Super Chicken

Faster than a speeding nugget!

I always say this, but I’m dead chuffed when I come across summat new for the ST. Well, new to me, anyway. Odds are, everyone else already knows, and it’s just me who’s been left in the dark. With that in mind, here’s a game I happened to stumble on by chance while moochin’ through the Hang Loose archive.

The moment I saw the name Super Chicken, I was amusingly intrigued. I chuckled to myself, assuming it would be some childish, half-baked attempt at a shooter or something. As it turns out, it’s actually a platformer developed in STOS by a guy called Thomas Smith in 1996. Maybe some of you have heard of it before, but I certainly hadn’t - because, around that time, I packed up my ST and went the Mac route.

The objective of the game is simple - just collect all the eggs and make your way to the exit. However, there is a catch! As soon as you pick up an egg, the floor tile beneath it becomes electrified, meaning you can’t step on it again. So, you’ve got to grab the egg and keep moving, or you’ll end up as fried chicken! Along the way, you will come across ladders and escalators to help you reach other eggs. Some tiles even have two eggs, but you can only pick up one at once! The exit remains blocked until all eggs are collected.

Super Chicken is all about planning the best route in real-time as you walk, making sure you never have to step on the same tile twice. Well, you physically can’t, unless you fancy getting zapped! Miss just one egg, and there’s no way to go back for it. No matter how many others you collect, the exit will remain blocked. It’s incredibly frustrating - especially when you realise you’ve left just one egg behind (as in my screenshots).

I think this is surprisingly good for a homebrew game released in the ST's dark ages. It’s frustrating, yet incredibly addictive all at the same time. I was shocked to stumble across it - but even more surprised to find that it looks comical, scrolls smoothly, and sounds great. Thomas clearly knew his stuff! It’s just a shame it came out several years too late for most ST gamers to hear about it. Or is it just me, again?

Give this a download - I’m sure you’ll enjoy it for a few plays! Let me know what you think in the comments. This review is dedicated to Miesiu, who visits AtariCrypt all the time and leaves comments on so many pages! Okay, since this isn't a commercial title, I’m giving it a solid 60% because it’s damn good fun!

• The Hang Loose Archive on Pigwa: http://ftp.pigwa.net/stuff/collections/AtariSTarchive/...
• Atari Legend has this on Serenade #83 menu disk: https://www.atarilegend.com/menusets/...
• AtariUpToDate has it on a great Floppyshop disk: https://www.atariuptodate.de/...

This is the start. Shall we take the escalator or the ladder route?

Can you see where I went wrong here?

Foolishly, I thought I was rocking the opening level.

Yep, I missed one egg, so I could not exit... ARGHHH!!

Instead, I was fried alive like something from an old cartoon!

Rodney vs KFC

Zinger Burger, anyone?

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.

• Grab the floppy disk from Atarimania.
• Check out this excellent video by Gears Of Games.

Goin' Down With The Captain

Wait... Come back!!

Goin' Down With The Captain was developed in GFA Basic by Terry King of Ninth Wave Software and must be one of the silliest titles since the robot monsters invaded. Or is it just me? Anyhow, imagine yourself as the unlucky cabinboy onboard a sinking ship who is running around for the lifebuoys. Can you help save him?

Collecting the lifebuoys is easy, but you must venture deep into the waters to find some scattered about the ship. Fetch them back to their hangers up on the top deck, but you are only able to carry a maximum of two at a time. Later levels will require multiple trips into Poseidon's realm. This is a frantic race against the clock!

Sounds interesting, right? Okay, let's take a look at a screenshot...

Leaky pipes, rising water, and now a crab has sent us to heaven, ala Monty Mole!

This ain't no killing gameshow!

The flooding is constantly rising due to leaky pipes splurting out water. These can be patched with a sticky plaster, and some decks have pump levers to reduce water levels. Flooded decks can be accessed - if you hold your breath and use air bubbles to replenish oxygen. Any treasures you find are yours to keep, but beware of snippy crabs roaming the lower decks who love nipping at your toes. There's much going on, but it never feels OTT.

The joystick controls are incredible, with responsive movements and no learning curve. Oh, and using the levers is an entertaining moment that brought back memories of Decathlon, albeit waggling up & down!!

It's fun and very hectic - trust me! Hey, I think it's time for another screenshot...

Some levels are a little more puzzling with lifebuoys hidden behind locked doors...

Cheap & cheerful

The graphics aren't exactly Bitmap Bros standard, but they do their job, albeit with the occasional slowdown. Scrolling is great, and I have massive admiration for the palette - especially when underwater.

The audio is in stereo on the Atari STe, but I'd much rather have the crisp YM chip over poor-quality samples. Yep, the music and sound effects are made from low-quality samples, which I didn't care for. Hence, this is another reason why chiptunes are timeless compared to many MODs. Flame me all you like, but it's true.

Am I trying to start a fight? Bring it on, Commies! No, let's chill with another screenshot...

Remember, not every door needs to be unlocked - so use your keys wisely before you drown!

The CryptO'pinion?

This is an oddball with more than a hint of a certain other action platformer. I enjoyed the gameplay style; it's fantastic with many interesting ideas. In fact, it's downright silly at times, but you won't mind one bit. Ignore the weak visuals and fuzzy audio because the gameplay is top-notch, and that's what matters.

Going Down With The Captain is challenging, addictive, and one of the best PD games I've played.

Goin' Down With The Captain download @AtariMania

Hoog

Prepare thyself!

The Atari ST is a computer with a huge public domain library, be it games, programs, utilities, etc. Our archive proves how popular the ST was for both users and creative folk with the talent to code and create art or music. This is what I love about the Atari ST and something I've yet to "feel" from a modern computer.

Believe it or not, Hoog is a shareware platformer released in 1994 by MP Lord - yes, he of Droid fame. It's incredible to look at and feels similar to Creatures but with more of a puzzle theme. Some elements reminded me of Sleepwalker and Lemmings, but whether or not that's a good thing I'll leave you to decide.

That's enough reading for the moment! How about some sexy screenshots to whet your appetite...

Using the balloons, we can float upwards to access places otherwise impossible to reach.

A bundle of stars and a cheeky grin make this platformer something extra special!

Aww, little baby Hoogs!

The objective is simple - rescue baby Hoogs that are trapped inside cages! Sounds so cruel? Yes, it is, and they're trapped, innocently waiting for us to free them. However, these little kiddies are darn stupid and, when released, will blindly wander off through their dangerous new world - and die!! They can get trapped, drown, or fry in burning flames. There's a lot of strategic thought needed when guiding these little babies home.

Hoog himself can walk, jump, and chuck bombs at his foes. However, he's only a short, stubby fella, so he cannot do much without the help of his environment, like helium-filled balloons that offer a chance to reach inaccessible areas. There are various other mechanics to aid; look for springs to bounce high into the air, switches that unlock hidden ledges, and special gateways that transport Hoog long distances in the blink of an eye.

This is a game that is easy to pick up and play. The controls are responsive, without lag or finicky irritations. You're not thrown in at the deep end and gradually taught how to get the best from your environment to save the babies. I was impressed with how each level becomes steadily and progressively harder. I personally get that warm, fuzzy feeling playing this game because a lot of thought went into its creation!

Fancy some more colourful screenshots? I know, I know, of course, you do so here ya' go...

There's that cute, happy face again! How can you not love the graphics :)

Things are hotting up now! Not only the difficulty, but those flames will cook a baby hoog!

Amateur homebrew aesthetics?

Visually, this must be one of the most impressive "PD" games I have ever seen. The entire artwork is astounding and way beyond anything else that I can think of from the ST's homebrew scene. Each level features landscapes of stunning beauty, and I truly do mean stunning. Miles has made lovely use of colour because everything is so bright and cheerful. It's unbelievable, and I recommend sunglasses before you play!

That's not all, the sprites are stunning and even have a Bitmap feel. Animations are lovely with neat attention to detail - like when Hoog smiles during a jump. He even wiggles his bum in flight. Finally, I cannot end without mentioning the smooth parallax scrolling. This is a commercial game, right? What, no, you say?!!

The audio is a treat, proving chiptunes will last forever compared to most tracker tunes. Sadly, there's only one in-game tune, so it gets tiresome after a while. Don't get me wrong, it's a good tune your YM2149 is knocking out, but we needed more. However, I love what we have, and I cannot get it out of my head lol.

Hoog screenshots are great, but we have to end sometime. So here are the final two screenshots...

Use the ledges, but hang on a minute, I see two cute critters below that appear asleep.

When everything is peachy, and fire can't harm him. I'm too cute to burn........... honest!!! <evil grin>

The CryptO'pinion?

Hoog is something rather special, but it isn't easy. It will take practice to figure out the most efficient way to solve the puzzle of rescuing babies. Well, unless you enjoy watching cute critters drown or burn? Perhaps you do? Or is it just me lol? Anyhow, whatever your sadistic preference, this is an utterly superb platformer. It will keep you occupied for many hours with its humorously challenging, addictive gameplay.

Once again, Miles Lord has released a wonderful game that humiliates many commercial companies that rushed through sloppy Amiga ports. This proves what the Atari ST is capable of in the hands of talent; it's a magnificent example of great coding. Hoog is a mind-blowing platformer and one of my favourite ST games!!

- DOWNLOAD HOOG -

The Curse Of Bolda

Crazy Kid Kevin!

The Curse of Bolda is a scrolling platformer by Ben Pritchard for FloppyShop's platinum range. Once again, Kevin is the star with five levels. These are split into three segments; the first two are free-roaming worlds collecting jewels, shooting monsters, and solving puzzles (locked doors & operating platforms). Tools can be collected and (using the function keys) provide a variety of uses - like a jetpack!! The third stage is an automated arena where Kevin must manoeuver through the hazards until reaching the scary rock demon, Bolda!

A good platformer, and you can now download the full registered version :)