Mega Twins

Chiki Chiki Boys

Once upon a monster-infested time, when the peaceful kingdom of Alurea was overrun by a horde of nasties, leaving the royal castle in ruins. With their father, the brave King, tragically slain, his young twin sons were left powerless to stop the chaos. But time passed, the boys grew stronger, and now they’re ready to take back what’s theirs. Armed with courage, oversized swords, and matching outfits, the dynamic duo set off on a quest to reclaim their homeland - and track down a mythical stone said to hold the key to peace.

I’ve wanted to feature this platformer for ages. It’s been sitting in my downloads folder for several years, and today I finally booted it up! Who says I’m slow? Mega Twins is an absolute corker of a platformer - instantly fun, with slick joystick controls and colourful, comical visuals. The earlier bosses aren’t too tricky - even I managed to beat them - with a few credits! The latter ones are a real challenge for anyone playing solo (so use your extra powers wisely). Wait, that’s right, two people can play at once - which is absolutely fantastic!

The visuals are absolutely superb, with a charming cartoon vibe running throughout the levels. The sound effects are excellent, but oddly, I didn’t notice the lack of in-game music until the underwater stage - probably because I stopped hammering the fire button to figure out how to clobber things down there!

I'd rate this platformer a Double Trouble 85% because it's brilliant with perfect controls, loads of levels, and supports two players. However, be warned, some of the later levels are way too hard without a cheat or better reactions than mine! Enjoy my gameplay video of the opening level before clicking on these links...

• There are great floppy downloads available at Atari Legend (I used the Fuzion disks).
• Peter/8BitChip has a superb hard drive-installable version.
• More floppy cracks are over on the Atari FTP Archive.

The first level is so good that I almost wanted it to continue throughout.

TWO players can, erm, play - at the same time. BRILLIANT!!

We've now gone underwater. The controls are very different, but still cool.

Didn't want to kill this cute beast. But I did.

One of those bosses that moves/jumps too fast for our little hero.

Those blue bats are gorgeous. Then again, everything in this game is!

Probably the best of all the bosses before a Nebulous stage, that is superb.

We're on the way down - as it explodes!

Made it to the end. Wait, no... There is one more boss before we're done.

The Addams Family

Creepy, Kooky, Ooky, Spooky

I am a massive fan of the original TV series plus the movies from the 90s are favourites in our house. I've no idea what's taken me so long but eventually, I got around to Ocean's 1992 platformer developed by James Higgins. The same programmer behind two superb games - Navy Seals and The Untouchables.

The story is an 'original' one about kidnapping and rescuing. Morticia has been abducted by Abigail Craven who is after the Addams' family fortune. The other characters have been captured and imprisoned in the mansion's many rooms. As Gomez, we must locate Pugsley, Wednesday, Granny, Uncle Fester, and Morticia.

I reckon we need to see the first screenshot which proves it always pays to explore...

That looks ominous but let's be daft and climb up it... Hmm, what is that below?

The Game

We begin outside the front door of our mansion but I would stay outside for a while. Go for a walk, who knows what treasures and power-ups there could be! You may also uncover underground passages. Outside the mansion is the perfect place to get used to the controls and the method of killing the monsters.

Gomez can walk left/right and jump using the fire button (hold down for larger jumps). He has no weapons and kills enemies by leaping into the air before landing on them. It's like we have in the excellent budget platformer Well 'Ard. This technique works brilliantly except for those enemies protected by spikes or fire.

Once inside the house, you stand in the hallway that grants access to several "rooms". These are the levels that lead to a boss who is holding a family member captive. The Addams Family is a non-linear platformer so you can choose any level you like. All are massive. When I say massive, I really do mean massive!!

Whatever level you play, a wealth of monsters feature constantly. Never have I known a game with so many enemies - any contact will drain energy. This is represented by love hearts which can be replenished along the way. Interestingly, having lost all lives doesn't mean the game is over because there is the option to continue or quit. The caveat of continuing is having to restart from the beginning of your current level.

Run and stomp monsters like a crazed Sonic! However, slow down otherwise, you might miss hidden rooms, power-ups, and secrets. Also, there is Thing's Box, which reveals a clue about the level. Nothing mindblowing, stuff like "some doors are less visible than others". Essentially, that means pay attention!

Let's look at the power-ups left sparsely scattered about every level...

Small hearts - replenish a heart's level.

Dollars - for every $25 you replenish a heart and $100 grants a 1-UP.

1-UP - will also grant a new life.

Shield - invincibility for a short period (shown as a star trail)

Shoes - mega run and jumps! (Argh, this should be the default!)

Fez - Fezi-copter works on current level and allows flight (it's brilliant - think Joust!!)

After running through any level, you eventually reach the boss, who is holding a family member captive. Once defeated by the same leap and stomp method, he/she seeks refuge in the Music Room with Lurch. The big guy remains in this room throughout, as he plays with his organ (come on, I just had to).

As you free family members, they will also come to this room. Once everyone is gathered, Lurch can properly play the organ music that magically grants access to the underground chamber. This is where we stash all of our cash but more importantly, the location where Morticia is held prisoner. The big boss here is tough.

Once the final battle is over, everything returns back to normal for the Addams. The game then ends with a funny and loving Gomez and Morticia scene. Finally, you get to see caricatures of the game developers.

Okay, let's pause this boring reading with a pixel-sexy screenshot...

Within the mansion offers many doorways to different levels.

Graphics

Warren Lancashire and Simon Butler designed the visuals and to say they are great is an enormous understatement. Never have I played a platformer with so many characters!! Each with incredible detail and great animation. It's beyond admirable to see something like this for a 16-bit platformer.

The backdrops are truly stunning with an individual style and theme appropriate to that part of the house or grounds. I love the 'heat' levels that actually felt hot thanks to their bright palette. Every level looks gorgeous and my favourite is the outside areas which I thought looked the most pleasing.

Push-scrolling is used alongside a heavily reduced screen size. There are many other similar platformers with proper scrolling. Also, many use the push method without any screen/size reductions.

I bet you want to see a creepy tree and dancing flowers? Here you go...

The artwork is stunning and I just had to capture a GIF for this scene!

Audio

Music and sound effects are by Jonathan Dunn who worked on Elf, New Zealand Story, and Rambo III. The Addams Family theme plays on the title screen but sadly, isn't a sample. The gameplay is accompanied by several fantastic chiptunes, alongside adequate spot effects - for jumping and squashing the enemies. 

If you like the Addams Family theme then check out ZombieCrypt slideshow!

Before the gripping conclusion, let's see a werewolf in a cemetery against a mysterious sky...

The Graveyard is great but quite difficult, especially when fire falls from the skies.

CryptO'pinion

When I began playing the opening scenes, I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. It's fantastic and provides an opportunity to grasp the superb joystick controls. Not only that, these areas feature secrets and power-ups. However, once you go inside you realise this is a poor conversion with serious issues.

The Addams Family could have been great but I grew weary of plodding through levels that felt like they wouldn't end. Plus it's impossible without a trainer because there are too many dangerous obstacles and enemies. It's way off-balance. With a trainer, I endured to the bitter end and earned codes you're welcome to use...

1Z9KX - Wednesday

1G99? - Fester

KGH9C - Pugsley

KL#RJ - Granny

RLRRX - Heart Power Up

I'm not sure why Ocean released this stinker but the combination of thin screen, push-scrolling, and impossible difficulty amplifies my sorrow. Play a different platformer - Jim Power, Black Tiger, Zone Warrior, Stario, Wonder Boy, Giana Sisters, Kid Gloves 2, Astro Marine Corps, Potsworth & Co, The Viking Child, etc/etc.

The Addams Family is a lame duck and should be grateful for getting a bleak 60%.

Masochistic gamers should download from D-Bug (and Atari Legend has several menu disks).

I'm on my way to rescue Wednesday but losing the will to live because it's so tough!!

Lurch has left friendly advice at the start of some levels.

Look at that photograph, it's Christopher Lloyd!

I took this screenshot simply because I liked the look and its colour!

I thought the background on this level was the best looking.

The Music Room is where Lurch attempts to play, note the blocked door on the right.

Every house has a vault, right? Fill your boots!

The first of the boss screens, this one frees Wednesday and he's a right bas$@^!!!

This boss was the best (easiest) because you can use Uncle Fester.

The boss holding Pugsley captive wasn't difficult. Sinister face on him!

The boss holding Granny looks great but is pretty tough.

When I encountered this boss, I was bored and lost the will to live †

Ocean nailed it with this fantastic option screen!!

Morticia's boss is the most annoying of all as he stays out of reach a lot.

Eventually, the quest is completed...

Fireworks "light up the sky" but a screenshot is all you're getting.

Torvak the Warrior

Rastan the barbarian?

So, Torvak? Why do I love this imperfect hack & slash platformer? In this scrolling platformer, I'm transformed into Hercules with giant weapons (ooer) and is something I've kept returning to over the decades - whenever I'm brassed off and feel the need to hit something hard. Now, whilst the wife breathes herself a massive sigh of relief, I admit that it could have been better. But I still boot it up regularly because it's damn good fun.

The basic concept is incredibly familiar but it whiffs of a rushed port with a small screen, strange controls, and suspect collision detection. Additionally, attempting to kill something that demands multiple hits and you soon realise that this is definitely no Golden Axe. Having said that, it looks great, sounds great, and plays well. So, no matter how old I get, I'm always happy to boot it up, especially with a trainer enabled!

Torvak The Warrior was released by Core Design and programmed by Andy Green who developed a couple of stinkers but redeemed himself with Masters of the Universe, a game I think is unexpectingly excellent. The rastan visuals are by non-other than Lee Pullen of Chuck Rock fame and Matt Furniss produced the gorgeous chiptune bleeps that are nothing less than exceptional.

I bet you're dying to play this beastmaster wannabe? I hope so because it's a lot better than most people say! Just remember to hold down the fire button to use spells and grab that Broadsword (located near the beginning). Like I said, it's far from perfect but enjoyable and I'd love to know if you guys are fans too.

Downloads are available for your hard drive and floppy disk. Righto, I'll end with some nifty screenshots...

I love the first stage because it's not too difficult and the level I play the most!

The second stage is a lot harder and you'll get attacked from both sides.

The third stage is a lot better than my gaming skills might suggest!

Lots of jumps in the fourth stage and it's very hard with many hidden dangers.

The fifth level always felt a bit Castlevania'ish to me. It's good but too samey...

And this is the screen I see the most, so use your noodle and activate the cheats!

Droid Special Edition

Missing: One Droid

Droid was originally developed by MP Lord (he of Hoog fame!!) and was a smash hit that saw a sequel three years later. Sadly, neither of these games supported the enhanced hardware of the Atari STe which meant chip fx, flick-scrolling and a fair bit of slowdown when things got hectic. Not only that, but the joystick controls were finicky - I would accidentally fall off ledges when struggling to precisely time a jump!

I remember (2016) being excited to hear Jamie Hamshere was working on an improved version that would take advantage of the Atari STe hardware. I could only imagine what it would be like to play a scrollable Droid. Jamie even planned to tweak those controls to remove the irritation that threatened each and every jump.

That project was completed late last year yet somehow, I completely missed it. What planet have I been living on? Anyhow, I figured I should boot it up to see how this cult ST shooter played on my Atari STe.

So, without further ado, here is the first sexy screenshot to whet your appetite...

Get out quick, this area is pretty hellish with droids and wall-mounted guns!

An armless Robocop!

Just imagine yourself as a mechanoid armed to the teeth and able to leap huge heights. Somehow, this beast is trapped inside a massive underground cavern and wants to escape to get home for tea. However, the path through isn't as easy as walking in a straight line into the light ahead. That would be too easy!

The caves are a labyrinth and are guarded or patrolled by mechanoids all too willing to blast you into smithereens. This is a hideous maze designed with numerous dead ends that require keys to unlock many doorways. It's an underground hell and is nigh on impossible to escape without making yourself a map to help plot your journey. No, wait we don't need a pen and paper because Jamie has added an auto-mapping tool. That helps navigate, find objects and prevent the frustration of getting lost. An exceptional new feature.

That's not all that's changed, the old (large) status panel has gone and replaced by the tiniest bar so we can enjoy more screen space. This still shows the same information for lives, weapons, energy /etc but we now have far more gaming real estate. The various weaponry you're able to carry is also shown - pressing the ALT key will cycle through what you have available. Don't waste your supplies on the wrong monsters!

Come on, let's view another screenshot? Yeah, let's do it...

Oh no, a different type of droid and this one is throwing bombs!

Mummy, I'm scared!

Droid might be a metallic brute but that doesn't mean he's invincible. Look for droids wandering back and forth protecting their part of the cave. They're a few butties short of a picnic but will shoot on sight. As you progress, you'll see other areas are protected by a variety of strange objects: some shooting out bombs and others like wall-mounted lasers. There are other things to avoid, like fire or falling into the bottomless pit.

Using the map is an absolute must otherwise, you will get lost and probably give up. Keep on looking for the keys and carefully plot a route. Mini-bosses appear throughout the entire journey and the first is like an angry prawn! The armoured truck is excellent - an unexpected boss to find in a cavern. I wonder if it's Jet Man?

This game has always been a tough nut for tough nutters. This still applies as the later rooms are merciless with a cruel design that feels OTT sometimes with lasers, bombs and mechs all ganging up on you at once. Death results in a life loss which unfairly sends you back to the checkpoint. Only a skilled and determined gamer (willing to spend time and effort) is going to succeed. So good luck because I've no chance O_o

Fancy a screenshot that shows a rather weird monster? Don't run away, check this out...

What the heck is that, some kind of sea creature? I hope you saved your better weaponry?

Fancy a few juicy tips?

1. Don't kill everything you see and therefore run out of precious ammo.
2. Collect power-ups for energy and ammo only when you need to!
3. Closely stalking droids is fun plus it's safer and uses no ammo.
4. Learn to use the mapping tool. It's a little odd at first and reminded me of Heartland.
5. Some weapons are best left until you need them for a specific purpose.
6. Learn the controls and enjoy a few practice games before taking on the challenge.
7. Walk away and give up. You're not good enough!! (I'm kidding!!)

Did those tips help? Are you man enough to play? Whatever your reply, here are more screenshots...

Be patient and unlock the doorway barrier only after the droid walks away.

Did you know?

Jame worked with Jonathan Thomas on the recent Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge for the Atari STe. This is an upgrade of the classic racer that brings the game in line with the Amiga version (except for in-game tracker music). Now, I know what those guys will think, but I prefer chip music over a MOD any day. I personally don't see YM Chiptunes by Ben Daglish as a bad thing. Quite the opposite and it's one of the many aspects that makes the ST so cool. In fact, chip music is what defines the ST as an ST. If that makes sense?

To play, all you need is a 1MB Atari ST so check it out, folks because the collaboration between these two has proved fruitful. And the expertise Jamie has for the DMA hardware is jaw-dropping. Lotus has been transformed from a great racer into an awesome racer which - not an easy task. I'm sure you will all love playing it!!

• The original web feature proves why 2021 might not suck after a year of paranoia.
• The current release of #LotusSTE is now available so get it downloaded right now!!

It's an exciting time to be an Atari user. Always was but let's stop talking and view a screenshot...

Another killer area with droids, bombs, guns and fire. RUN!!

Aesthetics

Things appear similar to the original but a keen ST gamer will notice the play area has increased by a huge amount. The colours are better and the Blitter is moving the sprites so that the slowdown has gone. The only thing missing is Droid's minigun from the original. Finally, we have smooth scrolling in all directions compared to the horizontal flick-screen method. Jamie, you've (respectfully) blown the original into pieces!!

The audio has also seen big changes with the addition of in-game music and sampled sound effects thanks to his skills in getting the utmost out of the audio hardware. Check out the funky theme music using his own program: Turbochip to knock out 7-channels using the DMA and YM2149 together for phenomenal results.

It looks and sounds amazing so let's see the game's map right now...

The new map tool. Finally, I won't get lost anymore. He says...

The CryptO'pinion?

Miles did a great job and produced a platformer that was challenging and stuffed full of action. Incredible considering it wasn't commercial so all credit to his talent, commitment, and love for the Atari ST. However, the lack of dedicated hardware had a negative effect on the end product. Plus I found the controls irritating and I would also get myself lost a lot. I guess Jamie felt the same way and wanted to rectify these niggles?

Jamie's project to enhance an already great game was risky but came together well because it's a perfect blend of improved aesthetics and gameplay. And I'm not falling off ledges by failing to make those tricky jumps. As remakes go, it's fascinating to think how much hard work he invested into improving this ST classic.

It's the same shooter but one that has been rolled in glitter so sparkles bright and I love it.

- DOWNLOADS -

AtariMania has a floppy disk download.

Jamie bravely recorded a complete playthrough!

Fancy going Godlike with infinite energy and ammo?

Enter this code on the title: FEELCOSMICALLTHETIME

Jim Power in Mutant Planet

The name is Power, Jim Power!

Jim Power In Mutant Planet was released by Loriciel in 1992 where we play as a member of the Special Warfare Unit. These are in charge of the President's personal security, and his daughter was kidnapped by evil beings who infest a Mutant Planet. So it is our mission to kill everything, rescue the girl, and save the day!!

I must admit, I don't recall seeing this advertised back in the day. Did it ever make it across the channel to UK shores? I find it quite flabbergasting that such a platformer is unheard of back in the day (well, to me). I think the 1992 version of myself would have slobbered an Olympic swimming pool's worth of drool over this?

Ah well, let's crack on and take a gander at a cool screenshot with a skeleton...

Check out that skeleton artwork. This game is a looker alright and never fails to impress me!!

I think I love Mr Power!

We begin in a rather funky environment that reminded me a little of Enchanted Land and Flimbo's Quest in both look and style. It's a strange world of whacky colours, creepy vegetation and lots of enemies out looking for blood. At first, I thought this was going to be an easy platformer, but it soon picks up the pace to become quite a challenge. Yes, that's a nice way to say I struggled with the earlier attempts - many times!!

There are a total of 5 levels, with two being shooters and even a few peculiar boss screens:

The platformer parts are the best with a cruel design that feature many pitfalls and near-countless enemies like mutated animals, birds, zombies, spiders and even spitting plants. Each level is absolutely huge with mini-bosses halfway through (dead easy to defeat) and then a mega-boss at the end.

The shoot 'em up levels are weaker by comparison and they involve nothing more than trying to stay alive as you dodge or shoot anything that appears in your line of sight. The scrolling is fast, and the enemies are faster but I feel they took far too many shots to be killed, which meant it felt unbalanced. However, I did enjoy the flappy bird-style part towards the end of level 4 which was a surprise!

He's green... He's angry... The Hulk of Jim Power is here with another cool screenshot...

Press and hold that fire button to unleash your fury and zap everything on-screen!

Gimme a gun and a spare hour

The controls are absolutely incredible and always feel spritely to suit the game style. I love the way you can easily hop from platforms without ever feeling the uncertainty of plummeting to your death because of stodgy mechanics or a sluggish display. Dying allows you to restart from the nearest checkpoint which is a great idea that also grants a few seconds of invincibility - this comes in handy for running past a difficult scene. Trust me, you will love this feature, which is needed more than you know (at least for me!).

Thankfully, we're equipped with a gun that can be also upgraded along the way by collecting the power-ups. Additionally, we have the limited option of using a smart bomb by pressing down the fire button, but these are best left for the bosses or perhaps later trickier scenes that you're struggling with (I used 'em on the bosses). Anyhow, this smart bomb has a fantastic feature - the ability to carry it. Yes, you can carry what is nothing less than a nuclear weapon and release it at the right moment you choose. A devastating skill.

Along with the power-ups, there are bonuses to collect which provide extra help. These can be earned by shooting a floating object or a hidden part of the background. The clock gives extra time, a shield is obvious, and 1Ups are always a relief. Never leave a key behind unless you enjoy the fun of backtracking!

Fancy another screenshot? Of course, you do, so here's one that reminds me of Strider...

The first level is varied and full of traps - it really is a dangerous world out there!

Aesthetics

Loriciel mocks the supposed hardware limitations with lots of colour and smooth-scrolling. Each level looks superb, with stunning landscapes and super-duper sprites - some reminded me of Strider. Throughout, the gameplay is fast and smooth so it puts to shame Psygnosis and their lame excuses. The bosses are ginormous beasts, taking up the entire screen, and sometimes more, so it's impressive how well it performs.

Sadly, I'm miffed that the might Loriciel didn't bother to use the Atari STe enhancements :/

The audio will not dishearten thanks to the amazing talents of Chris Hülsbeck who provides a thumping title tune and stunning in-game chip music. There is the option to hear sound effects only, but I really wouldn't bother with that afterthought. I personally thought they weren't anything close to the boppin' chip music!

That's the unimportant stuff out of the way, and we've just enough time for one more screenshot...

The second level's colours might look odd in a screenshot, but it's much better when playing!

The CryptO'pinion?

Jim Power is excellent, but it's not perfect. Whilst the first level is fantastic, later levels suffer some infuriating mechanics which make them impossible - without extra lives. Sadly, the shoot 'em up stages are rubbish and felt nothing more than a stocking filler. Also, there is no support for the enhanced hardware lurking unused inside the Atari STe which is a shame because this would have been a great opportunity to shine.

As a platformer, it's a hugely immense bundle of fun. Personally, it blows me away how much effort Loriciel devoted to making this platformer as good as possible - this ain't no lame port. Ultimately, ask yourself this - do you want a platformer that is fast, fun and addictive? Guess what, you've got it right here.

Download for Hard drive or Floppy.