The Adventures of Robin Hood

(Everything I Do) I do it for Sherwood

A long time ago, I bought Millennium's Men in Tights(!) and proudly showcased its box art. I had the genuine intention of adding it to my playlist, but somehow, that never happened - things get busy here sometimes (ahem). The wait’s over at last - better late than never, right? Let’s see if it was worth it...

The Adventures of Robin Hood is an open-world adventure released in 1991. Set right in the heart of Nottingham, Robin begins his life stripped of his lands and title, dumped rudely into the outlaw lifestyle. He didn't expect that! To make matters worse, the locals aren’t exactly welcoming - you’ll get plenty of snide remarks as you try to scrape together a bit of respect. So we need to rebuild Robin’s reputation by doing what he does best: helping poor people by robbing the rich, and slowly gathering that famous band of Merry Men.

Right then, let's break up this jibba jabba with a screenshot...

Here I am chilling out with Little John.

Let's play

When you begin, you might feel abandoned in the game without any kind of a guide. Don't despair. What makes Robin Hood stand out is its surprisingly open design. Instead of shoving you through a set of levels or predetermined tasks, the game drops you into a living world. So why not explore Nottinghamshire? Maybe talk to some of the villagers as you wander about, but the key will always be exploration!

As you wander, you soon realise that time passes by, people go about their business, and your actions affect how the world reacts to you. However, make too many enemies, and you’ll find yourself called, ridiculed, or worse. It’s not just an adventure; it’s a medieval sandbox where you decide how the legend unfolds as you live your life. Remember, the goal is to rebuild your reputation so people begin to change their opinion of you.

Playing Robin Hood is all about the time spent exploring Sherwood, which is a big place, but not too big. It pays to chat to villagers and sneak about where you probably shouldn’t be. It’s these choices of how to act that shape your adventure, so walk the walk and scour areas to gather allies like Little John and Friar Tuck.

This is going to be tough to provide some help without ruining the adventure. But, here goes...

• Drawing your weapon in front of guards is considered a crime. If caught, you'll be arrested. Always ensure you're out of sight before risking that, just like real life when you think about it lol.
• Friar Tuck offers a monk's cloak that allows you to move around without being recognised. That's a big deal - stealth mode!! He might be hard to find, but when you do, just speak with him.
• Little John is a bit of a loner, so I'm sure you can imagine where he is.
• Saving peasants from execution not only boosts your heroism but may also recruit them to your cause, providing valuable assistance. Again, something to act upon when prompted.
• During winter, beggars become more desperate. They're cold and hungry. Donating money to them increases your popularity and helps maintain a positive reputation.
• Wouldn't an in-game map be great? Why not explore NW of your starting location?
• Magic mushrooms can revive fallen allies if used promptly (before burial). They are single-use items, but new ones may appear in various locations. Did you pick up the map?
• Engaging in archery practice reduces the time it takes to reload your bow, making subsequent shots quicker because you're a more proficient warrior. Well, quicker...
• Wealthy merchants can be robbed of money. Oh yeah, this has got to be done!
• Magic mushrooms can revive fallen allies if used promptly (before burial). They are single-use items, but new ones may appear in various locations. Did you pick up the map?
• Don't just speak to Maid Marian, talk with her...
• Ensuring your allies are well-fed boosts their effectiveness. Food can be obtained by robbing merchants, hunting, trading, or (maybe) when rescuing peasants.
• The dragon is a formidable foe that, when defeated, grants a significant heroism boost. To defeat it, shoot it with an arrow, but it runs after you! Perhaps return later to finish the job?
• Walking is a bit of a trek, but if you press the spacebar whilst clicking on an arrow, Robin continuously walks until you tell him otherwise. Saves lots of clicking!
• In fact, hitting shortcuts like the Spacebar is extremely handy for seeing what's ahead.

Break time, and that means only one unsurprising thing. Yep, here is another screenshot...

The seasons come and go very quickly. Shall we make a snowman?

Aesthetics in Tights

I can’t talk about this game’s graphics without getting all mushy inside!! I absolutely love it - this game is an absolute visual treat from start to finish! The isometric world is jam-packed with lovely little details I adore – cosy cottages, winding paths, trickling streams, shady woodland, and bustling townsfolk going about their day - it all feels alive in a way that so few games ever managed. The only downer (for me) is when Robin’s green outfit blends into a grassy hill, and half of him seems to vanish without a trace! I really think a slightly different colour or maybe even a black outline could have been used on the edges of the hills/etc.

The audio is mostly sparse, leaving much of your quest in gentle silence. This actually works well, as a constant tune would have grated after a while. Instead, bursts of sound effects or charming music kick in whenever something exciting is happening or about to unfold. Like during the humorous introduction, with its olde English-style music that fits the Robin Hood and medieval theme perfectly. This game oozes charm, and the aesthetics help to boost the Sherwood atmosphere wonderfully; it’s like stepping into an old storybook.

An overreaction to the Sherwood aesthetics? Nope, so let's see a screenshot then...

Not everyone hates you, so get out there and talk to people.

CryptO'pinion

The Adventures of Robin Hood is something quite extra special. It’s not just another isometric adventure; it actually feels alive. A sandbox world where the NPCs have their own routines and personalities. And because it’s all about your reputation, the way you behave genuinely changes what you can actually do. If you can forgive the plodding treks across the map and combat that’s less than skilful, you will find a witty, atmospheric adventure that quietly steals hours like a certain outlaw in green steals money from the rich.

Sherwood is big, but not too big, which is perfect as it makes exploring, chatting, and nosing around feel fun rather than overwhelming. I feel this game is up there with the likes of Hunter, Damocles, and Midwinter in the sense that it's ahead of its time. As free-roaming adventures go, this is one of the very best.

Right, I’ve got a date with Maid Marian, so before I go, I'll give this game a Merry Men rating of 90%.

• Lots of floppy disks can be found at Atari Legend.
• The hard drive game has been adapted by the mighty 8BitChip.

This gorgeous map is by Kennel and is found at VGMaps.

Robin Hood may walk like a pensioner, but he gets an AtariCrypt SMASH accolade!!

Shadowlands

Stay Awhile and Listen

Shadowlands is a 1992 RPG by Domark and developed by Barry Costas, who created another personal favourite of mine Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters. I've wanted this game for years, and I finally have it proudly displayed on my ST shelf!! Will it live up to my expectations after all these years?

The story is based on an ancient legend of a warrior prince who was slaughtered on the battlefield. Somehow, our dead dude has magically awoken to find himself alive and kicking with the nifty ability to mind-control. So he has selected four loyal subjects to venture back into the Shadowlands and wreak his vengeance!

I don't know about you, but I'm excited and need to see some screenshots!! Onwards we go...

Earlier messages may appear rather obvious, but reading them can be rewarding later on...

Don't be so quick to begin your adventure - take the time to look around this open area!

The graveyard proves a little clumsy for our warriors to navigate, but the dungeons are fine.

It's that time... Dungeon Crawl time!

As you would expect, the gameplay is in real-time with characters, puzzles, and beasts to kill. We begin with the option to use the default characters or manually generate their attributes, which I suggest you do. The first level begins outside in a woodland graveyard with useful pickings before taking the plunge into the depths.

Our adventure begins once inside the creepy dungeons, but the first thing that hits you is the lighting. This is incredible, using a technique called Photoscape that adds a gradual gradient to the light around a character carrying a lit torch. This makes the dungeon spooky with its disturbing atmosphere. The audio isn't too shabby, with fantastic title screen music and sampled sound effects throughout the game.

Let's crack on and see a few of the puzzles with some of that cool lighting...

I love how subtle many hints are! They nicely use silly wording to give you a hint.

Sometimes it's far too subtle, but at least it tries to help you, and I love that!

Now it's time to spend a quid... All brilliant puzzles help make this game so interesting!

Bring friends... and a torch!

Playing Shadowlands is an instant and fascinating experience. In fact, I couldn't wait to leave the graveyard to venture into the depths to see what nasties lurked. As you can see, we're in charge of four characters, and each can lead and be controlled independently using their avatars along the bottom of the screen.

The first thing that hits you is the skills and the lack of progression. Each character can offer similar talents and fight as well as the others. This takes away some of the RPG aspects, as Shadowlands is more of an exploration puzzler in the dungeons. Treat each character as a solid member of your party rather than a unique one.

It's not always necessary to remain as a group. Sometimes, it's best to go alone when scouting in search of items. However, idle warriors should still be vigilant for critters that like to nibble!

Your four loyal subjects will need replenishment, so eat, drink, and rest whenever possible, but be wise and use your stock sparingly. Flasks can always be topped up from fountains, but nothing stops you from having a sip or two while there. Torches are most helpful as it's so dingy plundering through the grim levels, but once again, use these sparingly and extinguish any idle ones in your inventory to make them last longer.

All dungeons should be this scary!! Hey, let's check out some more screenshots...

Look out, something hideous is creeping up on you!!!

The warrior is now a bag of bones... Perhaps he should have read the notice below?

Well, come on, it does say in plain English what not to do. He asked for it! lol

Run, think, shoot, live!

Soon into your first game, you realise how awesome the user interface is for controlling your A-Team. The inventory screen can be accessed at any time with a single right-click and is a cinch to use with extra functions like swapping items or grouping the adventurers into structured squads rather than a clumsy mob.

Each level has a superb design without losing your bearings. It's a good idea to read everything you come upon because not every puzzle is obvious; it might be a masked trap that conjures something nasty. Always beware!! Also, look out for switches, wall slots, or even rickety floor panels. Other puzzles are a fun play on words, such as "weight and see" (a great way to get rid of any useless items).

Weapons vary and can be just about anything you can carry, and there are many impressive items just waiting to clobber your foe. Look around right at the start for something helpful... However, it's always good practice not to feel like you need to fight everyone all the time - sometimes it's best to simply walk away.

Enough of my boring jibber jabber, let's see more screenshots...

Okay, I've got the key to the teleporter. Where is that?

Here it is. Okay, you first! No way!! (This is how my mind would work if I were there!)

The Magician finds three suspicious holes - will he choose the correct one or will he perish?

The CryptO'pinion?

Shadowlands is epic, and I'm enjoying ransacking the dungeons. However, it has a few niggles. I failed to get the save game function to work, no matter what I tried (not much of a problem today when using the emulator's snapshot feature or the hard drive version). Also, guiding our loyal subjects can sometimes be awkward as they struggle to walk around the graveyard and through the odd open doorway. Yes, they're a sandwich short of a picnic and often need a gentle push to help them out. Let's end this pickiness.

I've featured a few adventure/RPGs over the years, and I thought nothing would live up to Dungeon Master! Shadowlands is more of a lite RPG without aspects like races/skillsets or levelling/progression. Regardless, this leaves you to concentrate on the terrifying environment, how to beat the puzzles and stay alive.

This is truly one of the most rewarding dungeon crawlers I have ever played.

Install to hard drive with the snapshot-save feature!!
Are you stuck? AtariMania has some game tips.

Of course, Shadowlands wins the accolade of an AtariCrypt SMASH award. Easily!!

Where Time Stood Still

8-Bits of joy!

Where Time Stood Still is one of those games that bridged my transition from the ZX Spectrum to the Atari ST. This adventure was developed by legends Denton Designs and published in 1988 by Ocean Software. Denton Designs came out of the ashes of Imagine Software - I spent my youth playing/mapping their games! I really miss playing The Great Escape, which sadly never made it to the Atari ST.

So the story goes something like this: our plane crashes on a remote plateau in the Himalayas. You and three passengers survive the wreck but find yourselves in a land inhabited by prehistoric creatures, dodgy bridges, quicksand, rock-hands, and strange tribal dudes who are angered easily at their new white friends.

I bet you're wondering about the graphics? Don't, you idiot! That doesn't matter, so read on...

Day and nighttime zones don't slow down our family of budding adventurers!

Let the adventure begin!

Familiarise yourself with the user interface, showing health/ammo, and it will assist when you might consider eating, drinking, or resting. The display is easy but will initially be confusing, especially the inventory/etc. Control can be used either with the mouse or the joystick, but I found the latter was the best.

Your name is Jarret, a classic hero who has a chiselled jaw, muscles, and designer stubble! The other people are controlled by the computer and follow wherever you go, so long as they're happy, fed, and content! Each person has their own unique personality - Clive is a rich man who moans and tires easily. Gloria and Dirk are a couple in love, and I hear Dirk has some language skills, too. Well, so long as he has Gloria to keep him happy.

The characters are ace and add, erm, character to the adventure. When you begin and are wondering what to do or where to go, don't. Experiment and take a gander at your surroundings. Check out items and see what you are capable of carrying and doing. Hey, common sense is not included; bring that yourself!

• Grab the rope at the start otherwise, you might get into bother crossing a bridge.
• Surprisingly, it's often possible to run away from dinosaurs!
• Refill your flask in the river.
• Just because someone (chubby) is moaning, he can be pushed to continue on...
• There are two types of natives and the first are the friendly guys!
• Keep moving in the swamp - don't stop!
• Wandering hands love a piece of fresh meat!

Right then, this bridge looks completely safe, so let's go... Ahem...

Sounds a bit boring?

Hardly. This game is brilliantly designed and will be played over an enormous map, so exploration is the key to success. Not only should you make a map of the area as you venture out, but take your time; there is much that isn't as it first appears. Look out for anything useful that could assist in some way. Think ahead.

But be a careful explorer - what's your rush? Who knows what nasties are around the next corner or if the ground is even safe to walk on? Rocks fall, things break, and even the natives aren't always guaranteed to be nice. Coming face-to-face with a dinosaur is a scary moment, so perhaps it's a good idea to be stealthy? A longer route might be a safer route? Hang on, I see woodland nearby that would be great for cover and shelter.

Be a people person, don't forget about your team and their morale. They’ll let you know when they need rest, food, water, or if they’re injured. They are needy and a bit clumsy, but that doesn't mean you should pander to their every request. Push them harder, without being a slave driver, because tired people are often grumpy people. And grumpy people are harder to control and often go off by themselves.

Take your time, check out the inventory, and have a recon of the area. Let's pause for a screenshot...

Bugger, I've lost all my friends, so I'm going to sit here and sulk!

Aesthetics

Visually, you might be confused by what your eyes are seeing. No, this isn't a trick using a ZX Spectrum emulator. Yes, it looks almost the same at first glance, but there are many 16-bit differences, along with other improvements: better scrolling and a higher detail level. Having said that, these aren't massive improvements, so the game is faithful to the original as much as it could be (without being a clone).

The music is by Fred Gray (he of Black Lamp) and is ace, so it perfectly suits the style and atmosphere. However, if you so prefer, sound effects can be used instead. Unless you're mad, stick with the chip music!

This game tricks your ST into thinking it's a Speccy? Well, can't argue with that. Screenshot time...

Watch out, you don't slip and die!

The CryptO'pinion?

I've been playing throughout the "summer" and made significant progress: my team has made it through the swamps, found a box of dynamite, ran like a girl when hearing a scary T-Rex, and chatted with the locals. Then a hand came out from nowhere and choked me to death, which forced a rethink of strategy. However, advancing across the river wasn't a good idea when hungry natives were waiting. Imagine being eaten alive?!!

As you can tell, I am really enjoying this, and I can sense victory is close. You know, this is what a (hmm) open-world game should be like - potential to have your own unique adventure. Where Time Stood Still has it all, and I feel I should be wearing a butchered animal skin when playing it. A truly fantastic adventure game.

Download for HDD or FLOPPY

The Immortal

A thinking man's Diablo?

I have always found something appealing about exploring a monster-infested dungeon - and this is one of the best, if tough! Designed by Will Harvey and programmed by Brett G.Durrett, The Immortal offers a challenging experience, but only if you survive long enough to see what's around the next corner.

We are a wizard who has been asked to help another in a spot of bother. He is called Mordamir, but somehow thinks your name is Dunric, which it isn't. Will you still help him? Of course, you will, even though we later find out this means exploring creepy dungeons infested with hideous nasties intent on your demise.

Are you still feeling brave? Don't lie. Be absolutely sure before accepting the challenge this brutal adventure offers. If you're still here, then it's time for clean underwear as we venture forth into the realms of myth, sorcery, and cruelty. (Some of you might be laughing at my obvious overreaction? Tut...Tut...Tut)

Okay, let's check out some screenshots of the sinister troubles ahead...

Do you think it's safe walking around down here? Well, you shouldn't!!

Learn how best to battle and defeat your foe. And why not chat with the locals?

Welcome to a dark place with monsters and lots of traps!

The Immortal is a scrolling isometric adventure set within a creepy labyrinth of unforgiving pitfalls and ghastly horrors. I cannot stress that enough, right from the start, too. These harsh characteristics will torment even the most experienced adventurer, so you will witness the bloodiest of deaths at a most frequent rate. Never have I played a game like this with so many hidden traps, so grab a pen and paper to make notes.

Lurking within the labyrinth are trolls, goblins, and other creatures that want you dead. Some have exquisite names like The Shades, which you soon encounter. These are a life form that hides in the darkness, only casting a faint shadow near a firelight. Are you scared yet? You should be, this is callous and ruthless.

As you can imagine, The Immortal isn't a game to rush through. Its design dictates a need for a determined player with patience. One who will fall victim to many gruesome deaths to master the intricacies of each level. Don't underestimate it - grab that pen and paper to make notes, you'll need them. Trust me.

This game makes my skin crawl, so I need a break! For more screenshots...

That's some drop there. Best watch your step or come back later?

Hey, I hear there is a prince in Persia who would love one of these carpets!!

You will die and die and die!

Each room is unique and has its own battles, treasures, and pitfalls - so think first, be vigilant, and always on your guard. The good news is that you can often avoid a confrontation by being stealthy, but brave warriors can always use their weapons or conjure magic spells to beat their foes. Expect your endurance to be tested to the full by each level's cruelly hidden traps. Argh, there are so many bloodthirsty traps!

Careful exploration is the key to success. Take your time, but also make sure to examine everything. Who knows, an item may help later? A slain victim is a great place to find cool stuff (Hey, what's better than plundering a dead corpse?). Finally, don't forget to rest. If you see a straw bed, then take the time to catch up on your sleep and enjoy forty winks. This restores health and might even produce an enlightening dream.

Sadly, there is no instant save function. Instead, successful wizards are awarded a certificate, IE level passwords. Yes, this might appear disappointing, but the levels aren't overly massive. Plus, it forces you to tread carefully and be a better adventurer. Oh, cheaters skipping levels will soon realise the error of their ways!

The thing with monsters is that they hate equally, as you can see in this next screenshot...

Even the monsters appear to hate each other. Let's watch them fight!

I never expected a boat ride - whitewater madness style!!

Aesthetics

All visuals are by Michael Marcantel and Ian Gooding and are excellent. They've helped to create a dungeon of horrors using a dark and creepy design. Each room looks the part, plus all monsters are ghoulishly drawn with good animation. I wonder how much inspiration was later taken from this old game?

Spot effects are used for many actions, and various pieces of chip music by Doug Fulton feature throughout the levels. Some dislike the tunes for a game like this, whereas others enjoy them. You can run with sound effects only, but I fear you will be missing out on much atmosphere if you do. I say leave the music on.

Okay, adventurers, it is time for the final screenshot, and it's animated...

The CryptO'pinion?

The Immortal is groundbreaking due to its gripping storyline, eerie atmosphere, and captivating deeds. Mix in a style employing exciting action and a fascinating storyline, and it's apparent why I love it so. An extremely excellent game that will provide hours of agonising pleasure as you uncover its many secrets.

The Immortal is cruel, so very cruel. Skill, dexterity, perseverance, and pure luck are what you'll need to play this adventure. Yes, it's damn tough. Yet it's also one of the best horror adventures for the Atari ST!!

Download for floppy & hard drive.