- The download is available at Atarimania (for both hard drive and floppy).
- Demozoo features all credits with links to more of their work and more.
- R0x Zero goes straight into the enhanced Atari STe games list.
- Did you miss the original R0x? Better click that link then!
- For this feature, all screenshots were taken using emulation. Use real hardware!!
Sunday, September 21, 2025
R0x Zero
Friday, November 27, 2020
Iceblox Plus
Yet Another New Game?
I might be a couple of years late but here is Iceblox Plus, a brand new Pengo remake by Karl Hornell for Cรดtรฉ Gamers. It's based on the recent Commodore 64 conversion - which is based on the mobile phone original. That is some history and it's actually strange to think it was something I could have played on my old Nokia!
The game introduces us to Pete the Penguin and explains the gameplay basics which are crushing blocks as the method used to eliminate our enemies. As in Pengo, there are 16 icy screens with blocks to shove or smash; some you break whereas others can slide into the baddies for an instant kill (flames and burning wheels). A few blocks will contain hidden coins and it's these that we should break open to complete each level.
Sounds cute and cuddly doesn't it? Let's check out the first screenshot of our chubby fella...
Gaming like it's 1982
Iceblox breaks you in gently with just the one flame lurking, but things soon heat up with the next level having two flames chasing you. By the fourth level, three flames are chasing which is frantic. However, I personally found the difficulty drastically increased by level 6 which is all thanks to those dreaded burning wheels! These do a magnificent job of tracking down poor old Pete for a terrible death by fire. He prefers it cold!
It's interesting how the levels become progressively harder; thanks to their unassuming design and the firey enemies who appear in combinations (up to) four at once. Both use great chasing techniques that feel like H-Mec II. Killing them results in bonus points. Plus a much-needed short breather, before they respawn!
You won't last long without a few practice games, trust me. This next screenshot was a killer...
Fancy some tips?
Oh heck, I only managed to reach level 12 which isn't bad at all (for me). So I hope this helps you guys:
- Don't just run around like an idiot - think before you make your move!
- Use the blocks to extinguish those dreaded enemies for a burst of freedom albeit only for a second or so. Hey, don't knock it, every second counts.
- Each nasty provides a high degree of cunning chase, rather than blindly heading to your location. However, the wheels can be infuriating so take them out as quickly as possible.
- Use the maze design by hiding behind static blocks for cover (see below).
- Don't panic. I know, it's easier said than done, but panicking only gets Pete killed quicker!
Graphics & Sounds
Okay, this is no Gods or Magic Boy but I doubt any version of Pengo would drop your jaw to the floor? Iceblox is strikingly 8-bit with a bold design using colourful and beautifully animated sprites - I love how Pete wibbles as he walks! Plus he turns into a skeleton when dying, which is sad but also funny. It looks old yet sorta new?
The audio is just as cute as the visuals with jingles and chip music by M.D. Smit. Everything has a simplicity I adore - it's not trying to produce the greatest ST music but it's humorously apt for the task at hand.
It looks and sounds like the 8-Bit era should have been? Yup, and it's screenshot time too...
The CryptO'pinion?
Iceblox Plus is a great twist on the original and, rather than a straight conversion, it comes with added bells and whistles. My only gripe is the limited play area using a grid layout of 12x10 which is a little claustrophobic.
I enjoy how Iceblox Plus transported me back in time. Those old enough to remember the original (or the 8-bit conversions) will appreciate the balance of authentic and updated styles. Although I panic like a big girl's blouse from level six onwards, I'm completely smitten by the exhilarating oldskool gameplay.
Iceblox is quite simply a fantastic game and is highly recommended.
AtariMania has the download
There is a boxed version by Cote Gamers (now sold out).
Has anyone got Iceblox Plus for sale? Thanks!
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
MANIC MINER
Please note, this is still a WIP as there are a few niggles to be ironed out. Each level faithfully follows the same playable mechanics of the original but, don't for a second think this means we have a boring ripoff. Willy's adventure has received a cool makeover with beautiful YMT audio and each screen has been designed with painstaking accuracy.
- During the title intro, press 1, 2, 3 to change the music.
- Pressing R will display a CPU usage raster for the geeks.
- In-game, use the cursor keys to walk and he jumps by slapping the spacebar.
- You can quit and kill poor Willy anytime by hitting the K key.
- Need a wee? Just pause the game by hitting the P key.
- Crazy fools who don't love the gorgeous thumping tunes can hit M to mute.
Keeping this project quiet from everyone has been tough - months of beta testing have been an absolute joy. It's impressive how development progressed into a fully playable game. The final version is near completion, so you know where to come when it's ready. Genuinely, this is one of the most exciting Atari ST games released in recent years.
I'd like to take a moment to thank Peter for creating this Atari ST version of Manic Miner. It originally started as a joke, a playful teaser, but it wasn't long before he began programming a playable demo. From there, we created and tested what was nothing less than a crisp clone of the original - with spanky new aesthetics. To think that we now have a (near) complete version of Manic Miner is mindblowing. So, I'd like to thank Peter for all his hard work and kindness.
This is something I'll always appreciate beyond words.
Okay, the latest version is now available to download via the Demozoo website. Go on, grab it now!!
I wrote Manic Miner because I have a friend that was very sad that this platformer didn’t exist for the ST. So I thought that I would make him happy and began drawing the title picture which soon lead me onto designing the intro screen - but I only wanted to make a prant screenshot for April 1st. Sadly, I did not finish in time. But then the idea started to continue on with the programming to see what happens. However, I’ve not made a game in decades because life always got in the way but I wanted to do this remake just to stop my friend from crying.
So you could say that this is a Manic Miner AtariCrypt Edition! (I love that -Steve)
My goal was to make the gameplay feel as close to the original as I could but still take advanced of the Atari ST's hardware. Thus, this is a remake rather than a conversion because I have not used a single piece of the original code. I have spent many hours analysing each level, and I’ve used the original sprites and recoloured them but some needed minor changes to work. The map graphics were changed in a big way, to what I think was the idea was behind each level. I played the MSX version so I could see how the game acts and I also think this is close to the Speccy original.
Overall, I'm quite pleased with the results and I hope people enjoy playing Manic Miner :-)
Monday, August 27, 2018
Hibernated 1 - This Place is Death
Hibernated 1: This Place is Death is a sci-fi text adventure by Stefan Vogt and released for a variety of different platforms along with our beautiful Atari ST. We are Olivia Lund onboard the intergalactic spaceship, Polaris-7 who has awoken from stasis. The ship appears abandoned and has been caught by an alien tractor beam.
Text adventures aren't often my cuppa tea - my brain needs to be fed visual wonders otherwise, it wanders. But, I've enjoyed myself with this rather splendid adventure with its fantastic sense of humour. The parser is easy to use with a two-word command system using Examine, Get, Open, Search, Move, etc. There are shortcuts: I for Inventory and R to re-describe the current location. Medium resolution is supported but oddly not monochrome... The docs advised making a map and that is a very good idea!!
Hibernated 1 is possibly the first of a new trilogy that can be downloaded and bought. Name your own price - which is a wonderful idea - thus play before you pay. Are any interested adventurers lurking?
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Escape 2042
Fancy playing a slick new game?
Escape 2042 has just been released for the Atari STe by Cedric Bourse (yes, he of Yopaz IceStar). It's an exciting new platformer with great gameplay mechanics, ultra-smooth scrolling, and DMA sound effects. It's something else alright!! The game can be downloaded for only a few pounds, which is insane value for money, I'm sure you'll agree. Your purchase will get you both the floppy disk and hard drive versions.
The story goes like this: In the year 2042, a socialist government is in power, but nobody had foreseen progressive dictatorship that settled in. The elites of the government hid behind a sham democracy, disconnected from the life the people were leading and acted solely in their own interests.
The regime considered the dissidents as conspiracy theorists, treated them like terrorists and locked them away in highly-secured prisons, to prevent them from telling the people the truth about the manipulating medias accomplice of the government power.
You are Shun, a computer engineer and member of the Truth Defenders coalition.
After a clandestine operation to inform the people, you are locked away in the highly-secured prison Bulor 24. But your knowledge of security systems will enable you to escape.
Your turn now to escape as fast as you can from this place!
Links and Screenshots
- Escape 2042 download page - https://orionsoft.itch.io/escape2042
- YouTube promotional video - https://youtu.be/aEo9V6zCZeY?si=...
- Yopaz Ice Star - https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/2015...
- Cedric's profile on Demozoo - https://demozoo.org/sceners/10490/
Friday, April 27, 2018
Portal To Xenithor

Thursday, February 22, 2018
Supa Zazai Da!
I'll never knock anything powered by Maria Whittaker (yeah!) but this is rock solid and too difficult!! Having only one life didn't help, especially when the enemy could fill the entire screen with bullets! Yep, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing and seemed like a bad joke. Dang, I was incredibly bad at it and genuinely gutted.
Nevertheless, the scary boss instantly gave me a good drubbing and I was again greeted with the Game Over screen. I defeated him on my next nerve-racking attempt so was close to tears and ecstatic!! Once the second level begins you realise there's a familiar and repetitive pattern so I hammered it home and battled onto the third and fourth levels, with relative ease. The lesson is to stick with it as it can be conquered!!
What a journey!!