A few years ago, I had the pleasure of beta-testing an enhanced version of Out Run for Peter Jørgensen. Happy times, and I really miss those days! If you’re wondering who he is, he’s the guy behind YMT Player, Manic Miner, and a new version of Enduro Racer. He also helped me to create two (ahem) fantastic slideshows - ZombieCrypt and Half-Life 2. Anyhow, those were great days, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized I’d never featured Out Run. I wonder why - maybe I was waiting for the “next beta” which never happened?
Who knows, but here we are now! So, everyone knows how disappointing Outrun is, so perhaps that was what spurred Peter to create a better game. I can't recall every detail of the planned specs and enhancements - it’s been six years - but I do remember he was aiming for a smoother framerate, better sprites, and DMA sound effects. Although it isn’t finished, it's already a major improvement over the dreadful original.
Before downloading this beta, grab a copy of the original and play it first. That way, you'll truly appreciate the differences. I hope Peter eventually returns to complete the hard work he’s already put into this.
Atarimania hosts the latest beta version (ST/STe - requires a Blitter)
Atari Legend has the original game on several menu disks.
If you fancy playing more enhanced Atari STe games then tickle this link.
Peter's profile is available on Demozoo and if you're wondering about his other productions then use the search at the top/right of this page!
The familiar rush through the sunshine in your Ferrari Testarossa.
The second stage is annoying with many roadside obstacles.
My game ended, but I liked the look of the dust, so I had to screenshot it.
I reached the third stage - which is good for me!!
Rodney is a chap who loves his Atari ST and meeting up with fellow nerds. One day, he was on his way to the Dullsville copy party when he had his compact disc collection stolen by the KFC Gang. No, not the fried chicken place, but a mob calling themselves Klepto Foreign Chickens!! So he went back home, determined for justice. Grabbing an anti-chicken gun, he headed to their hideout for revenge - and his floppy disks!
In case you're wondering, they are ST compact disks and not CDs. Ie Automation, Replicants, Fuzion, Pompey Pirates, Elite, Dream Weavers and others - that you can find on Atari Legend.
The plan is to kill the chickens and reclaim his disk collection, but he's only got a few minutes before the bus leaves him behind. And he doesn't want to miss the copy party! Yep, it sounds like a lame '90s dream, but let's help Rodney get his collection back. Then he can meet up with his mates and copy lots of ST stuff.
It's like going back in time, alright, so let's check out the first couple of screenshots...
Chickens everywhere should be scared of Rodney with his anti-chicken gun!
Those look like the unbranded disks we ordered by the 100s back in college :D
Rodney should have locked his disk box!
As you've guessed, this is a platformer in a similar mould to Magic Pockets/etc. Infiltrating the gang's hideout is easy, to begin with. The place is inhabited by the thieving scumbag birds who robbed all our floppies and then foolishly scattered them about their lair. Thankfully, one shot is all it takes to kill them, and if you see your disks, then grab 'em quick! Walk, jump, shoot, collect disks - that's about as complex as it gets.
Interestingly, Padman coded the game in GFA Basic for all 1MB computers. It's best when run on an Atari STe thanks to the extra colours, DMA sound effects, and gorgeous music!
The controls are superb and responsive: left/right walks and pushing upwards leaps Rodney - with diagonal support. The fire button blasts a puny gun that sends the chickens to a slaughterhouse - press once, instead of repeatedly bashing the button. Hey, dying cluckers make a funny noise, which I love.
Don't dawdle with idle exploration or listening to the chickens die. Remember that bus we need to catch? Yep, there's a timer, and it's immensely restricting without any allowance for mistakes. So, if you need to backtrack after missing a ledge, don't bother. It's best to restart, as you'll never make up for the lost time!!
Once all disks are collected and the KFC is dead, you can head towards the exit and then catch the bus to see your ST mates at the copy party. This quest is straightforward: locate the disks and kill the KFC gang members. I won't knock that simplicity because this is fun, and the map is huge with a superb design.
It's that time again. You've guessed it! Let's take a look at a couple more screenshots...
I love how the chickens have beady eyes and fall off the screen when shot.
This is possibly the hardest part of the game, one slip and you fall into the fire!!
Aesthetics
Graphically, this game is great, with a murky palette to represent the KFC's underground hideout. The sprites are few but humorously bright and well drawn - I love the chickens! All animations are excellent, and I adore how Rodney's quiff flaps as he walks (a ripped sprite from an unreleased Amiga game?)
The scrolling is smooth in all directions, but it's a shame that the Atari STe wasn't utilised more. Perhaps I'm being harsh because Padman miraculously used GFA Basic, so the results are outstanding in one respect. However, the cynic within asks why the Blitter/hardware scrolling wasn't used for better movement.
For the audio, we have excellent sampled sounds used for dying chickens, disk pickups, and a 'ugh' as we jump. Okay, it's no Death Chase, but what we have, I like. However, it's the music that sets this game apart from the crowd, thanks to terrific chiptunes. TAO's in-game music (Atari STe) is absolutely phenomenal.
The last screenshots before I give my much-desired opinion that you all crave so badly...
Liking the subtle stamp Padman placed here. Let's turn that chicken into a curry!!
Can you beat my high score? In fact, this was my first-ever attempt. So beat that! :p
The CryptO'pinion?
I’ve enjoyed trying to help Rodney recover his Atari ST disk box, but a few things narked me. Firstly, there’s no indication of the remaining disks to collect, leaving me feeling blindsided and wondering what I’d missed. Secondly, I want a LOT more chickens to kill. Worst of all, the time limit was absolutely dreadful.
Perhaps there is someone out there who can hack it and remove the timer?
I don’t want to be too harsh, as this isn’t a commercial game and is better than some of the rubbish we’ve seen from some companies. Rodney vs KFC is incredibly playable, and while I doubt I’ll ever find all the floppy disks, it keeps me coming back for that "one more go". A cool platformer that is so addictive! Play it.
Stefan Vogt, of Hibernated 1, has done it once again and released another brand new adventure game: The Curse of Rabenstein. This story has us travelling through the Black Forest on a cold and eerie night! Somehow, we managed to get ourselves lost, and the coachman looked very worried, so he stopped to rest the horses whilst trying to figure out his map. We get out to stretch our legs and notice faint lights shining from a distant village. Oddly, that place isn't on our map - or any map! Hmm, very strange, but I wonder if there's somebody there who might be willing to help?
I've spent a few hours over the weekend exploring the village of Rabenstein, which has a captivating storyline and is easy to get into. Unlike Hibernated, this is a graphical/text adventure with gorgeous retro artwork to help represent the current location. This adds another level to the creepy atmosphere, and I'm having a great weekend!
First, let's take a look at some early screenshots from my first attempts...
Has that coachman ever watched a movie? Look, I'll stay here, and YOU go to the village!
The village actually appears very nice with a pub, church, and stables. What more do you need?
Lovely, so let's go and explore a little more...
Erm, I don't think it's a good idea to wander around a cemetery at night - esp naked!! ;-)
Hay, Hay, we made it to the stables, which are just what we needed...
Explore the horror!
Heavily inspired by the Level 9 games, playing is familiar using a two-word parser that keeps things simple to look, examine, search, use, and so on. For example, "examine bed", "search hay", "get shovel", etc/etc. Also, shortcuts can be used, so X will examine something, N will walk you North, and so on. Yep, all easy and obviously very intuitive.
There is something uniquely riveting about Rabenstein's spooky theme, which captivates the imagination. In fact, I even had a pen and paper at the ready - but never used them, which is very odd for me!! Why? Well, the locations are few but crammed with information and details to help you out, so I feel novices (like me) will find Rabenstein a fantastic doorway into the genre. Stefan describes his game as more of a short novella, which I feel is not a bad thing whatsoever.
This is an exciting adventure to get stuck into. Don't believe me? Then check out these screenshots...
It's great to see that humour isn't lost amongst the "horror" theme of Rabenstein!
I knew it was a terrible idea to go into a cemetery at night!! What was I thinking?
Like an old Hammer House of Horror!!
So far, my journey is currently going very well: I have figured out how to stable my horses (yeah, I know), booked a room at the Inn and chatted to the local villagers - they seem nice but spooked! Later, I heard a terrifying scream coming from the graveyard - so I ran back to my room at the Inn only to hide under the bed covers all night! Yep, that's me!
However, things were very different the next morning: the village simply wasn't the same anymore - many years had passed, all the people had gone, and the forest was taking back the land. A tree had crushed the church, but it wasn't long before I started digging up a grave and fondling a dead corpse - not something I had ever thought about doing before. Hang on, I can see a Manor on the hill, so let's hope things get better after a good night's sleep. Hmm, I bet!
I'm a bit scared, so should I dare give you a glimpse of the Silent Hill horror...
Hmm, that InnKeeper was too good to be true. All I wanted was a good night's sleep!
What?!! Everything changed when I woke up!
The CryptO'pinion?
I think this adventure will appeal to both noobs and hardcore adventurers alike. The atmosphere is brilliant, and I love how things can change so swiftly - very Silent Hill-ish. Sure, the locations are few, but they are stuffed with clues that make you sit back and think. However, nothing is perfect, and I have quibbles: interaction with the villagers felt limited, and I also wish the idea of an alternate village had been used a lot more because it was brilliantly done.
I am really enjoying this adventure far more than I would have ever expected. It's like a Hammer House of Horror in both style and stereotypical content, plus the graphics are a massive bonus (I hope Stefan continues down this path in the future). A wonderful adventure, and now I am excited to see what freakish horrors await me in the Manor!!
[My current progress] I finally made it into the Manor, and there's a trail of blood. Oh, great!!
The Curse of Rabenstein is free to download! * However, there is an option to donate a few quid * I opted to purchase the boxed version with the goodies!! I'm just like a (big) kid at Christmas :-)
I've been given an opportunity to playtest the alpha v1.2 update of Frogs by Thomas Ilg. I previously got to play this game of strategic hopping ages ago. Thankfully, Thomas didn't stop tinkering and made improvements: faster code, additional Atari STe features, and other interesting ideas (some I didn't like).
For those who don't know, this is based on the Commodore 64 original by Dr. Wuro Industries. Thomas uses the Blitter and DMA Audio, so the gameplay is faster, supporting 4-players. I've had a play and reported back my thoughts. That's always a worrying time, but Thomas took it onboard with many changes!
Before we carry on, let's take a look at the first screenshot using Atari ST graphics...
It's crazy with four froggies hopping around the screen, but do you have that many friends?
A froggy game?
Yep, and frogs love ponds, so each screen is a giant pond of rocks/lily pads that stay floating on the water's surface - well, for a short time. Hop around the screen, look for bugs, and then press fire to stick out your tongue and feed your belly. Be quick and beat the other players, but watch out because the computer AI is actually quite superb - in fact, ignore the quite bit. It's absolutely vicious!! Plus, it's fun watching them brawl amongst themselves!! Oh, tongues have more than one use, so don't be a pushover, okay? ;)
Numerous ponds are available, with three gameplay modes supporting 2-4 players. Controls are unique, featuring support for the keyboard, joystick, Jagpad, or ST4PLAYER via the parallel port. Players can either be human or computer-controlled, and there's even the option for a Midi link-up. Tell me you're not impressed!!
Wanna see another screenshot? How about one using C64 graphics this time...
The C64 graphics are superb and add something extra retro to the game.
Yeah, Commodore!
Our version features various enhancements, one being scrolling. The screen scrolls and, in my recording, you can see how great that is. It's a treat and I (mostly) loved it. However, I thought that the single-player mode needed to scroll "more", because it felt somehow short or restricted. So a new "Single Frog Scrolling" option has been implemented for one-player, and this includes the C64 mode. Incredible dedication!!
Purists will be relieved to hear that scrolling will be an option, selectable from within the game's menu. Yup, it won't be forced, which I think will please folk from all corners of the scene. Well, I hope so!
The graphic modes are going to shine alongside the recent (and staggering) framerate improvements - when running on the Atari STe - we're talking 2VBL / 25fps. I'm also happy to announce other improvements in the pipeline. Like the decals, which I thought desperately needed changing!!
Steve the frog always wins because he's the greatest!! :o)
The CryptO'pinion?
Frogs is a brilliant game, and my sneak peek is proving to be extremely fascinating. For me, the option to scroll the screen is a fantastic idea and is implemented very well. Additionally, I'm happy to see Thomas is not restricting the Atari STe with the limitations of the older Atari ST or the Commodore 64.
I'm excited to see what comes next - watch this space, folks!
* Update: Frogs v1.2 is now available to download *
If you've been living on another planet and missed out on this amphibious wonder, I suggest you head over to AtariMania and download it now. Sorry, but you will have to wait a little longer to play v1.2 :-)
Consider buying Frogs boxed w/ its multiplayer adapter!!
A new remake of Don Priestley's Maziacs is released by Bello Games with coding by George Nakos (aka GGN), graphics by Niels Kleine (aka Tinker) and Kevin Dempsey (aka SH3). At the moment, it's unfinished, but I loved the ZX Spectrum original so much that I couldn't wait to get my grubby mitts on the olde classic.
I expected differences, but this feels authentic, and with a remake of the old DK'Tronics loading screen. Surprisingly, there is a good reason Bugziacs feels so much like the original - "This version actually runs the original Spectrum code translated to 68000 using a custom tool and then some routines replaced with ST-specific code". Extremely interesting, and I hope many more Spectrum conversions are in the pipeline.
Check out the first screenshots. I feel like I'm 12 again looking at these Speccy delights...
Ohh, the menu system is just like the original. Even the font...
...and these silly sprites too. Comical and I love it.
I wish more games had an intro detailing what to do. Brilliant idea.
Wow, it really is Maziacs!
Once the game begins, things feel familiar, but the look (and movement) is better than my favourite Z80 computer could ever manage. The goal remains the same: explore a maze for hidden treasure and make your escape. It sounds easy, but you cannot carry both a weapon and the treasure at the same time.
Each maze is randomly generated, which means a different game each time. The one thing that remains constant is the angry Maziacs who roam the corridors looking for a scrap with our plucky hero. Thankfully, some kind soul has left swords scattered throughout. Sadly, these can only be used once per battle! So this is where the map comes in handy, along with your memory for those weapons you may have missed.
This might sound weird and rather limiting, but it works well to keep you on your toes. The ST game plays like I remember and, unlike most 16-bit updates, it doesn't feel like it's lacking that 'je ne sais quoi'. This is authentic yet also a unique improvement. That in itself is impressive, as I'm tired of classic games being spoiled by better graphics or unnecessary changes. Yes, I mean the terrible Chuckie Egg II as an example!
Bugziacs also boasts a surprising and fascinating feature: you can play the game using either the original Spectrum graphics or the updated and delightful Atari ST graphics. This is incredible and something I’d love to see in other games being ported to the Atari ST. It’s a truly wow moment.
You don’t believe how good this is? You’d better check out some more screenshots then....
The Atari ST version looks amazing. Authentic, yet a cracking advancement too.
Of course, you could step back in time and use the original Speccy graphics?
Whatever you decide, it's always best to use the map. Don't get lost!
Don Priestley would love this!
Keep an eye on your energy levels (displayed using a red vertical bar) because that ticks down as you explore. Fear not, whoever left the swords has also kindly left energy drinks. Also, I advise chatting with the prisoners who are usually willing to aid you on your travels. Although it's odd, they know so much yet never ask to be freed? Finally, please use the map, which will be incredibly helpful at crucial times!
This is well-balanced and incredibly playable. Sure, it's got some quirks/bugs as those randomly generated maps can sometimes be rather unfair: more than once, I began with a Maziac standing beside me!! But let's not forget this is a work-in-progress, so I'm extremely eager and excited to see the final product.
I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing this game on my Atari ST! Here’s a screenshot...
Maziacs... oops!! Bugziacs has the most helpful prisoners you could ever imagine.
The swords are necessary but probably made in China - they don't last very long!
Hang on a mo, three monsters and only one sword? Oh no!!
The CryptO'pinion?
What an absolutely fantastic version this is, and being able to switch between Atari ST and ZX Spectrum visuals is just too good for words. It's always great to see a "new" game in development for our computer. I hope GGN can put this tool to use in the future and get other Speccy games converted. GGN - please develop Chuckie Egg 2 next, as this is my favourite 8-Bit platformer, but I also have a massive list ;-)
Whether you're old enough to remember the original game or not, Bugziacs is a bundle of frantic mayhem. It's a simple idea, and it's a rush hunting down the treasure before panicking to quickly escape. Yes, it's tough, but it's so much fun. This is a brilliant game, and I cannot help but highly recommend it to everyone.
Maziacs is superb on the ZX Spectrum, but guess what? So is Bugziacs on the Atari ST. Absolutely superb!!
It's a pleasure to see a new game in development for our beloved Atari ST, but Sam Nasty is different. This puzzle-based platformer was created in the early 1990s using STOS by Jerome Mahieux. Oddly, he never released it, but found the floppy disk, so here we are in 2019, playing the game. How cool is that!!
Upon loading, we're greeted with a title screen for help and other options to disable the sound effects/music. The game itself is a static-screen platformer, and for each level, we find ourselves trapped inside a prison and must find a way to escape. This might sound familiar, but it's also got some rather unique features.
But first, let's check out a couple of screenshots with some rather cute & dodgy characters...
The copper is seeing stars like in a cartoon. I love that!!
Talk about antagonising the enemy by sticking out your tongue! lol ace!!!
The Great Escape!
As you might imagine, the earlier screens are quite humble to break you in gently. So escaping is easy while you learn the basics. But it's not long before Sam finds himself inside prisons that must put Alcatraz to shame. There are always a variety of cunning pitfalls to avoid, so look out for things like laser beams that will zap you into an early grave! Also, there are patrolling coppers, and some are even armed...
It's a good job our thug has the ability to punch. The screenshots prove how entertaining that is!!
Escaping is always going to be different for each of the levels. So look for anything that might help, like a switch, for example. Today, my gaming skills excelled, and I reached the fourth prison - not bad at all for a fella with terrible gaming skills (sometimes I wonder why I bother running a gaming website lol). Yep, a joyous occasion that sadly didn't last all that long, as you will see in my YouTube video recording.
Let's pause the reading and check out a couple more screenshots...
It's a tight fit there, so get down and crawl in silence.
Stars and tongues! That's this game to a tea and I love it!!
Aesthetics
The graphics are nothing like I expected, and I mean that in a good way. Tiny design, but with superb attention to detail for each of the prisons. However, it's the sprites that I love the most: the laughing policeman, Sam sticking out his tongue, and those punched faces with broken teeth. Fantastic pixel art and something that will make the most miserable gamer smile with joy. Throughout, you will be impressed by the humour.
The music is chip and nice, but Sam Nasty has the ability to disable that. So I did. Now, just listen to the sound effects and tell me you're not reminded of countless ZX Spectrum platformers!! Anyhow, I enjoyed the music, but I absolutely loved the amazing sound effects. Seriously, just get this game and listen for yourself!!
This is something else! I love how it looks and sounds, so let's see some more screenshots...
Okay, things are getting tough now, and that copper has a gun!
The death scene is great and a little Rick Dangerous too... Can you see me?
The CryptO'pinion?
I'm impressed by the demo and, never in a million years, would I have imagined breaking out of prison could have been fun. Sure, there are a few bugs (that Jerome is in the process of fixing). Plus a few niggles that I'd like tweaked - like overly sensitive joystick controls and the desperate need for more lives. (WIP)
Sam Nasty is a fantastic concept, and I'm gobsmacked he didn't release this back in the day. I'm sure it would have gone down a storm! So make sure you download the demo, have a play, and consider sending him your feedback and support. A thoroughly enjoyable and addictive game, and thoroughly worth buying!!
2 euros for the full game - support Jerome & the ST scene!
