Eye Of Horus

Walk like an Egyptian...

I've been trolling through my old videos and found Logotron's Eye of Horus. I remember this platformer thanks to its confusing labyrinths and peculiar enemies. I was impressed, but oddly, left feeling a little cold. Sure, it looks, sounds and plays great, but it has relentless enemies. Kinda like Black Lamp in this respect.

We are the hawk-headed God, Horus, a good fella for the ancient Egyptians. Our task is to explore the labyrinths of Osiris' burial chamber because he was murdered by Set, who scattered his body parts. We need to collect them and rebuild him. It sounds cool and quite gross, but it's time that I revisited this peculiar platformer for a second go. (And now that I'm thinking about Osiris, I need to rewatch Stargate SG-1 !!)

Let's waste no time talking, and get him rebuilt like the six-million-dollar mummy...

Eye of Horus nails the ancient Egyptian theme perfectly, using awesome visuals.

Hard as nails

I can see why I originally felt overwhelmed: the level design is confusing, and it's not helped by the repetitive backgrounds. The mechanics behind the elevators/coloured keys are unnecessarily rubbish, plus I think that there are far too many amulets. All enemies are unique, and it's peculiarly funny when the fixtures and fittings begin wobbling in anger. At least our demigod is armed with a paper gun! No, really, we are lol

The ancient tomb is massive and contains many monsters and traps. Heck, even the background decor appears angry and reactive to our presence. So finding all the body parts won't be easy. Thankfully, being a demigod means we can morph into a hawk, even if birds don't have hands to carry things... Keys and Amulets can be used to operate particular elevators that summon other so-called gods.

Sounds rather strange yet uniquely intriguing? Well, at least the graphics suit the theme...

If ever there was a Stargate game, years before the show, this is it!!

Aesthetics

Graphically, it's gorgeous and reminds me of what a Stargate game might have looked like. It reminds me of Death Trap and the intro whiffs of Ice Palace. Anyhow, the scrolling is super-smooth with gorgeous animations, and the hieroglyphic backgrounds are stunning. A lot of love went into its pixel design.

Sound effects are zesty and accompanied by gorgeous Whittaker music. Not his best, but still good.

The CryptO'pinion?

This is a cunning platformer, and I loved exploring the tomb, but the ability to flip into a hawk is a genius move, albeit with its own restrictions. Just have a pen and paper ready to make a map (until the right amulet is found). The only way you're gonna enjoy this game is if you are willing to put in the hours (geddit?)

Otherwise, don't bother because this platformer demands your time and respect. I hope you play it.

• Budding Daniel Jackson wannabes can download Eye of Horus for floppy or hard drive.
• Don't play without a pen and paper...
• Unless you're willing to endure the pain of viewing maps on an Amiga website? :^)

Astro Marine Corps [AMC]

Creepy monsters are coming to get you!

Sometimes a game doesn't need a long-winded storyline, puzzles, or be a life-sucking RPG. Sometimes all you want is a huge mother of a weapon (with unlimited ammo, of course) and lots of baddies in need of urgent annihilation. Be happy as Dinamic's AMC fits the bill with lots of gratifyingly brutal violence!

This multi-level scrolling shoot 'em up involves nothing more than walking through grim alien landscapes and hammering the fire button to kill everything in sight. Upgradeable weapons use a directional-firing technique, and our marine can crouch and leap high into the air (with wiggly legs). We are equipped with powerful bombs, which are needed when the main gun isn't effective (perhaps you can drop a few into a crater).

The aliens are an obscene bunch of misfits ranging from man-eating plants to mechanoids that even Robocop would run away from. Don't get close to the unassuming caterpillars, these will suddenly grow - with teeth!! I think AMC has some of the best enemies, and the monstrously huge Guardian proves it.

Technically, AMC could have been a pinch better; the scrolling is good, but the landscapes look average. The joystick controls are excellent. However, it is awkward reaching for the keyboard to throw a bomb - especially when mechanoids are chasing. With a bit of spit and polish, this would have been aces.

AMC is crudely predictable, but thoroughly entertaining. It features ace baddies, crunchy sounds, and loads of action. Being an Astro Marine is thrilling because I love killing the alien scum. Fantastic game!!


Install AMC on your hard drive.Grab the floppies from Atari Legend.

Killer mechs are tough, so grab the power-ups ASAP!!

The plant life is out to get you in this crazy game, so watch out where you walk!!

Look, everyone, it's a strange little worm. No, wait... ARGHHH it's growing!!

This thingamabob is absolutely superb. Look at the detail in his eyes and teeth!!

Getting a screenshot with a power-up was tough. I need more hands!

Resistant to your gun, so how are you gonna get by that?

Turrets in the ceilings, aim up - quick!!

AMC has huge monsters, but the bosses are even bigger. This beast is ginormous!!

Oh dear, I was happily walking, and a giant plant appeared from underneath me...

Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Ghouls? Ghosts? I'm outta here....!!!

I thought I'd entertain myself with a few games of Ghouls 'n Ghosts, a classic platformer and a fantastic Atari ST conversion by Software Creations for US Gold. However, I ended up laughing out loud as I suffered numerous deaths in utter frustration! For those who have been living on another planet, this is the sequel to Ghosts 'n Goblins, another game I'm not particularly great at. Sigh... when will I ever learn?

This is a faithful and beautifully crafted conversion with rock-solid gameplay that takes many moons to master. The visuals are lovely with nice scrolling and superb sprites. Who doesn't love it when Arthur bumps into a baddie and somehow loses his clothes? It doesn't make any sense, but it has our 7-year-old laughing her cotton socks off, which is a win in my book. Musically, Ghouls 'N Ghosts features captivating tunes and some of the most memorable I've heard. Just listen to the first level's music. It doesn't get better than that!!

Ghouls 'N Ghosts is a tough one; an arcade classic. The Atari ST received a superb conversion, which looks great, sounds incredible, and offers the chance to enjoy the most frustrating action. Dare you accept this challenge? Of course, you do, and those brave players can grab the floppies or a hard disk version.

Check out these screenshots while you decide how brave you really are... Good luck... HA!!

Beyond The Ice Palace

Brace yourself for a corker!

I think everyone has played Beyond the Ice Palace at some time, and I got mine free with my first Atari ST computer. Until then, I was a Spectrum user, so I'm sure you can imagine the look on my face when I first loaded the ST version with its colourful graphics, smooth scrolling, and jazzy sounds!!

Much like Ghosts & Goblins, this is a scrolling platformer with three monster-infested levels designed to test your dexterity, skill, and reflexes. Predictable, yet there’s also something oddly special about it, too. Everything works perfectly: superb joystick control, a generous variety of enemies, and delightfully crafty level design. Annoyingly enough, it’s a platformer that has absolutely everything to make it downright outstanding.

Let's break this pointless trip down memory lane with a couple of funky screenshots...

I knew this game was gonna be great from the start, but choose your weapon carefully.

Hey, I think I've found a severed head!! Hmm, what could it possibly be?

Play the game

The first level is a trip through scary woods. It's the typical platformer environment with peculiar baddies and a freaky end-of-level boss. Actually, each level follows the same formula with interesting places and many monsters to shoot/avoid/run away from. The second and third levels are, more or less, the same: a vertically scrolling cavern filled with hideous creatures before eventually reaching the wicked witch.

You're not alone: a good spirit can be summoned, which helps clear the screen of the baddies. This feature is limited to a certain number of uses (check out the funny face in the status bar). So choose your moments wisely when you are most vulnerable - then watch it zig-zag down your screen, killing baddies for you.

Ice Palace isn't complex, but it can be tricky because of some awkward mechanics. For example, the blue demon is irritating as he cunningly appears just as you begin to use the elevating platforms. My advice: leap off the moment he appears, as it's easier to kill. Otherwise, you are vulnerable on the platforms.

I think that we need two more screenshots of our hero with his flowing blonde locks...

Argh, you've blown it by staying on that life. Now the battle is much harder!

Oh no, here is the end-of-level green worm guardian!

A 16-bit jaw dropper

I've always felt the graphics are extraordinary and demonstrate our superiority over the 8-bit computers. The 1980s were an era of no-lame Amiga ports, so this game has been programmed well (thank you, Time Moore). The scrolling is smooth, the landscapes are great, and the sprites are gorgeous. Heck, even dying is a beautiful moment, and I'll never tire of its flicky death effect as my soul ascends into heaven!

The sounds are ravishing, with a sharp arcade-like style throughout. David Whittaker's music plays alongside these using a technique we saw in Xenon (ie, one channel is replaced as and when for the sound effects). After all, there are only 3 channels, so blame Yamaha. Look, the music is awesome. Nuff said.

So, it plays brilliantly while looking and sounding superb. What a game, eh? Screenshot time...

Level two ramps up the difficulty with weird wolfmen roaming the labyrinth!

Let's leap for joy, for we have collected another severed head!!

The CryptO'pinion?

After all these years, it’s still incredibly fun and utterly addictive. The great joystick controls, smooth scrolling, and gameplay make it a joy. The only downside is the small size of each level; I wish they were bigger. Yes, I want more!! :) Hey, he might wear cute green boots, but I guarantee you will love this game.

Get this downloaded and experience a platformer that’s nothing short of legendary.

A Midi tune of the awesome game music.

Maps for the ZX Spectrum game aren't needed, but nice to have.

Downloads are available for hard drive installation or floppies.

My Hi-Score. Can you beat me????? No, you cannot! ;p

Big Nose The Caveman

Big hooter

We are Big Nose, a fella from prehistoric times, and, once a year, he and his family celebrate Thanksgiving, which means one thing: a yummy Pterodactyl roast dinner. Fortunately, one of these birds was just spotted flying by - now isn't that lucky? So this Jurassic journey takes you through dangerous dinosaur-infested lands looking for that tasty bird to kill, cook, and eat with your fellow big-nosed family.

Code Masters released this humble platformer in 1993, programmed by Neil Hill. The game involves clubbing anything that looks dangerous, lots of platform jumping, and fighting off end-of-level bosses. The controls are excellent and responsive, and the cartoon-like graphics with amazing sprites are a joy. However, the bland backdrops are a letdown and desperately need some rasters! Sound effects are sparse except for jumps and hits, but thankfully, the title music is fantastic (a shame it doesn’t play during the game).

Big Nose, a budget platformer, feels a bit cheap in some places, especially considering the Atari ST’s capabilities. However, the superb and addictive gameplay is what truly matters. Okay, you’ll likely complete it in a couple of hours, but it's budget and well-designed, demonstrating its playability. So why not kill some time and give it a go? Big Nose The Caveman is a bucketload of fun, and I think you will all enjoy it a bunch!!

> Go on and download Big Nose the Caveman for floppy or hard drive.

Argh, a dinosaur!! What shall I do...?

Take that, you dino freak!!

Those snakes are pesky things, but easy to kill.

The spiders are so cute and have a cunning edge to them, too.

This grants access to a secret place that lets you skip level one. Weird...

This is another secret place that grants you a brisk walk through the next level. Ugh, no thanks!

Enchanted Land

Not a review, but a moan!

We are Kurgan, a magician who dresses like a weird Santa! He must retrieve the lost magic from the lands of Damiran and battle cutesy creatures in five levels to restore things to how they were. However, this is one of the hardest platformers I have ever played, and it's how the game ultimately fails, but let's continue.

Level one is incredible, but incredibly tough. It effectively introduces you to the game’s wicked mechanics. Frankly, I struggled to complete it and only managed to see the technical delights of the second stage using a cheat. Unfortunately, each level suffers from unfair mechanics and requires repeated play. If only we had more lives! I found myself unable to play for long, which infuriated me for various reasons.

Enchanted Lands is a showcase product, developed by the legendary Carebears.  It demonstrates the capabilities of our 16-bit computer when handled by those who don’t make excuses. Essentially, it’s a demo designed specifically for the Atari ST, but unfortunately, it lacks actual gameplay (it's our Amiga SOTB).

We all relish a challenge, but this is ridiculous. The mechanics are so unforgiving, turning everything into a chore devoid of enjoyment. Just wait until you encounter those jumping critters or the spiders. Often annoyingly placed just off-screen, they suddenly appear when you get close, draining your precious energy.

Let's see an animated GIF of the lush visuals...

Well, the immense talent that went into the game's development is astounding!

Aesthetics

Visually, this platformer is a Christmas cracker, and I wish every game looked this gorgeous!! It really is like a playable demo running at 50fps with hundreds of beautiful colours. The landscapes are stunning and are complemented by equally gorgeous sprites (they’ll cause all the headaches a gamer dreads).

The audio is every bit as impressive as the graphics. Musically, it’s breathtaking with a range of outstanding chiptunes and lovely sound effects. Mad Max’s music is flawless. Magnificent tunes.

Look, this is our Shadow Of The Beast, so let's see another screenshot...

Let's hop from cloud to cloud, looking for more deadly places to die!!

The CryptO'pinion?

Enchanted Land looks & sounds perfect, but it's incredibly difficult and requires a trainer. Even then, mastering its tricky nature will take ages. I think the difficulty level could sink the Titanic, and that ruins what could have been an exceptional platformer. Technically, it’s a masterpiece, but it’s meant to be a game, not a demo.

I’d definitely consider this our Shadow Of The Beast and something to show friends: look and listen, but don’t expect to actually play it. Harsh, I know, but there are better platformers for the Atari ST.

8BitChip has a hard disk version.
The floppy is over at Atari Legend.

Okay, it's time to cheat your way through this cruel platformer:

On the title screen, type in, "TCB RULES FOREVER"
The screen will flash...

Now you can press keys 1 - 5 to pick a different level.

Also, pressing F2 - F10 for lots of different effects. Enjoy!

See that spider; beware of him. That's all I'll say.

Don't you dare fall into that well.

As you jump, that little critter jumps too, so watch out for that!

That's it, I'm done. And dead lol

Ghost Battle

The demoscene is here!

Thalion games always oozed a superior visual and audio style that few others could match. However, I don't think I ever played Ghost Battle, which is very odd as I'm a fan of platformers and Thalion. So, let's play!

We are a muscle-bound hero who needs to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, who was whisked away by a giant hand. That's right, a giant hand!! At least you get to travel to some of the most beautiful places trying to find her, and along the way, you should kill everything in your wake! However, I fear the controls and gameplay mechanics are awkward and affect your movement, which feels stiff, so it will take some getting used to.

The initial weapon’s poor firing rate makes it unsuitable for quick kills, as it falls short of the required pace. So, no matter how many times you try to rapidly hit that fire button, most monsters will manage to survive just long enough to zap your precious energy. It's frustrating and spoils what might have been.

This is like Ghouls And Ghosts with similar levels and a few puzzles. The action is predictable but very hard and will surely torment the most discerning gamers. Did Thalion employ beta testers? It's very difficult...

Okay, what's up with those freaky eyes!! That's drugs for ya, kids!

What a cute intro... Well, until a giant hand appears and whisks away your dolly bird!

- Graphics & Sounds -

The graphics are astounding, with stunning artwork by Henk Nieborg. The scrolling is silky-smooth, and it's best viewed on the Atari STe. It reminds me of a mix of Ghouls And Ghosts, Risky Woods, Stormlord, and maybe even a tickle of Shadow Of The Beast? It's hard to imagine a prettier platformer, but this is!

Like the visuals, the audio is outstanding and matches the pixels for quality in equal measure. I think you'll guess who's behind the music, and it's nothing less than fabulous! He proves that chip music will last forever.

The opening level is stunning and scrolls beautifully. Now, master those controls!!

There are lots of enemies, and they look gorgeous. Watch out for that chainsaw guy!

- The CryptO'pinion -

Ghost Battle could so easily have been a crackerjack platformer, as it's got so much going for it and is aesthetically one of the best 16-bit games on the planet. However, it suffers from its own stupid design flaws thanks to some of the most awkward control mechanics I've ever seen. Argh, so frustrating because its potential is immense, but you'll see very little unless you spend years mastering the cruel learning curve.

Ghost Battle looks and sounds incredible, but it's going to need lots of time; otherwise, don't bother. However, once you've mastered that and progressed beyond the confusing open levels, there's a good game here - nothing beats seeing a zombie on a pogo stick! Sadly, the unbalanced gameplay and controls let it down.

Sadly, there are better games to play on the Atari ST, although I doubt they'll look or sound as good!

The floppy disk can be found at Atari Legend

And 8BitChip has the HDD version.

Elvira - The Arcade Game

A game with sex appeal

Elvira has graced our favourite 16-bit computer three times, two of them being adventures. However, the third is a little-known platformer by Flair Software, which is a platformer not too dissimilar to the likes of Turrican or Gods. Yes, that doesn't sound very original, but I don't care. Also, it's enhanced on Atari STe thanks to the Blitter and lots of extra colours. So, kudos to the boys at Flair for supporting both computers.

For this game, we are the Mistress who finds herself awoken by a wizard who needs her to complete a mission (here we go), and, apparently, we need to recover the Queendom. Whatever the story, I'm in, but it means there are three ginormous worlds to explore. And guess what, there are many demons to fight!!

Let's take a look at their loading screens, which are beautiful examples of pixel art...

Those looking for a tan might first wish to play the Underworld of Fire?

Or perhaps you prefer to plunder the cold depths of Arctic Earth? Bring a scarf!

Let's play with Elvira

The gameplay revolves around methodical exploration, with Elvira leaping across platforms, blasting bizarre monsters with her magical weapons, collecting rune stones and treasure, and hunting down food to keep her health topped up. Also, there’s a light adventure element, as traders hidden within the levels can exchange your hard-earned runes for hints and assistance. Perhaps this is an added unnecessary complication?

Gods and Turrican inspired this game, so no prizes for originality. There are two levels: Underworld of Fire and Arctic Earth (the third cannot be played until these are completed). Each has a range of baddies walking and flying in the sky. Hitting fire shoots a magical weapon with loud and exciting deaths - it's a shameless ripoff effect. There is constant action through huge, colourful levels stuffed with monsters.

The controls are good, but turning this sexy woman feels too slow. Elvira moves majestically; it's something seeing her flaunt those legs when turning or jumping. The walk is funny as she stomps the ground, but gravity appears low, so jumping takes on the form of Neil Armstrong on the moon. Actually, this is great for killing the monsters as the jump mechanic takes longer, so you can change direction as needed.

There's little that feels new as Elvira is running on ripped inspiration. That's fine, but it also means there's nothing unexpected, so everything feels familiar. I also found the levels too big and bewildering. The ability to save progress via checkpoints could have been better. As you can imagine, I kept getting lost!

Let's take a peep at a jazzy screenshot of the fireworks you will experience...

Elvira doesn't waste any time flashing you a quick glimpse of her underwear!

Aesthetics

Visually, this is a corker with gorgeous levels that feature lots of colour and detailed sprites that explode like it's bonfire night. Parallax scrolling is smooth, but the action can slow down when a lot is happening. The screen width has been squashed a little to maintain the framerate, which is understandable.

The standard ST version already looks impressive, with moody castle interiors, icy caverns and fiery hellscapes packed with monsters. The Atari STe version sharpens things further with a richer colour palette and smoother scrolling that gives the game a noticeably more polished feel.

The Blitter Chip is supported for both Atari computers if present (obviously, it is on the STe). This makes the game run smoother, albeit at a slightly slower pace. So, an STfm without Blitter features a lower framerate but faster gameplay. Which do you prefer?  I say the ST is best ... highlight!

The excellent theme music is by Sean Connolly with nice Gods-like effects (S key toggles). To be honest, there aren't an awful lot of sound effects; you will hear Elvira stomping more than anything else.

Righto, fellow ST Nutters, it's time for the final screenshot and guess what? It's beautiful...

Elvira is so hot that she can create sparks even in the cold Ice World.

The CryptO'pinion?

Sadly, even the busty goddess cannot save this game. The basics are very good and enjoyable for a while. However, the levels are far too large and thus the quest soon becomes tiresome without frequent checkpoints. Although the graphics are legendary (I tip my hat to Flair for using the Blitter), they should have removed the parallax effect in favour of a larger display/spritelier scrolling. That would have been better.

Elvira the Arcade Game may never have been in the arcades, but I don't care. Who doesn't enjoy dressing up as The Mistress Of The Dark? Oops, did I say that out loud? Yes, it might feel like a cheap Gods or Turrican clone, but I've enjoyed it. More than worth playing, especially if you have a trainer and map at hand.

Great game, and Elvira will keep you entertained for many hours. (Mmm, given half the chance!!)

Who wouldn't help Elvira if she asked?

Exactly, so grab her by the floppy or hard disk!!

I recorded a quick gameplay video.

I also made these two recordings to compare the difference between the ST (no Blitter) and the Atari STe version...

This is the Atari ST (without a Blitter). Faster. Better?

This is the Atari STe (and the Mega ST). Slower. Smoother. Better?

Death Trap

My first Anco game

Anco's Death Trap was released in 1990 and reminds me of platformers like Horror Zombies From The Crypt, with hints of Prince Of Persia and Ricky Dangerous. The gruesome cover is nothing short of tremendous!

We begin the adventure in a labyrinth of horror and encounter traps, like falling blocks, poisonous chests, spikes, etc. Each map is huge, and easy to lose your bearing so I doodled myself a route, which helped a bunch. Puzzles are simple, like flipping a switch to unlock a door, but this might mean backtracking, and sometimes you're even required to walk the long way around. Not easy, when you're under constant attack.

Okay, that's enough yapping. Let's view a couple of screenshots...

The graphics are absolutely superb, with gorgeous tones used!

Right, stop! There's a switch... wanna risk pulling that thing?

It's all about the killing!

Yes, evil creatures inhabit this dungeon and will annoyingly appear at the most inconvenient times (it's quite similar to Black Lamp in this respect). They're all relentless, so watch out for ghosts who materialise from out of thin air, jumping frogs, bats that swoop in and drop rocks, Egyptian wizards, and many others. I must say, I love the stripy grabbing hands that appear before the culprit appears to chase you!!

Controls are responsive and keep up with the demands of our adventurer. The tighter jumps can be difficult as you need to tiptoe right to the end of a platform, which is difficult when constantly chased by creatures! Our direction cannot be altered during the jump, which is awkward.

We're armed with a pathetic blade, but this can be upgraded with potions - I love the fireball that grants the ability to kill something before it gets close. These potions can be used to conjure spells, recover health, etc. The trouble is that exploration is vague, with lots of backtracking and guesswork. Or, in other words, Stevie got lost a lot!! If there was ever a game that needed an auto-map feature, this is it.

Right, let's see another couple of sexy screenshots...

The enemies are on par with Black Lamp. Gorgeous enemies, like this stripy dude!

Those leaping frogs are insane. Very deadly too!

The CryptO'pinion?

Technically, this spooky adventure impressed me with its agile scrolling, animated sprites, great controls, and sampled sound effects. However, Death Trap is tough; the maps are huge, and I often get weary of the enemy's constant onslaught, which can feel annoyingly unfair. So, I came away impressed and unimpressed. It's got the hallmarks of a great platformer: a labyrinth of interesting places, nice puzzles, and monsters to kill. But there are too many monsters constantly getting in the way of exploration and progress.

A trainer might be welcome to fudge that. Surely that's not right? [Don't Call Me Shirley!!]

- DOWNLOADS -

Back when AtariCrypt was just a baby, I recorded this gameplay video.

 Stonish has a great floppy disk, and the hard disk version is available thanks to 8BitChip.

 If doodling ain't your thing, then Hall of Light has every level mapped.