hear Spikey's footsteps along with a ding when interacting with objects. And that's that. Bit disappointing tbh.

Here is one of the cells holding a shipmate so hurry up and find all the other keys! Then everyone can party...

This is one of many cells holding our mates. Simple task - find the keys!

This is the end screen - just to prove I did it!! Sorry for the spoiler :p

The CryptO'pinion?

I have thoroughly enjoyed playing Spikey in Transylvania! However, it's not a big adventure and there isn't enough food available to replenish his energy. Also, the puzzles are quite easy (even for me) and I completed the entire thing in just a couple of hours! I cannot imagine fans of Dizzy, Elf, Spellbound or Stormlord will be impressed by that?

However, ignoring these quibbles, this is extremely enjoyable and very addictive. So I loved the progress I made right from the start. The puzzles are logical without any irritatingly pointless solutions which meant I continued on and loved every second. So how can I say anything terrible about a game that gave me so much pleasure? I cannot.

Before you view my map (click it), grab this cool puzzler for either a floppy disk or a hard drive and enjoy...

Don't be a muppet and click the thumbnail image to download the hi-res map of the game.

Shadow Sorcerer

Welcome to Krynn

Who doesn't love a good RPG with its story, lore, characters and creepy dungeons all whilst levelling up a character(s) you prey are up for the challenge. Yes, there's something extraordinary about losing your free time over something my missus recently described as "an antique game that nobody's interested in". Why I'm still with her I'll never know.

Anyhow, here I find myself booting up a 32-year-old game by SSI/US Gold called Shadow Sorcerer which is based in the DragonLance era of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. This adventure is stuffed to the crust with quests and combat against demons, dragons, ogres, skeletons, and many more grotesque creatures. I guess I'm working backwards because it's the third game in the Dragonlance saga and follows on from Heroes Of The Lance and Dragons Of Flame.

I've always had a keen interest in anything AD&D and find it ferociously interesting with compelling storylines. I love the mythology and the worlds where we battle against all kinds of dreaded enemies in the creepiest places. So, I'm going to kick off a long-term plan to play all the Atari ST Dungeons And Dragons from my own collection.

Before we crack on, let's take a look at the two primary screens you will be using in Shadow Sorcerer...

This is the world/wilderness map. It's basic, and only the mountains are displayed until you get moving.

This is the Tactical view, a beautiful isometric representation of your present location.

Preface

The land of Krynn was once a peaceful place but no longer thanks to Verminaard who conquered with his Dragonian armies. Cheer up, we're in charge of the Companions of the Lance and these plucky fellas have rescued a whole bunch of Refugees from the city of Pax Tharkas. The plan is to head south to safe territory but Verminaard has ordered his troops to track us down. Can you keep the refugees safe and guide them to a secure place to call home?

As with any RPG, begin slowly in order to learn the basic mechanics of what makes the game tick (along with understanding its user interface and any other oddities). This prevents me from doing something stupid (well, in theory) but is a good idea with Shadow Sorcerer because it certainly throws you straight into the thick of it pulling no punches!!

As you saw in the screenshots, the Dragonlance world is viewed using two methods:

The first is a wilderness map used only to explore great distances throughout the land (whilst you're making notes, I hope). Use it to keep tabs on the refugees and also Dragonian troops. Each possible location is initially a grey hex tile and, as you travel, they reveal their environment in and around your current location. Tread carefully!

The second is a Tactical view which provides an isometric representation of your surrounding area. All battles are fought on this screen plus the ability to interact with party members, along with communicating with other characters you might stumble upon. It's here that you can find items, equip weapons and armour, and more.

Beginning your first game is a little daunting so take time to check out the file menu, and experiment with the user interface within the Tactical screen. It's here that four portraits of the party members are displayed - Tanis, Caramon, Goldmoon and Raistlin. Clicking each reveals their stats along with default options when under computer control.

It pays to experiment before playing properly and here's a deeper look at what to expect...

Get out there and explore, you never know what you might find. Here is a sword carelessly left!

Now we're talking!! A safe(ish) haven with food to keep those miserable refugees off my back!

User Interface

Shadow Sorcerer has a pseudo-GEM feel so is a doddle to use. You spend a lot of time on the Tactical screen and it's here that your party is shown at the four corners. Clicking on each portrait displays their personal attributes like Strength, Dexterity, and so on. Oddly, all stats cannot be altered in any way which is a bit weird for an RPG.

Also displayed are the details for hit points, weaponry and armour class  - all these can change depending on your condition and with regards to clothing/weaponry you happen to find along the way.

Each character has default actions that the computer can assist with. Such as attack, range, spellcasting or running off like a chicken. Base your choice on strength and ability rather than everyone doing the same thing!

Clerics and Mages need to memorise spells. Clerics are great for Blessings, Protection and healing. A mage can be handy to detect invisible objects and can throw a mean fireball. Actually, that's a very powerful spell, tempting to use but dangerous to both enemies and friendlies alike. So beware! Possibly use Magic Missile instead?

You shall also notice a satchel icon, this is obviously the inventory and is probably the lamest part of the entire game because it's not very good. Sure, it shows you what is being carried and you can use, equip and exchange items with other party members. However, no details are given before deciding whether to equip, which I didn't appreciate.

Don't forget the GEM-like menu options at the top of the display. Here you can heal, regroup, review refugee status and exchange players - very useful after losing a companion who needs to urgently be replaced by another. The caveat is that it must be located with the refugee party. Yeah, I'm sure you can guess how annoying that might be?

Hey, it's not all fighting so let's check out one of the early puzzles the game throws at you...

Not everything is as it seems and some things require a little more than brute force...

Of course, the game then decides to kick you in your teeth whenever it gets the chance lol.

Ultimate play the game

Initially, the world map shows nothing but a mountain range and a yellow icon depicting your band of merry men. Beginning your expedition is easy, just click on the nearest tile that you'd wish to move to. Now you will notice a grey icon - that represents the refugee party who slowly plod on encumbered by their number, supplies, wagons, etc

Babysit these guys the best you can but, not at the expense of your progress - it's a balance of adventuring and keeping them content. You can interact with the refugees through their (groan) council with which you can discuss, reason or even threaten. I find they are best happy when fed and under the belief that I know what I'm doing (ahem). Disgruntled refugees might disband leaving scattered groups which are more difficult to manage and protect.

Of course, everything is in real-time and you shall note the day/night clock display at the top of the screen. Time applies to every aspect of the game which took me some time for me to feel comfortable with, especially for conflicts, learning spells, crossing rough lands, etc. Hitting the + or - keys can speed/slow down game time and is very helpful.

Shadow Sorcerer's strength is in how easy it is to get out there and begin exploring. But it's not that long until you see an alert for a 'chance encounter'. In fact, you see this a lot but don't worry, it's not always a nasty brawl. Quite often it's because there's someone or something nearby and that could even mean treasure or useful items. Yes, and many brawls!!

It's not all run and chase, as there are safer areas within Krynn. These are places to restock or shelter, so use them wisely but not for too long. Watch out for side quests, these are a massive part of your adventure and fruitful for several reasons (actually they feel more of a necessity rather than an option). Along the way, you never know how many potential friends you might meet so try communicating before raising your weapon. Might work, but, be prepared anyhow!

Oddly, I fear Shadow Sorcerer tries too hard - not only are we limited in time, but encumbered by clans of refugees dragging their heels, and then there are the chasing Draconians!! A part of me wishes things were toned down in the respect that refugees could have been a silent entity who we don't need to worry about or communicate with (except when repositioning for lost members). Plus, I thought that the Draconians broke free of Pax Tharkas far too soon.

Shadow Sorcerer has amused me many times, although I don't think it was supposed to? Hmm, maybe. Let's see...

The UI is simple with instant access to abilities: fight, look, grab, talk, move and computer control.

You must learn to fight as a team. Don't go throwing a fireball spell if the enemy is too close... Ouch!!

Faith and Spells

There are two main spellcasters, Clerics and Mages. Each type has its own unique custom collection of spells with which to help the adventure thrive positively. That might be healing, protection, detection, or an act of aggression. Clerics are helpful people so let's first take a look at some of my favourites they have on offer which are always very useful...

Bless - this improves your attacking because, erm, you're blessed!

Cure Wounds - there are two levels for this much-needed spell to help those in trouble.

Find Traps - quite useful if you feel a bit unnerved about something you can't explain?

Dispel Magic - very useful and helpful but often overlooked and I can see why.

Mages, like Raistlin, can detect something invisible which is really cool and you'll be pleasantly surprised just how much that comes in handy. I shall say no more without ruining things with an obvious spoiler like that!! I like to think he's the rock star of the clan with some rather excellent abilities lurking up his sleeve...

Magic Missiles - don't disregard this impressive attack that saves you getting too close.

Fireball - a powerful spell best used out in the open. Very dangerous.

Web - quite tough to master this one but very handy to snar your opponent.

Shadow Sorcerer always seems to hurl something unexpected your way. Shall we go inside?

Argh, it was a Dragon!! And it killed two team players before I could even react!

Big Tips

As with any RPG, each of us explores differently and, although Shadow Sorcerer is very easy to get into, that comes with a higher-than-expected difficulty. Here are a few basic pointers which I hope are worthwhile...

* The default party are a varied selection, stick with these guys for as long as necessary.

* Always heal your companions after each skirmish (via the menu option).

* In the Tactical screen, spread your men out wide to overcome troublesome obstacles!
* The fireball spell can be disastrous without due care. Is it worth it?
* Sometimes the text descriptions read a lot better than the tactical screen reveals. Think.
* Try to send the refugees to a safe area (an already visited part of the map).
* Keep the refugees happy so they don't split and panic!
* I was unsure whether or not to include this line, but I advise you head west as soon as possible.
* Computer control is good but there are times it's better to do it yourself. Most apparent with ranged characters, especially when it comes to magic. Maybe it's better to DIY?
* This might just be me, but I found the game far more responsive using real hardware rather than an emulator. No idea why, but it was and especially with the character screens.
* The manual has a good line, "...repetitive saving is not encouraged - take your losses like a man...". Superbly written but ignore that taunt and save regularly. I cannot stress that enough!!

With a replacement party, I hit the road only to be ambushed by Draconians.

Skeletons are very weak opponents. Look, Richard Gere has joined our party (top/left!)

Aesthetics

Let's start with the mediocre sounds... the introduction plays nice sampled music whilst it cycles through the different intro screens. However, there is very little else afterwards and only when using a weapon or performing magic is anything heard. That's fine for a game like this, but a subtle background chiptune would have been a great option.

Visually, things are very different and Shadow Sorcerer is comprised of two primary screens...

- The map/wilderness screen is rather drab, but a practical way to identify your surroundings along with the location of Draconians and refugees parties. Basic, but completely functional and that's fine with me.

- The tactical screen offers a beautiful way to explore, be it hunting down treasures, commication or battling the Draconians. In fact, this isometric display is superb with great decor for the different environments you're gonna do battle in. The monsters are all gorgeously detailed ableit with humble animation. Love it!!

In this game, I explored the east but it wasn't long before we were being chased by Draconions!

The Dragonian armies proved too much for me. I hope there's time to recruit new members!

The CryptO'pinion?

Shadow Sorcerer is a fantastic RPG, especially for novices (like me). It's also a great choice for those without much spare time because it's so easy to immediately jump straight into it. Travelling huge distances isn't a problem and you will slaughter many monsters and meet lots of creatures along the way. Every battle is in real-time (with pause) so it's fun working out a strategical victory using magic, range and melee. This RPG is gratifying in almost every respect!!

However, it's strange that the characters aren't levelled up as the main attributes are fixed. I never got a feeling of the progression of skillsets so gameplay can occasionally feel unbalanced. Also, I didn't like the baggage between the Companions - that didn't work (for me). Plus they struggle to navigate around objects as they're a bit daft!

Nevertheless, this is a compelling adventure with a tremendous variety of places to pillage and creatures to meet (and beat). Although I doubt I will successfully escape the Draconians, I still think this is a belting aRPG albeit more for the amateur than a hardened player. Like I said earlier, it's very difficult and I feel they crammed in too much unnecessary content - chasing Draconians AND pleasing the fumbling refugees! Yep, the odds are steeply stacked against us.

You know, I have heartily enjoyed Shadow Sorcerer and thoroughly recommend you take a stab at ransacking the lands of Krynn for yourself. It's not flawless but, most certainly a captivating and formidable Lite-RPG. Consider this the first in a series of Atari ST AD&D that I personally own, cherish, and will return to over the years. Imperfectly excellent.

Downloads can be found on floppy disk but I'd recommend this hard drive version. (thanks PP)

Frenetic

Core Blimey!

Those with a good memory may remember already seeing Frenetic here on AtariCrypt about five years ago? However, my review was, ahem, less than favourable. If I remember correctly, the graphics were nice and I thought the gameplay was well-balanced. Yet, I oddly rated it as nothing more than a cheap & nasty Amiga port. Well, that was a long time ago and I figured that I needed to revisit Core's vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up. Let's see if I was wrong back then.

Frenetic transports us slap-bang into the 23rd Century with soulless scientists still debating over the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Well, as often happens in the world of sci-fi gaming, life on Earth is under attack from such creatures. It had to happen! This time it's aliens from the planet "Mozone". Hmm, anyhow we have to head into the unknown to pave the way for the safe travel of Earth's vessels and help prevent the extinction of humanity. Sounds like fun, right?

Before we begin, how about a screenshot? Yeah, let's do just that so here you go...

Giant trees and rocks throughout level one and it's pretty much green throughout!

Big levels, Big Guns, Big Monsters

There are eight ginormous levels stuffed with hundreds of aliens out for human blood. Some will stroll into your line of fire whereas others swirl majestically onto the screen. So, it's obvious what to do - bang on the fire button and kill as many as possible. Power-ups are available along the way to upgrade your ship's firepower. They are essential and blessed with different types of upgrades: forward firepower, speed, side armaments, shields, etc. Sadly, these pick ups areas are few, so I was often left vulnerable and underpowered after losing a life. Yes, power-ups are gone after dying.

Hang on a moment, do you have a friend sat idle? Well, there is a cool option for two-players which is brilliant and certainly comes in handy on those harder levels later on. Sadly, I have no friends... Sniff... boohoo...

Finally, each stage has the expected end-of-level boss and these are huge beasts. When I say huge I really do mean it. They will take lots of time and firepower to defeat, but most aren't really that difficult (beyond the time required to kill). Unless you have just lost your power-ups then you can expect that battle to last a long time... a very long time!

Let's take a break from reading and view another screenshot. How about one that looks creepy and very alien...

Later levels might look funky but the gameplay remains exactly the same!

Aesthetics

The backgrounds are excellent on most levels, especially the first with tons of colour and artwork I really liked. The enemies move spritely with different attack patterns and the bosses are ginormous creatures taking up most of the screen. The vertical scrolling isn't great which is disappointing because the Atari ST has many similar games with smoother framerates. In fact, I'd say that the graphics look better in these screenshots compared to when actually playing.

The music is by Martin Walker and is brilliant - I love it!! Not only that, but it works well alongside the sound effects too I thought. Sadly, that same tune plays throughout which is incredibly disappointing and a massive shame because Martin's one-track is quite excellent. We needed more as I know I would have enjoyed listening to more of his work.

So, it looks pretty and sounds great so let's celebrate with one final screenshot of a funky boss...

Some of the bosses are great and some are... rather rubbish!

The CryptO'pinion?

Well, in hindsight, it looks like I wasn't wrong after all? At best, this is an average shoot 'em up but, if you can find a friend, then it will be a little more bearable. Well, for a few games anyhow. Frenetic needed more progression, more power-ups, and more pizzazz. It's boring. So boot up something like Xenon II, Wings Of Death, SWIV, or Flying Shark.

What I liked: the first couple of levels have well-balanced gameplay and I even reached the third stage - without cheating believe it or not! However, the best feature of all is the two-player mode which is fantastic and certainly helps to (partially) compensate for the things I am now about to moan about.

What I didn't like: the power-ups are needed to defeat the bosses but these are lost after losing a life and new pick-ups are very scarce. Each level is a long slog without variety, excitement or progression and the repetative tune becomes irritating. Basically, I'm getting a nasty whiff of a cheap Amiga port.

Reading this back, I feel that I'm being too harsh? Or perhaps I'm in a bad mood today? Okay, am I wrong? Is this a great shoot 'em up and I'm talking nonsense? Feel free to let me know what you guys think in the comments below.

Atarilegend has loads of floppy menu disks and D-Bug has the best version for a hard drive.

Rob & Lee, coder and artist for Frenetic. Gee whiz thanks, guys. It's a lame ending screen too!

BBC #48

No, it means Bad Brew Crew

Okay, I thought it was about time I featured another Menu Disk and here we have the 48th release by Bad Brew Crew. The menu itself is quite good with their logo, scroller and some rather nice digi-music to enjoy before deciding which game to play. There are two options Skull & Crossbones and California Games for the Extreme fans!

Demozoo and Atari Legend have more from the Bad Brew Crew incl. downloads!

Onto the games, and I think I remembered liking Skull & Crossbones because I have always enjoyed hack 'n slashers and this one features pirates! Surely a win? Anyhow, I doubt I would have ever booted up California games back in the day because joystick-waggle and/or athletics isn't exactly something that interests me.

So, I guess this menu disk is a perfect choice to experience something new and familiar? Let's play...

- Skull & Crossbones -

Hoist The Jolly Roger!

I need a parrot on my shoulder and speak every sentence with an "ARRR!" for we are about to hit the high seas for an exciting swashbuckling adventure with nasty pirates, treasure and fair maidens in need of rescuing ARRR!! ARRR matey, a wizard has stolen our booty ARRR and we need to get it back ARRR!! This shouldn't be hard as pirates are usually crippled with a wooden leg and missing an eye ARRR so let's kill all the scurvy scum ARRR!!

Okay, I think we should now drop the ARRR... Skull & Crossbones is based on the arcade game that had us frantically fighting pirates with nothing more than our trusty sword. We are One Eye and have suffered a humiliating theft of our booty by a nasty wizard. Wizards and pirates? What an odd combination, but let's crack on and play!

Hang on, we cannot even think to begin this without seeing a screenshot! So, here ya' go...

Maybe it's just me but I thought Hulk Hogan had seen better days!

Time to be Errol Flynn!

Skull & Crossbones is basically a 2D platformer for one or two players. Yup, two people can take part at once which is potentially superb. The adventure begins on our ship which has been boarded by a couple of pirate goons that need slicing and dicing. Only after, are we able to jump aboard the wizard's ship but that crafty magician blasted us back onto our ship - just in time to watch your booty stash disappear before your very eyes.

Each level is basically the same with different graphics but it's fun repeatedly killing a barrage of sea-faring enemies: pirates, soldiers, ninjas, and even a few silly monsters. Getting around each level is quite cumbersome for what's basically a 2D fighter and feels trickier than it should at times. You are able to move in all four directions with attacking and blocking moves. Just bang on the fire button whilst moving in a particular direction:

Attacking

Pressing the fire button and moving left/right plunges your sword in their chest.
Pressing the fire button and moving up + left/right pokes them up their noses!

Blocking

Pressing the fire button and pushing up performs an upwards block.
Pressing the fire button and pushing down performs a downwards block.

Also

Pressing and holding down the fire button turns Red Eye around.
I even managed to stab backwards once or twice in my blind panic!
Apparently there are a couple of special moves which I never managed to suss out. 

A few hopeful, unresponsive jabs and poof!! Yep, a pirate goes up in smoke.

Argh, I'm dead. Again!

Now that you're clued up in the art of battle, you should practice because this is a tough game to master. Each enemy often attacks in turn, which prevents the screen from getting cluttered or confusing. Killed enemies drop a little treasure to reclaim. However, the bigger guys are really hard to defeat like the executioner and an annoying pirate hiding inside a barrel. I found both of these irritatingly difficult and managed to lose many lives!

Keep your eyes on the health meter; the more hits you sustain the more blood pumps out from your bleeding wounds (which is actually pretty cool). What's not cool is the game's terrible difficulty thanks to its cumbersome and sluggish controls. Attacking is quite basic but gets rather repetitive after a while plus I didn't care for the defence moves which offer little benefit. However, I guess there's only so much a one-buttoned joystick can do?

The concept is enjoyable and follows the arcade rather well. Killing pirates is fun but I felt that the difficulty was too high from the second stage. Those soldiers are tough nuts and seem to attack with great speed which feels unfair. Enabling a trainer helped, and I managed to reach the third stage which was a painstaking journey.

16-Bit games seem to be made for tough people? Perhaps I'm too soft? Hmm, let's see another screenshot...

Eventually, I'm back up on deck and there's a girl who needs rescuing. Yep, I'm in!

Graphics and Sounds

To look at, Skull And Crossbones is cartoony with lots of colourful locations and detailed sprites. Sadly, it bombs when actually playing thanks to jerky scrolling and dreadful animation. The scrolling often works against the player from the start - jumping onboard the wizard's ship leaves you open to attack by pirates still offscreen!

Sound effects are basic but the music is quite literally brilliant with excellent chiptunes by Matt Furniss.

We're now plundering a castle and this big fella is nigh on impossible to kill. I'm losing interest...

The CryptO'pinion?

Skull & Crossbones looks the part and could have been a great release with a little more effort. Sadly, the stodgy controls ruin what might have been; not only is it incredibly sluggish but One Eye is often awkward to manoeuvre. I had some fun but the difficulty, later on, is way off and ruined any chance of progress.

The best thing about Skull & Crossbones is the two-player option, which is a brilliant addition and certainly helped compensate for its shortcomings. Unfortunately, I'm getting a distinct whiff of a lame port which is incredibly disappointing. Golden Axe, Guardian Angel and Double Dragon III are all far better choices.

- California Games -

BMX? Nah, I'll stick with my Grifter!

I remember the advert with the girl's legs for this sporty Epyx released back in 1989. Sadly, I never played the game as I'm not really a fan of such things, so I must admit I'm quite sceptical about booting it up today.

Athletic events aren't something that I particularly like and I remembered breaking my Quickshot II joystick playing Daley Tompson's Decathalon back in the mid-80s. How pointless! But, upon booting up California Games, I was presented with an array of alternative games which was a pleasant surprise for this couch potato!

In light of that revelation, I think we should take a gander at the first screenshot...

Practice! Otherwise, you'll fall flat on your face only to be hit by the rolling skateboard!

Run, Jump and Throw Something... Yawn?

No, none of that boring stuff here, California Games has taken a different approach with a handful of unexpected events. All are completely different from each other, which is something I liked the sound of. I mean, frisbee throwing? I never saw that one coming but I gotta admit I like the style of these Californians!

One to eight players can take part in six extreme events like surfing, skateboarding and BMX biking. Executing each event properly earns you the most points and it's all about the highest scores in this tournament.

Half Pipe Skateboarding

Here we push up when the skater is going up the ramp and push down when, well, I think you get it? Moving left/right or pressing the fire button just at the right time will perform stunts like a hand plant or kick turn. It's all rather childish and probably one of the least stimulating games imaginable yet, I quite liked it!

Foot Bag

This is one of the most peculiar sporting games I would never have imagined to be real. Imagine a soccer player keeping the ball in the air - but with a little bag. And that's about it. What a lame event but the ST does a grand job of trying to make it fun. It's all rather silly and quite difficult timing your movements just at the right moment. Oddly entertaining and I enjoyed it, but try not to his the seagulls (lol brilliant!!)

Surfing

Now we're talking. This is about the only sport I associate with California and it doesn't disappoint. The learning curve is possibly the highest of all the games but, don't give up because riding these waves is exhilarating. Who would have thought that balancing on a board in shark-infested waters would be enjoyable? Plus we don't need to worry about trying to slip into a wetsuit on a beach of perfect bodies.

Roller Skating

I expected this game to suck, but it didn't. As an event, it's pretty weak and possibly the easiest but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. Pushing up/down gains speed and then you need to avoid or hop over hazards like pavement cracks! Yeah... Okay, this is nothing special but I possibly played it the most?

BMX Racing

Now we're talking, blokes with bikes in the dirt! A game with easy controls to master and a course that's fun and great to play. Sometimes it gets a little too tight, which is unfair, so that's when my man ends up eating the dirt. The physics are pretty terrible but I kept on coming back for more and I'm sure you will too!

Flying Disk

Somehow this kiddy game is now a serious event? Anyhow, along with Surfing, this is a tough one to master thanks to the controls - it took ages to stop dropping the frisbee on my feet!! Not to mention the art of successfully throwing it far enough. Hmm, feels like Frisbee version of Leaderboard to me!

This event sets a great example for the kids as she kicks and screams like a baby. Brilliant!!

Joystick Waggling Fun?

Thankfully, you won't break your joystick with this game as each event requires a specific control with precise timings to perform certain actions or stunts. However, you should ignore any temptation to jump straight in to win a trophy. It won't happen. Practice first and learn what to do with each event, it's harder than you realise.

However, because each event is so different, so are the controls. There is little consistency, each has its own style and technique to master. I admit to being a bit of a geek(!) so I made notes to remind me what to do and when. This worked, but I admit the irregularity makes for a massive learning curve greater than I imagined.

I'm not sure about over-complicating anything. Especially the controls! So let's have another screenshot to view...

Now we're talking! Great controls and dodgy physics make this so much fun.

Graphics and Sounds

Graphically, it's okay with summer backdrops and interesting locations but I got the impression it was limited by its 8-Bit roots. Summer Olympiad is much nicer but the BMX and Frisbee stages are good with decent scrolling. I enjoyed the attention to detail that makes each background entertaining - seagulls flying dangerously close, people boating, sharks and creepy critters lurking underneath the skateboarding pipe. Lovely little touches!

The in-game sound effects are often a weird mix of chip and samples which works fine albeit without blowing you away. Music is by the late, great Ben Daglish and is something that proves chiptunes will live forever.

It's okay fella, nobody looks good in shorts but what's with those ape arms?

The CryptO'pinion?

The concept of "extreme" sports for the Atari ST has proved itself to be a cracking idea and is something I feel Epyx executed well. The sheer variety of mixed events is a splendid change from the usual sorts. Getting grabs with each game's controls is the biggest challenge but, stick with it and make yourself some basic notes!

California Games will appeal to everyone, whether you enjoy sports games or not. Trust me, I'm a couch potato so I know. Ultimately, it will shine brightest when the family are gathered around your Atari ST compared to plodding through solo. What an excellent game and also a nice surprise to boot up something different.

- The CryptO'pinion? -

The Bad Brew Crew never released a dodgy disk as they always have quality intros and BBC #48 is no exception. As for content, this is a decent floppy disk which I've thoroughly enjoyed from the moment I heard the intro's music. Although there are only two games on the disk, each is huge and offers a fantastic opportunity for multiplayer fun.

Of course, Skull & Crossbones was pretty much a dreadful Amiga port but it's actually a million times better with a friend. California Games is superb even though a part of me still cannot believe it's based on real events! Anyhow, I think Epyx produced an excellent game which I highly recommended, especially with friends & family.

And now y' all gotta scroll all the way back up to the top for the download links... :^)

Tecnoball

It's Brick Buster time!

Tecnoball Z was published in 1991 by TLK Game and is a Breakout conversion developed by Pierre Denis. Oddly, I had never heard of this game until a good friend happened to mention it a few weeks ago (thanks Paul). Sadly, I have no idea whether it was ever officially released over here in the UK. Does anyone know?

Okay, we all love a quick blast of Breakout/Arkanoid now and then; olde classics have stood the test of time for a reason. I would say Arkanoid is the most well-known, unless you're an ST guy then it's perhaps Bolo. I'm always open to an alternative, especially when it's an Atari ST game I have never played before!!

Okay, let's take a look at a screenshot with its strange colour scheme and... erm... something else...

Here, I held onto the ball whilst blasting the bricks with a weird laser weapon. Sweet!!

It's 1976 all over again?

The first thing that struck me was the use of overscan for a larger display but the brick-busting gameplay remains much the same. Each screen has a different collection of blocks that must be cleared using your bat and ball and, with each hit, points are earned with a chance of spawning cash, power-ups and sometimes enemies.

The mouse controls are great; precise and accurate just as you would hope. However, it isn't long until you realise that the physics is 'different' as the ball often doesn't react as expected. Manipulating strikes using the different parts of the bat doesn't work and might even force the ball to bounce in a different direction! That means it's tough trying to finish a level when only a few blocks remain! But, there's a power-up in the shop to help with that...

Yep, a shop pops up after each level to offer goodies like extra lives, a bigger bat, weaponry and more. Heck, it's even possible to install extra bats on the remaining three sides of your screen! I like surprises like this plus that silly idea reminded me of the chaos I suffered in Wacko Software's Video Games I. Innovation like this keeps the player interested which is how I managed to clear several levels and defeated a couple of bosses!

Check out my power-up pads on all 4-sides of the play area. It's mental!

Over-what?

Graphically, I like Tecnoball as it's quite futuristic in style and different from the original our Dads used to play ;-) Overscan has been used to great effect and provides a better experience, more arcade-like perhaps because of the extra screen space? The use of colour is good and everything feels smooth but I thought the blocks themselves lacked a bit of pizzazz? Sometimes I did wonder what they were thinking with the choice of colours.

Hey, see how I've not mentioned the guy in the status panel who freaks me out. Darn, I just did...

Sound effects are great using samples for the 'dinks' but there is no in-game chip music so it's almost as quiet as the original, I guess. Even worse, there's no theme tune for the title screen which I found very disappointing.

This is the first boss screen and oddly, it features no blocks!

The CryptO'pinion?

This is a fun take on the original game but the physics are peculiar which acts as a "bug". At one stage, the ball hit an enemy (at the top of the screen) which then ricochets it sideways. The call began bouncing from left-to-right, in a perfectly straight line. Weirdly, that continued for about 30 seconds!! Luckily, it hit a wandering enemy that changed its trajectory so I could carry on playing. Not very good, I'm sure you'll agree?

Having said that, this is still a good game and I enjoyed ploughing through the many levels. The addition of a shop works well to provide a great variety of extra features that helped improve the game massively. Give it and try and see how it compares to your favourite version of Breakout? Let me know in the comments below.

Download the floppy from Stonish on Cobra #27 menu disc.

Gotta love the artwork and even this Game Over screen is in overscan.

Hero Quest

A board game? Meh, no thanks...

HeroQuest is one of those ST games I've seen mentioned many times yet, never bothered with it. That's probably because it's a board game and I'm not exactly a fan of those (except Monopoly!). The ST adaptation is modelled on that turn-based board game and retains a similar look using an isometric perspective. So, having never experienced Hero Quest, I attacked it with a fresh pair of eyes not knowing what to expect.

Our adventure takes place in Morcar's castle. He's an evil wizard with an army of monsters: Orcs, Zombies, Mummys, Goblins, etc. Four valiant warriors have signed up for 13 torturous quests to defeat him. That means plunging the castle's depths to battle monsters, avoiding hidden traps, and grabbing loot or anything else that might heed the journey. Let's be honest, whatever the story, I'm in. Now, where did I put my sword?

Before beginning, we need to see a couple of screenshots. What glorious isometric graphics...

An Elf enters the room much to the delight of the Wizard who punches the air with joy.

This is when being a midget helps, sneak up on your prey and club him to death!

Choose your warrior!

We begin by picking a preferred warrior(s) from four different races - Barbarian, Dwarf, Elf, and Wizard. Before rushing off on the first quest, you should consider who you want to be and why because they each have their own different types of strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. Even dice rolls, but more on that later.

The Barbarian is built for strength and is a trooper during the bloodiest of melee battles. Stumpy the dwarf is quite strong and also the crafty one of the bunch who uses handy skills to compensate his shortcomings. Elves and Wizards are physically weaker but the clever lads of the group. They use their brains to cast an array of magical spells without running the risk of having to get up close and personal.

Whether you're solo or not, there is an option to choose other characters instead of heading out as the Lone Ranger. It's optional but, there are benefits of having friends accompany you on the journey into the castle's terrors. It's here that you can also name your plucky hero and spend cash in the shop to buy weapons, armour, etc. Finally, there is the possibility to nurse a tired adventurer back to full health, but at what cost?

I suggest playing with two characters: the Barbarian is rock solid and the Elf is an all-rounder who offers the chance to experiment with magic. Umm, the Dwarf is a good option with traps or if something is blocking the way. The Wizard? Well, superb with spells but too squishy for my liking!

Let's take a gander at a couple more screenshots with some rather spine-chilling monsters...

Excellent!! His back is turned and he's unaware I'm here so let's kill him. Wait, I see a chair...?

Oh no, the door slams shut behind you on this quest and the room appears not too friendly!!

Go on a crusade!

Now decide which of the 13 quests to attempt - they're all different and listed in order of (more or less) their difficulty. Actually, there are 14 quests, the first is a trainer that offers a chance to learn the fundamentals of exploration and combat: the objective is simply to escape, and the quickest adventurer is rewarded with loot which can be used in the shop for the next mission. Use this to master the mechanics of HeroQuest.

Whatever quest you decide on, the gameplay is incredibly similar to the board game. Each player takes a turn by throwing dice to determine the number of action points - used to walk, perform searches, and fight the ghouls (for the Atari ST game, we spin coins but it's the same difference). There are limitations to this method; searching for treasure (or hidden doors) can only be performed once during a player's turn. Lastly, the monsters are then moved by the evil Morcar for his turn - which is automatically controlled by your Atari ST.

Well, it's that time again when I break up the boring text with some screenshots. Enjoy these...

Ha ha, you can see me but you can't reach me! Hmm, perhaps it's time for a little magic?

The map is an extremely useful tool and even identifies the monsters. Ugh! A Chaos Warrior?

Come on, a board game... Really?

Yes, and all quests take place on a different part of the castle - they feature many rooms and corridors laid out in a grid formation. Exploration is performed using the direction arrows (or clicking on the desired tile) and the map is a helpful tool that displays the parts of the castle you have visited along with monsters and objects. It's also great when something doesn't feel quite right, perhaps there's a secret room? Don't forget to search for loot but remember that this castle is riddled with traps and scary monsters so tread carefully.

Expect the usual creatures prowling; Orcs, Skeletons, Zombies, Mummys, Fimirs, etc. All are controlled by the evil wizard hiding inside your 68000 and their actions are executed after the heroes have completed theirs. The computer isn't always offensive and this can present an alternative strategy option. Also, if walking away from a battle is an option then take it because it's not always necessary to fight each and every monster.

This is a cool board game and something I need to check out. But first, some more screenshots...

We're all playing a game and the first one to blink gets zapped by a fireball!!

I knew it was too good to be true. Sometimes this game is very cruel O_o

Gimme icons!

The user interface is excellent and helps you to explore and interact (comparatively) with your surroundings. The current player has his image displayed top/left along with their attributes for action points, health, mental ability, and cash. The icons at the bottom of the screen might look confusing but they're easy to learn:

1) The shield with an arrow allows you to end your turn.

2) The shield with a sword begins a fight against a chosen monster.

3) Bunch of keys - use these to unlock doors if you want!

4) The door with a question mark performs a search for what might be lurking nearby, like traps and hidden doorways. Works well with the map when things appear a little 'off'.

5) The opened bag is used to perform a search for treasure (kept by that particular player).

6) Satchel - this is the inventory and features the extra equipment a character can use.

7) Map - I'm sure this one is pretty obvious but is something you should use!

8) Directional arrows - use these to explore the castle (or click the tiles instead).

This is a fantastic quest and is quite the nervy rush getting Sir Ragnar back home safely.

Oh cr+p!! This is Ulag, the Orc Warlord and yes, he did kill me...

Clash Of The Titans

Nobody enters Morcar's castle without expecting a fight with something unholy and it's a bonus leaving any room unhurt, albeit in blood-splattered clothing! He has many gruesome creatures walking the corridors so it's not long until something comes looking for you - all are controlled by Morcar. Ie, your lovely Atari ST.

A skirmish in HeroQuest isn't what I expected of an 'RPG'. Firstly, a battle can only happen against a foe on an adjacent tile and that fight is presented on a separate screen. However, there isn't anything to do as the computer rolls special dice for attacking/defending characters - skulls (for attack) and shields (for defence). So, if the monster has more skulls than you have shields, then that difference is deducted from your health. Likewise, if you are attacking and happen to have more skulls than the monster has shields, you win.

This system might work for the board game but is odd. Especially as each player has a different amount of dice: Wizard = 1, Dwarf and Elf = 2, and Barbarian = 3. What is peculiar is when neither side rolls successfully so they both stand idle doing nothing more than staring at each other! Actually, that is quite annoying - it's a missed opportunity which could leave you somewhat vulnerable before the next turn.

Zombies never fail to impress and they're also in Hero Quest if you scroll down a little...

An unsuspecting Zombie victim but I've not got enough action points left...

No problem because his attack was fairly weak so I came back stronger and killed him!

Clash Of The Mages!

Elves and Wizards have a different style to their combat thanks to range attacks as magical spells. All magic can be used against any enemy currently within the same location, so you don't need to be close, in order to attack an opponent. The ability to team/work should now start to prove its worth to all players?

Magic comes in a huge variety to attack or hinder the enemy in some way. You can even help or hinder one of your party if you so desire. Each type of spell is grouped into four categories: air, wind, fire, and earth providing a separate style of magical ability. There is no in-game help so it's best to experiment.

Along with spells to replenish health and harden defences/strength, there are many nifty alternatives:

1) Tempest blows a torrent of wind around your foe thus confusing them so they lose a turn. Perhaps this is something you might wish to use on a fellow team 'mate'? :-)

2) The Genie spell is actually quite incredible and can pack a humongous punch.

3) Ball Of Flame and Fire Of Wrath are two spells that provide powerful attack options. Both could potentially turn an Orc into a pile of dust very easily.

4) But what if you happen to wander into a room that's full of monsters? A good spell might be Courage which will help give you that much-needed adrenalin boost!

5) Pass Through Rock is incredible and an unmistakenly selfish, albeit cunning ability!

That's more like it!! Unfortunately, I'm in a room with a Chaos Warrior...

Sometimes magical spells fall short of the mark so run to the nearest Barbarian for help!

Help, I'm confused!

You shouldn't be. To succeed in HeroQuest you should take it slow - be a careful explorer who wants to survive and reap all the rewards. Remember to search a room thoroughly for anything that may help. Especially the hidden loot which is spent on upgrading weapons and other stuff for the later quests.

The quests are all different but the ultimate goal is to follow the instructions and complete what's required before safely escaping. Personally, I prefer to be the Barbarian as I'm more of a melee kinda guy. But I do sometimes require the assistance of another teammate to increase my chances (they're collateral damage!)

Hero Quest isn't a difficult game to master and is a lot of fun, especially with family.

Spend your plundered booty on something useful for the next quest.

Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into! Try, try again...

Pix'appeal?

I love the isometric style as each room looks superb using a strong palette which is nothing you would expect a wizard's lair to look like. But, it works. The characters look amazing with incredible detail and the Mummys are the best - but I also love the Skeletons with their scythe! Sadly, animations are fine but should have been better, especially for walking. Oh, the battles are nothing more than a sword slap in the face!

Bangin' Beats?

Well, the sound effects are basic; a fuzzy shuffle for walking plus a few chinks & clangs during a battle. It's a shame sampled sound effects aren't used throughout seeing as the ST is mostly idle. Music can be played in-game and is absolutely awesome, I gotta say. However, there's not enough so it can become quite repetitive after a while, so I'm glad of the option to hit F10 to disable that in favour of just the sound effects.

From the very start, Hero Quest impresses with its aesthetics. Just watch this intro...

I love this intro which tells the story of how Morcar became the evil wizard.

The CryptO'pinion?

Don't be mistaken and assume that this is an RPG, it isn't. Sure, there are elements for a lukewarm role-playing experience but, this is a board game first and foremost. Each hero has strengths and weaknesses but there is little character building beyond the equipment and collecting stuff. They are also separate from one another - there isn't an actual requirement to work as a team so you cannot progressively group-attack a particular monster because each battle is a new and separate act. Remember, it's a board game.

However, it's a brilliant board game conversion and is better with everyone huddled around the Atari ST like they did back in the day. Even solo, this is a fine adventure especially if you play with a couple of characters. I suggest a few practice games to see which you prefer but grouping them is certainly a recipe for success.

Considering I'm not a fan of board games, I am enjoying HeroQuest a bunch. What a wonderful game!!

The floppy discs can be downloaded from Atari Legend.
(and perfectly fine on either type of Atari ST/e)