Rock 'n' Roll Clams

Ugh, I hate seafood!

Rock 'n' Roll Clams is a music-themed arcade game released in 1994 by Caspian Software, a time when most of the (gaming) companies abandoned us for the PC with its lifetime of bugs & patches. Thankfully, the mid-90s were a great time for independents who still had fuji passion - Impact, Bloodhouse, Top Byte, STeam, UDS, etc. Respect to all.

Tidbit time! A year later Caspian unleash Zero 5, a fantastic 3D space shooter for the STe/Falcon. Wanna read more about that? What about an interview with the developer? You better click here then!

Humorously, I've planned to feature this bizarre game for over two years and I've had a desktop folder containing a draft with notes and dozens of screenshots. What's taken me so long? Well, that's easy to answer - I suck at this game more than meagre words could ever describe! So how could I write about a game I struggle to play? (Now't new there!)

That's enough waffling on by me because we need to see a couple of crabby seaside screenshots...

The opening levels are supposed to gently introduce the basic mechanics and hazards. (ST)

Two-player mode is hilarious fun because it's so manic! (STe)

So, clams you say?

The storyline goes something like this: Casper the Clam went on a school trip to watch an orchestra with his clam friends. However, it was really boring for these ocean dwellers who wanted something better. Suddenly, they began to hear distant funky music and (this is my favourite part) needed to know more because "we owe it to Clamkind". So, off they went looking to find the source of this amazing music. However, leaving the safety of Clam Town proved dangerous.

What they didn't bank on was foolishly getting caught in the fishing net of (wait for it) Mackerel Mac! He wants to sell them to Charlie - as food - at Clams 'U' Like. Thankfully, they escaped that potential hell, so it's up to us to bring back that funky music. Help Caspar shake, rattle and roll their way from the bottom of the ocean to the Top of the Charts!

Groan... that is so bad but let's view a couple more screenshots and continue on with this insane game review...

This level features a tough design with two power-ups - that I couldn't manage to reach!! (ST)

Two-player mode has extra features, like dropping weights on heads. Or even a whale! (STe)

Sounds fishy to me!

I eagerly started my first game wondering what excitement lay ahead but that joyful anticipation soon passed as I struggled with the peculiar controls. Casper moves horizontally using a similar rotational mechanic as in Wizball. So the speed of his rotation affects the speed (and direction) of his movements to navigate down through each screen.

From what I've seen, each level is very tall with us beginning at the top. Rotate to move down through the screens, collecting all the required items before leaving through the exit which is at the bottom. All levels have their own layout but follow a similar structure with lots of platforms, routes, and nasty seaside critters to avoid like jellyfish, crabs, and spikes. Thankfully, there are checkpoints, so you won't need to restart from the beginning after coming into contact with them.

Rock 'n' Roll Clams is actually really simple: collect the required items that are dotted about each level and then make your way to the exit. Sounds too easy? Well, no. The baddies are positioned in crafty locations, to make life as difficult as possible, and many will chase after you. Also, the level's design often makes gameplay frustrating especially when rushing to beat the timer. Yes, there's a timer! Factor in all this and the game soon becomes very (ahem) challenging.

As with anything, practice. Learn the controls and you will begin to make progress but only to a certain point, I'm sorry to say. Many levels are poorly designed with enemies you can never avoid, and other areas that are quite impossible to reach with a rotating clam! Not only that but I managed to get stuck on a few dodgy platforms and even suffered a couple of crashes. Perhaps that was down to my Mega STe (4MB/TOS 2.06) but I also had issues using Hatari. #YMMV

Yeah, I would advise that you practice, practice & practice! But cheer up, here are a couple more screenshots...

The first power-up I found is the crash hat which made Casper very macho! (ST)

Here we are racing down without bothering to actually play properly! Meh, why not? (STe)

Need a helping hand?

1. Check out that main menu for access to a number of different starting levels.
2. Each level has its own dangers blindly roaming about so it pays to be coy and wait until the right moment.
3. We need pick-ups but if something is taking too long to reach, I say move on and look elsewhere.
4. Yes, there is a time limit. I hate 'em! So collect the clocks.
5. Hidden levels are plentiful and offer great rewards but not on every level.
6. There are checkpoints so you don't need to re/start from the beginning. Use 'em!
7. Each level has hats that grant special abilities: the crash helmet makes Casper stronger in all four directions but is actually pretty lame I thought. The propeller hat provides fancy flight which makes movements a lot better. Hey, is this game missing a weapon? Then look for the gun hat, if you can find it. Finally, the Viking hat is similar to the crash helmet but only works vertically... yawn.
8. The right side of the screen looks crazy, right? But it's here you can select the power-ups (hats) by holding down the fire button. It's awkward and I was never impressed with any of them tbh. (I'm a miserable sod!)

Not much in the way of help was it? Yep, shows how much I am still struggling with this game! Screenshot time...

Another level with a crazy design, that isn't fun, so stops you from enjoying it. Am I mean? (ST)

Well, at least in this game we have smiley faces to cheer us up! (STe)

Input & Output

The joystick/pad controls are superb and very responsive so Wizball fans will immediately take to the rotational method to move horizontally at different speeds. I didn't. Anyhow, pushing upwards can help reach those items you may have missed. However, this won't compensate for the strong effect of gravity, so can only be used when not freefalling.

Visually, this is colourful and fun but also quite amateur using tacky backdrops and silly sprites. Interestingly, the Blitter is utilised so my STe performed very well and never lagged at all. Hey, it also scrolls great on the stock ST albeit with a reduced resolution. Heck, even Falcon people can play - if you're lucky enough to have one of those expensive beasts!

Now for the audio: let's begin with the effects which are nothing special and should have been more zesty using samples. Thankfully, the music fares better and supports chip (ST) and stereo tracker (STe). Sadly, there aren't nearly enough tunes so it gets repetitive. Finally, I preferred the ST's chiptunes over the grim tracker renditions (sorry not sorry).

Hey, it was 1994 so am I being too harsh? Umm, maybe. But let's view more screenshots while we think about that...

Must admit, the seaside level is the best looking of all. Don't get stuck in the sand! (ST)

Another two-player game where we just hoped for the best... most of the time! (STe)

The CryptO'pinion?

This is one of those games I desperately wanted to enjoy and play to death. I really wanted to rock through each of the levels, taking lots of screenshots, before delivering a glowing report. But, sadly, that isn't to be. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it to a point. However, the basic mechanics of what this game is, and what it desperately hopes to be, fail miserably.

The concept of controlling a ball - horizontally - in a vertically-scrolling world feels skewed somewhat. That method worked well in Wizball, but that's already a horizontally scrolling game. Sadly, poor Casper is trapped in a cramped and restrictive world with infuriating enemy placement. Plus there are bugs that prevent me from passing certain areas!

Having said that, there are redeeming qualities, it plays fast and fluently on all STs with the STe being better. The support for two players is great and miles better than going solo. In fact, my daughter might have found it frustrating (sigh, that iPad generation) yet we had a great laugh simply because she couldn't control it properly - is that good or bad?

It's tough to know what else to say about this weird dollop of Clam Chowder. It's certainly unique but the execution doesn't work well for me, especially for one player. However, that may just be me being a grump? Why not grab the game (floppy disk + hard drive) and take it for a spin (sorry) yourself? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Winglord

Survival of the Fittest

I don't mind admitting it, but Joust is one of those games that I am absolutely terrible at. In fact, I could end this right now because I really am that bad - it really is quite humiliating! However, I also have much affection for flappy jousting, no matter the quality of my skills. Joust is something uniquely entertaining and something that thrills as much as it infuriates (me). So, it was a pleasure to discover that the Atari ST/e has another jousting competitor.

Winglord was originally a shareware game by Victor Bruhn who has since released it as freeware a few years ago. Now, first things first, Winglord can run on either the Atari ST or its sexy sister, the STe. However, Victor intended it for the Atari STe as he utilises the Blitter Chip and DMA Audio. Older STFM's can still play but, won't get to hear the samples and might even suffer some visual anomalies due to the lack of a Blitter that handles the silky-smooth 50Hz display.

I think we need to stop reading and take a gander at the first screenshot. Well, here ya go then...

I struggle to fly whilst the computer cleans up. Yup, another drubbing by my faithful Atari ST...

README.TXT

Nobody ever reads the manual. Well, that's mainly a guy thing but, in this case, it's worthwhile taking a look. Not only are there lots of handy tips but also a great storyline that is fun to read. Come on, there are nasty wizards, medieval castles and winged unicorns which is all great stuff!! For those who still won't read it, here's my take on it:

Guardian Castle is above the villages in the valley below. They're under attack by the wizards of the Northlands whos minions have found a way into the tunnels under the mountain atop which it sits.

They have gained control of most of the caverns and passages that run through the ground underneath the castle, as well as a large portion of the castle. Sinister beings now roam through these areas and have crushed all resistance offered by the sentries and the castle's contingent of soldiers. Evil creatures, some mounted by riders, continue to advance into the halls of the castle and through the caverns in a seemingly unstoppable march! (It's not sounding too good, is it?)

Thankfully, teleporting into the skies above the castle are WingLords who are ready to do battle with the invaders. Mounted upon winged unicorns whose beauty is matched only by their quickness and power, they descend into the depths of Guardian Castle and intercept a group of creatures. Two more riders enter the room and an airborne jousting battle begins between the adversaries.

Their powerful Fire Lances easily destroy the enemy riders, while providing their wielders with a shield against the enemy. The enemy is defeated and the Winglord's unicorn steeds use their natural teleportation ability and leave the battlefield to have their lances re-charged.

Now the WingLords wait for another onslaught, ready to do battle with the fire-spitting Yellow Jackets. The Dark Riders are also armed with fire-spitting lances. The Wing Masters, deadly flyers who are immune to missile weapons, and must be jousted against. This war is far from won!

Sounds cool, right? Of course, it does so let's take a break from reading and check out another screenshot... 

The Apprentice knights are a little slow but a lot harder than you might think.

Winged unicorns?

Winglord will instantly feel familiar to seasoned jousters. One or two players can compete, at the same time, controlled by either the computer or another humanoid that you may have lying about your house. Of course, each level is of a similar design with platforms that can/will prove to be of strategic use. As with the original, the screens feature a wrap-around design when reaching the edge. However, the eggs are gone and there are ceiling vents.

Yes, there are some alternative changes and also some that are peculiar ones. Gone are the lanky ostriches for unicorns - and unicorns don't lay eggs. But these majestic beasts love to strut their stuff - just watch them walk. So cool. Battling against enemy knights follows the same format but they now feature some unexpected traits and there are even buzzy bees too. Best of all, some medieval knights are expert jousters with exceptional skills. Beware!

Once again, let's stop reading my nonsense chit-chat and take another gander at a screenshot...

This isn't good, I'm about to be pounced on or stung to death at any moment!

Know your enemy

Any level can feature four different enemies each with its own strengths, control, style and armament:

The Apprentice - these guys are armed with only a lance. You might be fooled into thinking he's going to be an easy opponent. Don't kid yourself, he's crafty and has some nice flying skills. Also, he's immune to your missile attacks. Hang on, a moment... did I just say missile?!!

Yellow Jackets - this is a buzzy bee with suicidal tendancies, which means they're quite tough to safely defeat. These can, and will sworm, so watch out. Okay, they're a little dumb but, as a nest, they are a fanominal force. Perhaps a missile in its face is a good idea to teach them who's boss?

Dark Riders - this guy carries both a lance and a pack of missiles. He's fast, he's brutal and he's a damn tough lancer. Basically, he's gonna kick your ass!! Excellent fighters.

Wing Masters - Winglord shows its true colours when this guy enters the arena. These are jousting geniuses and tough cookies with ferocious combat skills. Be warned!! 

Hey, it's time for another sexy screenshot!! Get ready...

I tried my best to get a screenshot of a missile hitting a bee! Quite impossible lol.

Controls

Joystick controls feel much like they do with ST Joust, which was a massive relief because I was dreading any disastrous changes. Flight and control are perfect, even if you are as unskilled as me. There is an option to choose your preferred 'flap power' that will alter the effect of the vertical force which is applied with each press of the button. Choosing high will gain greater altitude whereas low offers better control. It's best to experiment with what feels right for you.

Pushing downwards will fire a missile. Yep, a missile. It's one of the most unexpected treats I could have imagined. I must admit though, at first, it feels weird but it sure comes in handy against those dopy Yellow Jackets! And who doesn't love blasting rockets? Note, these work against the Dark Riders and the bees - and can only be used during flight.

Hey, come back!! I know that you're dying to play this game but we're not done yet - it's screenshot time...

Mummy, I wanna go home now!

Big Tips!

1) Don't panic.

2) Playtest with the different flap rates to see what suits you the best.
3) Disable the second player, he can be distracting I found.
4) Disable the second player anyhow as he's far too skilled!!
5) Judge your entrance for a well-timed drop onto your unsuspecting opponent.
6) Don't bang down on the joystick too quickly, unless you enjoy hearing the sounds.
7) Those platforms can make for good defence.
8) Bonus rounds are a great way to earn extra points.
9) Why you listening to me? I suck at jousting!
10) For those with skills like mine, hit the Up/Down arrows on the main menu!!

There's a swarm of nasties coming and my unicorn decides to strut his stuff to look cool. Sheesh!

Aesthetics

Visually, it's more or less, Joust and a damn good take on that original format I might add. However, being similar to Joust means it's also hardly something to gawk at in wonder! Not only that but the levels appear to have less detail compared to the official ST conversion. Having said these minor moans, it looks nice and the animations are quite beautiful. I love watching my unicorn walk between the levels just for fun. He just loves to strut his stuff - so cool!!

It would be a crime to end it there without mentioning the framerate. It is smooth. Very, very smooth. In fact, it's smoother than Kojak's bald head drenched in baby oil. I believe this is thanks to the Blitter lurking inside the Atari STe. It's a great thing to see a developer that obviously enjoyed going that extra mile.

The sound effects are made up of a neat selection of samples. All are crystal clear, thanks to the DMA hardware that Victor thankfully used. I only wish he would have recorded some more - for extra pizazz. Sadly, older ST's suffer minimal sounds but Winglord was developed on (and intended for) the Atari STe. So stop moaning and upgrade!

Jousting is excellent fun but can you handle the heat when it's 6 against 1 like in this final screenshot...

Hang on, I've lasted longer than the computer? Time to shoot and beat his score, for once!

The CryptO'pinion?

Joust is one of the best arcade conversions for the Atari ST. With that in mind, Winglord needed to deliver the goods and guess what, it did. The cosmetic changes are nice and I love the option to use missiles. Also, tinkering with the flap-power attribute is a superb idea and the option for a second player is just dandy, even if the computer outperforms me every time!! The change of theme worked well as did other differences like the regular use of bonus rounds.

Winglord cannot replace Joust, that's impossible but, I don't think it was ever meant to. As it stands, it's a fine alternative and something that doesn't disappoint in the slightest. This game is so much fun and I would have liked nothing better than to show you more (in my video) but that was never gonna happen with skills like mine. Sorry :p

Personally, I think this game is a fantastic "clone" of the original and the differences are great. Best of all, the Atari ST/e has another version of Joust - that's never a bad thing in my opinion. Winglord is absolutely excellent.

- Download from AtariMania -

Serenade #78

I enjoyed the STAX #90 feature so figured I would do another one! This time we delve into the Serenade archives to see what's lurking on one of their amazing 85 "PD" disks - nothing quite like keeping it legit? Anyhow, menu #78 appeared to stand out from the crowd with lots of cool games crammed onto one disk.

This is a simple menu compared to others from their catalogue but there is stereo music for those lucky enough to own an Atari STe. In fact, it's one of few mods that hasn't aged badly, so a massive thumbs up from this chiptune guy. The scroller is very interesting - apparently, Man Utd did well against their arch-rivals!

Serenade's library can be downloaded from Stonish with credits/etc on Demozoo. Let's begin...

- DEADLAND -

A platoon of little stickmen have crash-landed on the planet Ursula Minor and this place is crawling with Ursulan Soldiers who are eager to kill you without mercy! Also, there are dangerous natural disasters to avoid so it's best we don't hang about and quickly repair our spaceship to escape this hellhole. This means piecing that together (JetPac-style!) before anyone can be safely evacuated. Sounds very easy, right?

Deadland first feels similar to Rebellion or Cannon Fodder: control the direction of your active soldiers using the mouse and a right-click turns them into trigger-happy Rambos. The planet is crawling with enemies and constantly frantic so it's tough battling whilst planning construction work - that might leave some vulnerable? It's easy to lose your bearings and, just when you're getting to grips, your men drown in a mud pool!!

The enemy is relentless so you cannot expect to wander about easily killing anything without taking a more strategic approach. Each member of your team is listed on the right-hand side of the screen for a health condition and other abilities. Don't forget to look after these guys - green is never good outside of the GEM desktop. There is a lot to master here, especially whilst defending against enemies, incoming rockets, mines /etc.

I enjoyed Deadland and the concept is great but this isn't something you can easily pick up and play. It takes time and a map would have been nice as would using the cursor keys to scroll. Yep, I have struggled to get to grips with Deadland but it's an excellent strategy and potentially rewarding. If you're brave enough?

- TRAPPED II -

I couldn't get this to work on my Atari STe - blank screen! So I switched to emulation to discover a Tron game. I've never been a fan of this genre but I gotta admit it's good. It features different game styles, screen layouts and even a few power-ups (which I didn't expect). There's not much to look at (shock) and I imagined the sound effects would grate, but they didn't. After all these decades, I actually enjoyed a Tron game!

- MANIC MINEFIELD -

Minesweeper was another fad that I have always failed to appreciate and Manic Minefield appears faithful to what I remember with gameplay that's about as enjoyable as I expected. Shockingly, after a few games, I enjoyed this crude imitator even though I never won a single game! I often felt robbed of a win because I'm sure the ST cheats!! Then it rubs salt into your wounds using a sound sample to mock your lack of success. Interestingly, the board size, wallpaper, /etc can be altered in the Options screen. Which is kinda cool.

Manic Minefield is okay and I imagine fans will enjoy it? But I doubt it's something I will play again...

- FRANK & THE LOST AUBERGINE -

Never would I have imagined loving a game's title more than "Hector vs The Mutant Vampire Tomatoes From Hell" yet here is Frank And The Lost Aubergine!! It's a fast-paced platformer developed using the STOS Missing Link extension and has us frantically running around screens crammed with monsters and gems.

Collect every gem to proceed onto the next level but watch out for the baddies. These can be killed by dropping a well-timed bomb directly in their path - difficult but doable. Or you could slam into them albeit at the expense of losing one of your 50 lives. Yep, 50 and you'll need them all because there are lots of monsters!

Movement is very fast - too fast!! It's difficult to position where to stand when you wish to leap off a ledge. In fact, leaping over the wider gaps is close to impossible and takes too many attempts. I love a platformer that tests your patience, skills and dexterity but it simply doesn't work here. A good idea poorly executed.

- DELUXE INVADERS -

I love Space Invaders and I'm confident nothing will beat Sinister Developments' fantastic conversion. That is arcade-perfect using authentic effects!! However, this is a conversion of Roklan's 8-Bit Deluxe Invaders by one of the biggest ST legends. I've never played the Roklan game so was hoping for something different.

There are two modes: slow and fast. The slower game looks superb with colourful aliens invading your screen and can be sped up by flicking over to 60Hz - something you should consider. The faster version is better to play but appears boring in comparison, so I went looking for a green cellophane to wrap around my monitor!

Sadly, I didn't feel it with Deluxe Invaders and preferred the original if I'm brutally honest. It's a good game but, there are better "Invader" games for the Atari ST. Sigh, I'm also a bit deflated about that fact.

- NIBE -

This is a great snake game I featured this a couple of years ago so I'll copy and paste it:

NIBE is a Nibbler/Snake game by Marc Bourlon that features an ever-greedy snake who wants to chomp his way through lots of apples. However, this gluttony makes him grow longer with each bite so it becomes harder protecting him from bumping into walls or even his own tail. It's our job to help him eat his way through lots of screens - and many are pretty cruel in their design. You can even change the game's speed (if you dare!!)

Graphics are humble and suit the retro theme plus I love its title screen - which is actually a good intro. Sadly, there are no sound effects so Mad Max music plays throughout - never a bad thing!! Overall, Nibe is pretty straightforward and also extremely challenging thanks to a sinister design. Stick with it because the basic mechanics are spot-on and Nibe will certainly test your reactions, patience and concentration so prepare thyself to be tormented!!

I really enjoyed this olde game but beware, it's tough. Probably too tough for you!!!

- MULTRIX -

Groan, another Tetris game? Yup, and it's not that good I'm sorry to say so play BLAT or Teserae instead.

- The CryptO'pinion -

That was not an awesome ride through the Atari ST history books I first imagined. In fact, it was a little bit of a letdown, if I'm honest. Not only did I have compatibility problems with a couple of games (Atari STe) but this was a true mixed bag of joy, disappointment and even a few stinkers thrown in for good measure!

It all depends on what you like but, Deadland and Nibe are the best reasons to click download.

STAX #90

Compact Disks

Everyone knows I love Menu Disks and there's nothing better than going through a pile of floppy disks (incl virtual disks). Even if it's just to listen to the tunes or read through a 30-odd years ago scroller! It sounds rather sad to anyone under 50? ;-) Ignoring that, here is a belter by STAX - it's their 90th disk and features a nice intro followed by a couple of demos and games - which are all impressive for different reasons.

The remainder of their disks (and more) are available on Demozoo and Pouet.

- Aromatica -

Aromatica is a collection of old-school demo screens by The Swedish Meatballs and features scrollers with extra colours and chiptunes. It reminded me of the days prior to the Union Demo, which is no bad thing. There's nothing here to blow you away, but I enjoyed flicking through this collection. Definitely worth a look.

- Flight Over Sirius -

If you love dots then you're gonna fall big time for this dentro by The Sirius Cybernetics Corporation. There are several cool effects here with a fantastic chiptune. And just wait until you see those end credits with that diagonal scroller!! I felt it could have sped up a little with each section but I really enjoyed this fantastic demo.

- Snacman -

Everyone loves running around a maze popping pills and the Atari ST/e already has a number of fantastic clones. Snacman was developed by Ralph Lovesy of Impact Software, the same team that gave us ... Team for the Atari STe! Multiple players are also supported using a combination of keyboard/joystick.

For one-player things are much what you'd expect with PacMan even sporting cool shades. Four ghosts haunt the maze: Eeney, Meeney, Miney and Mo and chomping a power star turns the tables on them. Fruits are available for extra points and a freebie life is awarded when reaching 20,000. Also, you can grab a couple of isolated family members and huddle around the ST to play as Eenie and Meeney? This is a brilliant feature being able to chase Snacman around the screen - watch the end of my video recording for a quick demonstration.

Visually, there's little to spruce up this oldtimer but that's exactly what they've done using gorgeous colours. Music is by Greg Lovesy and best heard on the Atari STe with stereo tunes on the title and in-game!!

Snacman is tons of fun and implementing support for more players - as the ghosts - is fantastic. You and your kids will be playing Snacman for hours - especially those plucky Atari STe dudes who get to hear stereo music. Crank up the volume and enjoy what is nothing less than a superb PacMan. An easy 10/10.

- Masters Of Chaos -

I first thought we had another Dungeon Master clone on our hands but it's actually a two-player shoot 'em up developed by Genuwax Games. Yes, one or two players are supported either using the same computer or connected via Midi. The screen is split using separate gameplay windows for each person and it's now that your jaw drops to the floor thanks to the use of overscan for a ginormous display!

As player one, we move and shoot with the WASD key combination and 1-4 to handle objects/buttons (a second player uses the numerical keypad). Exploring the halls feels instantly familiar with puzzles and hidden doorways. Our health, stamina and mana are all shown as green bars. Blasting out fireballs is your best defence when coming face-to-face with any of the dungeon's nasties! The ripped graphics look superb, especially in overscan! However, there are no sound effects which is disappointing and freaky.

This was a fascinating find and not something I ever expected. As a shooter, it works well but there are no sound effects, few monsters, and it's easy to get lost - unless you've got a pen and paper at hand? I could live with the silence but it needed many more monsters. A uniquely presented game and is best in multiplayer.

Credits to Damon Chaplin for the background music (from The Last Trooper)

Frantick

Munsie power!!

I remember playing Frantick years ago so I figured it was about time that I gave this another shot. Well, after today's attempt, I still suck eggs but boy, is this a cracking game. Released in 1994 by the legend that is Dave Munsie, Frantick is a shoot 'em up kinda like a 2D Tempest! The documentation states that your reflexes and dexterity will be tested.

It's not wrong! This game is very challenging so features two extra game modes to help train you: Easy and Droid. Personally, I preferred the help from my trusty droid who seemed to enjoy sacrificing itself to compensate for my sluggish reactions... I suggest playing in either mode for several games of practice, you'll need it. Trust me.

Our spaceship is situated within a horizontal stripe along the middle of the screen. We can't escape this area but can move along it and fire up/downwards at the enemies. These blighters will ascend on your position, so be quick and kill them before they reach you. One touch and you're brown bread, but there are power-ups to help and other bonuses. If things get too crazy then whack your spacebar to activate a limited supply of nukes.

Graphically, things are actually pretty simple but using freakishly psychedelic styles! There are many different aliens and everything comes alive with colour. Heck, there is even an epilepsy warning! The sound effects are superb and STe owners, with enough Ram, can listen to streamed DMA music in-game which I really enjoyed. Oh yeah!!

As with Anarchy, this is one of those games that is too fast for old Stevie! Frantick completely bemuses and overwhelmed me with its furious action but it's such a thrill. But boy, what a ride. Phew!! This is what you'd call a great example of arcade-style gaming at its best. Just make sure you wear cheap sunglasses and drink lots of coffee first!

Brilliant game and something that I've thoroughly enjoyed. This is nothing less than a ridiculous shoot 'em up!!

Download from AtariMania for the fully registered game.

 [ Install to hdd/ultrasatan for best results ] 

Blob Race

Worms. Gambling. Death!!

It's not often a parent introduces their young child to gambling! But, I figured racing blobs was going to be worth the risk of the cops knocking on my door. Yep, you heard correctly, today we are going to be betting on green blobs which is something similar to the horse racing machines at the seaside amusement arcades (and this one won't cost you a penny!)

Developed by Kev Davis back in 1991, Blob was never released for some insane reason.

Well, not until 1994 after he saw an unreleased beta on a Menu Disk... Yikes!

You know me, folks, I love Atari ST games but our PD/Homebrew scene is something else. There is so much out there just waiting to be re/played. It's often the place to find hidden gems bursting with innovative ideas from people that loved to experiment. Well, I think Blob Race is just that and I've gotta say Kev has a fantastic sense of humour!

What am I waffling on about? Let's take a look at a screenshot before you should read on...

Ricky D. would be proud of that boulder... until it squashed a blob to death!

Wacky Races

All games are a gamble and we begin with £100 in the kitty. Racing a blob is just like the games from the arcades: pick yourself a likely winner from a selection of six candidates. Each has a name and its own individual characteristics for speed, reactions (how well they can maintain that speed) and the number of tricks they're able to perform.

Oh yes, a blob can possess a bunch of tricks used against competitors such as throwing bombs, riding a bike, and sprouting helicopter wings. If all this wasn't enough, you might see one teleport or explode. Love it!!

The betting system is simple but not like you might expect: come first and you get your winnings at the specified odds. Coming in second allows half of that, whilst third place gets you your money back. Finish worse than that and you receive a big-fat-nothing. This system actually works really well and helps keep everyone playing for longer.

It's time for another glorious screenshot of technically amazing graphics. Well, no, but at least it's a funny one...

One gets crushed by a ton weight and another develops helicopter hair.

High Roller Racing!

That's about all there is to this belting game: pick a blob and watch it squelch across the screen. It's great fun but what makes it extra awesome is its simplicity and superb humour: I loved the falling ton weights, bombs, and lots of other worm-like incidents. Also, the news headlines are funny: avoid cliches like the plague. My only criticism would be the length of each race which is too short otherwise Blob is ace and gets a thumbs-up from both of us here. You'll love it!!

Come on, grab the download and give this stupid game a run for its money. Let me know what you think.

Pop!

Menu Disks!

One thing I love is trolling the ST's massive archive of menu disks and Golden Dawn #44 features quite a few unexpected crackers. The first is Pop! by Manuel Castrillo of Bit Culture, a 1993 shareware game. The instructions are quite difficult but we're on Skuiskie Island and armed with a gas gun to kill lots of nasties!

Pop! is a platformer that feels kinda like a weird mix of Pang and Monster Business. Actually, it's rather odd if I'm honest, and certainly not what I expected to play. Right from the start, you're thrown in at the deep end which means instant death. Why game developers think something like this is a good thing, I do not know.

Stick with it and, after many pointless deaths, you will get the hang of things. Use your gun to gas these critters to Hell - they take a few hits! Enjoy their cute expressions but hurry up because they need to die before the time limit expires. The controls feel nice but are too slow, especially when trying to turn around in the frantic heat of battle. Interestingly, there is support for two players which adds a whole new level.

So what about the graphics and sounds? Well, I couldn't ever be too judgmental about the aesthetics of any shareware game but Hoog has already set that bar impossibly high. However, Pop! has nice graphics with some neat touches - like your death. The colours are a little off so I think a better use of the palette should have been made, especially when monsters blend into the scenery and your gun's bubbles are invisible against the background sky. Music is DMA and in stereo but sadly very little audio is heard during gameplay...

This is a shockingly silly game but addictive too. With a little more thought, I'm sure Pop! could have been better but it's spoiled by sluggish controls and a terribly harsh time limit. Having said that, I obviously thought it was good enough to feature - so either I'm going soft or I had myself some fun on this rainy morning?

Go on, grab yourself Golden Dawn's disk via Demozoo, and take a look at this screenshot...

Instantly eaten alive by something oddly cute. Must try harder...

Kudos to them for putting most commercial companies to shame by making use of the STe!

Rumbo

Rumbo is a flick-screen platformer developed in STOS by Pete Halloran and isn't too dissimilar to Rick Dangerous with more than its fair share of <cough> similarities. The story is simple, our girl has been kidnapped by something hideous so it's time we dressed like Rambo and tool-up to begin our valiant rescue mission.

After watching a short, but superb, intro of our girl being kidnapped the game begins inside the underground in caves - a place that only Rick Dangerous himself would normally enjoy exploring. Within here are many rooms with a variety of tricks and traps - but many predictable ones like spikes to leap over. Also, there are some cruel ones like strange creatures who appear out of thin air without any warning. I hate him!

The first end of level boss is a giant bat but don't fret too much because it just moves up and down. It's lame and probably should have been left out if I'm honest. But Rumbo has come prepared for all these monsters and bosses and is loaded with more than enough ammunition, which is something I love about the game.

When level two begins it's pretty much more of the same, but with different graphics! However, there appears to be a bug that prevented me from completing the final(?) room: hitting a switch did nothing that I could see. Thus I found myself stuck with no way to venture on which is a huge shame because I was really enjoying Rumbo until that moment. I'm now wondering if I've missed something stupidly obvious in the previous rooms?

Graphics are quite average Joe but do their job even if entering a new room draws at ST Basic speeds. Sound effects are made up of a few fuzzy samples but they're good and I especially liked those howel of death. Also, Rumbo's tippy-tappy walk reminded this old gamer of Chuckie Egg 2 (ZX Spectrum version). I know I'm being daft, but I loved it and it also broke the near-silence due to the lack of in-game music. Which is a shame?

Overall, I have really enjoyed Rumbo which I've found to be balanced and fun to play. Sadly, there's that bug on level two but maybe it was me? I tried it twice and each time I got stuck... Ignoring that, Rumbo offers platform fans to be an avenging squirrel in a Ricky D world. This is cool so grab your bandana and download the floppy disk!

Pacman On E's

Pac-Man? Again? Yawn... boring!!

Yes, there are already several examples of cracking Pacman games for the best 16-bit computer on the planet. So Pacman On E really needed to bring something extra special to the table. Well, this game has been developed specifically for the enhanced Atari STe and, unlike so many lost shareware titles, this download is actually the registered version! This comes with lots of cool gameplay/aesthetic extras which will impress!

The Pacman game is timeless but this version takes the familiar genre to a new level thanks to its furious speeds. There are 100 levels, zany visuals, funky music and a range of stereo sound effects: like the Road Runner's "meep meep" and the buzzer from Family Fortunes. Digital Dreams utilises the STe's extra colours, Blitter and DMA Audio. Interestingly, the Function Keys can change the bass, treble, volume (and more).

Credits

Stuart Innes - Programming/Graphics

Robert Thompson - Graphics/Sfx

Alasdair Macmillan - Graphics

Come on, play the game

PacMan On E's can be fully enjoyed solo for the most hilariously challenging take on the original concept. It's tripped out and stuffed with colourful visuals and a bucket load of whacky sound effects. The action and fast and exciting so never gets boring, which is how the original becomes. Well, after a while.

Best of all is the simultaneous two-player support especially when hunting for the power-ups. There are a variety of silly effects and my recording shows myself and my daughter playing it together in coop. Absolutely superb!! (When she lost she decided to cheat by covering my eyes with her hands. Hmm!)

Download me!

You can grab this belting Pac-Man game from most ST websites but Peter, aka 8BitChip, has adapted the registered version which you can download from my Dropbox (while his website is currently offline as I type). My personal greetings to Stuart Innes, Robert Thomson and Alasdair Macmillan for this wonderful game!!

Wait, don't go just yet!! Let's see some screenshots before you download this fantastic game...

An iconic opening intro. Love it!!

Oh yes, lots of STe-only features that you can tweak.

Super-duper colourful graphics to jazz up boring old Pacman.

Fine design spruced up using fantastic colour work.

What? This screenshot looks kinda dull. But the action is furious!

The final screenshot is here only to send your eyeballs crazy with a psychedelic design!

Michigan Mike And The Lost City Of Zorog

Michigan Mike is a scrolling platformer developed using GFA Basic by Gordon Storey. It features an Indiana Jones wannabe who's got himself into a spot of bother and now desperately needs our help to escape.

As you would expect from any platformer, each level has poisonous critters and many traps like crumbling rocks, acid pools, and spikes. However, Mike's energy levels are slowly depleting, which is really annoying because this forces you to rush. Of course, touching any of the nasties only helps to increase that energy loss - so collect food to replenish him. Having said that, it's worth watching him die just to enjoy the explosive graphics!

Michigan Mike And The Lost City Of Zorog is a no-frills platformer with great joystick controls that make it very playable. Okay, he may have big feet and freaky eyes but I've actually enjoyed this. My only gripe is the energy meter because this goes down far too quickly. Not a great platformer but far from being a bad one. Give it a try!

Holocaust

Holocaust is an (unreleased) vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up developed by Dattrax Software and later given away in ST Format. It's incredibly fast and features lots of enemies to kill, bonuses and bosses to annihilate! Heck, it has a couple of cool intros and even talks out loud which is something any Currah MicroSpeech fan will adore.

The gameplay is initially very frantic and makes Wings Of Death look easy! It's disappointing that we're given only one life (without bonuses) which is lame and I would have expected at least three to tame this rabid beast!! The graphics might not look ace but they move at a brisk 50fps which is ultra-cool. Music is gorgeous!

Brace yourself for a breathtaking shoot 'em up. Only the strong need to apply for this one... sheesh!!