PONG

Ping!

I love finding something "new" and yesterday I saw a version of Pong on Atari Legend but one I had not played. It's by Construct Developments but I couldn't source a download from anywhere until ST Graveyard, aka Maarten Martens, kindly sent me the disk image. (Download also added into AtariMania for safekeeping)

Pong works on the Atari STe with stereo tracker music, but the gameplay isn't exactly what I assumed. Forget your friends and family because this is a one-player conversion using the joystick to control both paddles simultaneously. So, as you guide the left paddle, the right will automatically move in the opposite direction for a brain-busting experience! It's tough to fully master - but Pongtastic and bucketloads of fun!!

Sadly, it appears Pong wasn't finished so there are a few minor niggles. The only thing that bugged me was how the ball becomes difficult to follow as it passes over an area of similar colour. Nothing is perfect and finding new Atari ST games is always good, and this game certainly offers a neat twist on the format.

Bold / Wiliness III

 

 

BeST laid plans...

I recently discovered an unreleased shooter called Bold by Laurent Kermel.  Rather than my usual approach, I delved into the documentation and found his website listed, which is still working. It has an Atari ST section detailing unfinished ST games. Take a look at these pictures (above) of Slug Dragoon Twins Tenesis and Empire. These are truly impressive ST games, I’m sure you’ll agree, but sadly lost to time.

I messaged Laurent to express my gratitude for Bold and Wiliness 3 (Dungeon Master). Laurent is a genuinely kind person, and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. Maybe he'll complete his works, one day?

Here's the link to the Atari ST section of his current website, along with his superb YouTube video.

- B O L D -

Lazy programmers say the ST can't scroll

Bold is a fantastic shoot ‘em up for the Atari ST/e, drawing inspiration from several games. It’s a cross between Zynaps and R-Type, offering fast and frantic action as enemies zoom across the screen like they’re on steroids. Yes, quick reactions are essential!! I love the graphics, but it’s a shame that a large portion of the screen remains unused (an intended status panel?). Bold isn’t controlled with a joystick but the mouse, which took a few games to fully grasp. However, I soon realised it’s absolutely perfect for sharp manoeuvrability.

Any ST model is compatible, but Bold performs better (and smoother) with a Blitter chip. While all Atari STe computers meet that requirement, other users might need to purchase one to fill the empty socket inside their STFM. Unfortunately, those old pre-1987 STs might not even have an empty socket. YMMV.

Despite its unfinished state, Bold is incredible with precise mouse control. It’s a thrilling shooter!

• The Bold web page has the download and a nifty walkthrough of each level.
• I made a video, but I hate YouTube, so advise you not to watch - instead PLAY the game :-)
• A cheat code is mentioned in the interview with Laurent within Alive Magazine #09.
• Chris Swinson, aka Exxos, sells Blitter chips, but I've now exhausted my hardware knowledge...

- W I L I N E S S  III -

Grab a flask and sword, we're going in!!

Laurent developed a Dungeon Master clone called Wiliness 3, which is shockingly professional and could have been a rival to the FTL classic. The RPG experience is amazing with a familiar user interface as we crawl through another creepy dungeon. Of course, it's unfinished, but 6 levels are playable, plus I liked the control system and those eerie sound effects. Wiliness had the potential to be something quite extraordinary.

This is something I need to spend a weekend on sometime. A brilliant dungeon crawler!

• The Wiliness web page has the download and a BUCKET load of helpful information!
• Check out Walls Of Illusion and the newly updated Dungeon Master for the Atari STe.

 

Roger

Roger the Dodger

Spot... Erm, sorry, Roger is a fast-paced 25-level platformer released by Tobe of MJJ. It offers a frantic run through various Sonic-like levels, collecting jewels for a demanding girlfriend, Georgette. This "platformer" has many jewels - without any ladders and few ledges. So how will Roger complete this task?

Bubbles, of course! All he needs to do is jump on one and, when it bursts, the force thrusts him upwards. If there's another bubble, then the cycle continues, and he uses that momentum to reach other jewels. Roger has limited health, so it's advisable to avoid the sharp spikes that burst on contact, as they drain his energy. Power pills can be collected to compensate for that, but they are few and far between.

Okay, let's take a break from the reading as I have a sexy picture to share...

This is what it's all about, and Georgette is a babe with her luscious red lips!

Quick Reactions R Needed!

Use the joystick to walk left/right, and the fire button helps Roger leap with joy via the bubbles. Once you begin bubble-jumping, it's a matter of adjusting your trajectory towards the next bubble whilst collecting the nearby jewels as you zoom through the air. Burst bubbles reappear after a second or two, and that aspect cunningly allows you to revisit the areas you might have previously missed during this insane journey.

Want a tip? Gotta learn the level layout as you are hopping about like a crazy fool!

Are you getting a little worried about how deranged this game sounds? It's not nearly as stupid as you think because the mechanics of bubble-hopping work brilliantly. In some ways, I got a Sonic vibe from it, but, unlike that hedgehog, Roger is zooming around your screen in all directions with one primary goal.

It's a maddening thrill being Roger, and you'll love it, so let's see another screenshot...

Check out that stride - gotta love those lanky legs!

What about the aesthetics?

The graphics are a mixed bag; Roger's sprite is superb with side-splitting animation - I could watch those lanky legs for hours!! The framerates are frighteningly fast with smooth scrolling thanks to the Blitter. Sadly, the in-game decor is quite a disappointment, with drab backgrounds that only change every 5 levels.

Sound effects are crisp and perfectly suited to the style: I like the explosion sound for the spikes, and the music is magnificent throughout. Well, I say magnificent, but that's because I cannot think of a better word - I could listen to them all day!! This certainly proves that chip music will last forever and rightly so.

Right then, let's see one final screenshot before the gripping climax...

Finally, a different background after the first few levels, and it's much nicer too.

The CryptO'pinion?

Roger is quite a unique experience and feels like an airborne Boulder Dash meets Sonic. It's weird and something I would never have expected to like. It's easy to pick up and play, and I guarantee you won't be able to put down your joystick. Hopping from bubble to bubble is stupidly frantic, and I loved every second of it.

Roger's gameplay is legendary. Enormously addictive with an extreme adrenaline rush!! Play this.

Roger can be found on Demozoo for floppy/hard drive installation.

Tobé's archive is detailed on Demozoo, although he strayed a little ;-)