Xenon

Kelly X

There is light at the end of my Super Pack tunnel - the penultimate game is a beast of a shoot 'em up released in 1988 by Melbourne House. The mighty XENON was my first experience of what the Bitmap Brothers were capable of. A team that (for me) was the Atari ST equivalent of Ultimate Play The Game. Remember, I came from the 8-bit world as a ZX Spectrum dude, so this is high praise indeed. The Bitmaps produced few titles, but each one pushed our machine to its limits whilst also oozing a level of class beyond others.

I can still remember loading up Xenon for the first time on Christmas morning. Once the graphics appeared, my nooby 16-bit mind was beyond impressed. However, my jaw didn't drop to the floor like a weighty anvil until that music kicked in - and just as the gorgeous visuals raced down my TV screen!! Epic. Timeless

Being silly now, but I always wondered why the pilot zooms over the entire level, only to travel back up through the baddie-infested land? Well, I should shut up and stop being silly because it's fantastic to watch, and the digitised recording of Erich Matthews saying "Sector One" is pure gold. Iconic even!!

Righto, do you fancy some screenshots from the first level? Of course, you do so here you are...

The first level is iconic. It looks great. Sounds great. Plays great. Then you meet the boss...



Few times, I beat this sucker. It's a lot harder than anyone admits!

Plane or Tank!

The game begins with us sitting inside a little tank, which is fast and manoeuvrable, but it's not long until you realise that you can't hit anything up high. Waggle that joystick (or hit the spacebar) to transform into a jet aircraft!! This is ace and can blast anything in the air, but you will need to transform back when you see any ground-based enemies. So, once again, get waggling to morph your ship between the two. This method of flipping between them is genius and can be done at any time during play on level 1/3.

Xenon's gameplay is neither fast nor furious - yet I still panic when something is chasing me! The first level isn't that difficult, and you get to see a small selection of the baddies that the game has up its sleeves (like ladybirds!). There are more traditional defences that need to be destroyed, such as aeroplanes and ground-based missile silos. So, flipping between your two attack vessels is now proving fruitful.

If you beat the boss, then you're whisked off to the second stage, which is much harder...

The second level proves just how cruel and sadistic those Bitmap Brothers were!!



Having said that, I think the boss is slightly easier than on level one.

Frantic. Mayhem. Death!

A status panel shows a range of stats, including your score, altitude and fuel. There are also power-up letters that might be available after blasting something to smithereens - and Xenon has a great selection. Well, except for the balls that follow behind your ship - I hate those (always have!). Anyhow, each power-up offers a wide variety of features, including increased shot length and more. Here are the cool ones I like:

• W = This is probably my second favourite power-up. Instant extra firepower!
• A = Stay protected and stronger in your ship.
• S = Side shots is a pretty cool upgrade, especially on the harder levels.
• H = Homing missiles help to make things so much easier.
• B = Balls, which can be stacked up to three. Great...
• L = This is so fantastic and possibly my fave - and picking up "G" reverts back.
• Z = Surely every game needs a smart-bomb?

Of course, there's always an end-of-level guardian. In fact, these 'Sentinels' also appear halfway through a level. That's right, four levels, so eight times you're battling these guys. They can only be killed by carefully aligning firepower at their weakest point. It's now that you die, only to reload with a trainer enabled.

Beating the sentinel (for a second time) whisks you off to the next level to fight a massive array of new foes. It always gets harder, so I doubt you'll last long - and that's the main issue I have with Xenon: it's too hard after level one. How many players have seen the later levels without resorting to a cheat? I thought so.

Enough reading, as it's time for more screenshots, and here are some from the third level...

Don't adjust your monitor... Yep, level three sure does look familiar, albeit in pink. Ugh!



The toughest boss in the game. This one is a killer, and I have never beaten it (without a cheat!)

Pixels

This game is a total babe. Level one has a metallic charm, which I absolutely love. Heck, even today it looks outstanding, and might even impress the spoiled brats and their PS4s! Every stage is gorgeous, but I admit to not being a fan of the fourth level - it looks rather out of place and kinda like an Amstrad game.

The sprites are stunning, even those peculiar pink-brain things on level 4 - Yes, I cannot make up my mind about that level, it's pink, but it's still nice!! Scrolling is always smooth and perfectly paced for the gameplay. Xenon epitomises that mind-blowing late-80s era when we upgraded from older machines like the ZX Spectrum or the Commodore 64 to the glorious 16-bit world. This game is nothing less than a visual feast!

I've hinted at its gore, but here are screenshots from the odd-looking fourth level...

Level four is insane, and there are enough enemies to strike down an Asgard mothership!!



I wonder how many got that Stargate reference? Does anybody read my website?

Audio

Dave Whittaker has produced everything, booming from your ST's mono speaker. What you hear is every bit as mind-blowing as those gorgeous visuals. Sound effects are a blast, even if they do mute one channel to play (think something similar to Beyond The Ice Palace). Having said that, it's the music that is just... Mmm, so perfect. Epic. Timeless. Turn up the volume because the YM2149 is about to rock your house!!

Go on, click the green triangle and enjoy the outstanding chiptune.

The CryptO'pinion?

Hands down, this is one of the best 16-bit shooters. The range of powerups is great, and I love how we can flip between tank and plane at will. Sure, the bosses are annoying, and those later levels have way too much action for even Superman to contend with. But there is no denying this is an exciting shooter and a timeless classic I've loved for over 30 years. I think I've used the word "timeless" a lot. But IT'S TRUE.

Xenon is downright awesome and very addictive. Play it, and try to hate it. I dare you!!

Download available for floppies or hard drive.

Begin your drooling! Yes, I really do own this ace Atari ST game!! Oh yeah :-)

Wings Of Death

Quick play video

This is one of the classiest games for the ST and is even better when played on the Atari STe with loads more colours, better sounds, and so on. You play as Sagyr, a powerful wizard who’s been cursed by the evil sorceress Xandrilia. To break the spell and defeat her dark magic, you must battle through hordes of enemies across seven dangerous levels - ranging from forests to dungeons within a dark and gothic world.

This isn't a review. I simply wanted a reason to post my gameplay video recordings. Plus, every ST Nutter out there already knows just how cool this shooter is! Am I right? So, here are some of my tips...

It pays to practice as much as possible because this is a challenging shooter. With each wave of enemies killed, bonuses and power-ups are dropped, offering multiple options for new firepower. I would say learn what each one does and "know your weapons". Some are great, whereas some are less effective. Stick with what you like and don't blindly upgrade for the sake of it.

It's often a good idea to stay clear of the skull icons, which annoyingly offer a downgrade - not what you need in the heat of battle. That "HaHa" you hear can become intimidating, so learn the weapons and ignore the skulls. Additionally, perhaps consider abandoning any thoughts of staying in the central part of the screen, as this is a hotspot of activity. Likewise, don't remain along the bottom as the baddies do attack in an array of patterns. Hey, perhaps you can memorise those?

I hope that helps some of you guys. Wings of Death is a standout shooter, combining slick visuals, stunning audio, smooth scrolling, and a brilliant variety of weaponry. It’s tough (very tough) but also kinda fair, and its gameplay holds up incredibly well. Easily one of the Atari ST/STe’s finest arcade-style shooters.

Look, despite my joystick skills, I've recorded another video to complement the one above. Why? Because I love this shooter so much. Yes, even though I'm terrible at it and require the reactions of a 12-year-old!!

Specs (Credit Atarimania)

Supports Blitter

Supports STe DMA sound

Supports 1, 2 or 4Mb of RAM

Supports audio cartridge

Features up to 154 colours on-screen simultaneously (introduction screen)

Features up to 144 colours on-screen simultaneously (options or static screen)

Features up to 26 colours on-screen simultaneously (in-game)

Features digitized title soundtrack at 12.5KHz (stereo) on STe

Features digitized title soundtrack at 12.1KHz on ST

Features partially digitized in-game soundtrack at 6.25KHz on STe

Features partially digitized in-game soundtrack at 6.1KHz on ST

Features digitized sound fx at 6.25KHz on STe

Features digitized sound fx at 6.1KHz on ST

Additionally, if this game isn't enough for you, then give Lethal Xcess a playtest. Finally, here are some screenshots to drool over before you click on a download for Wings of Death. Here are the download choices for either hard drive (D-Bug), hard drive (PP), or a menu disk on floppy (Atari Legend). Enjoy!

Whitewater Madness

I've rescued a game!

Whitewater Madness was under development in 1989 by Scott Williamson and Ed Schneider for Atari. With great faith, it was specifically designed for the new Atari STe (possibly one of the first games to utilise the enhanced hardware). The game was finished but never released, which is disappointing, to say the least.

This is a shoot 'em up taking place on a river; imagine what would happen if you took Toobin' and then slapped in a dollop of River Raid's violence. You will have Whitewater Madness, a vertical-scrolling shooter that has us sailing down a bizarre stretch of water through space and time like Dr Who.

In Atari's wisdom, they decided not to bother releasing it. It was left gathering dust in the halls of the forgotten. I love Atari for giving us the ST/STe computers, but their marketing left us with a bad taste in our mouths! Well, cheer up, I have a treat for you: the finished version of Whitewater Madness to download and play. That's right, the disks have been found, and I've been given precious copies - by the developer!!

Note: for years, a demo version has been available for download. Do not bother with that. It's a lame, very old beta that plays nothing like the final release you will find today on AtariCrypt.

Are you excited? I know I am, so let's see a screenshot and find out more about this game...

The controls are superb, but you can also use the rapids for additional effect.

A Toobin' River Raid?

We sail a magical river in our little Pod to search for green energy cells. Collect them to raise your Warp Energy levels to maximum capacity - so we can travel further through time. If successful, we are presented with an information screen indicating how well (or poorly) we did. However, if you fail to collect the required amount, you're sent back to the start to do it all over again. (I saw that a lot)

Our dinghy is equipped with a rapid-firing mounted gun! This is a good job because we are under constant assault from hazards and weird creatures. Avoid dangers such as rocky rapids, mines, artillery, and other crazy stuff like kamikaze dinosaurs - who love to leap from the shores. It's absolutely insane!! There are lots causing mayhem: cavemen, something that resembles a pterodactyl, a giant turtle, and centaurs.

The controls are dead easy to get to grips with - and superbly responsive. I love the directional method that provides fast, efficient guidance for our insane river raid. Picking up green "L" pills will recharge the Pod and stop it from going BOOM, but these are few, so collect as many as possible - quickly.

Let's take a break to check out another screenshot from this crazy Toobin...

Those rapids are ace, but watch out for the nasties - like kamikaze dinosaurs!

An Atari STe game that never was!

Old gamers (me!) will love the graphics - that are kinda 8-bit. It feels like something you'd expect of a console because of its traditional palette and dinky sprites. They are small, with little animation, but nicely detailed. With one exception, a hostile kamikaze dinosaur that loves to leap from the shores!!

Scott informed me that the Blitter co-processor was used to handle the visuals. And it shows with brisk movements that keep up perfectly with the player and the hectic action without trouble.

The sound effects are nice with lots of shooting, explosions, and more. The DMA coprocessor is used and is super-duper. However, I must admit to being disappointed with the title music because it sounds like it's using low-frequency samples and is "STFM" in quality. A bit odd considering what the STe is capable of.

Fancy another screenshot? Of course you do. Here you go...

Watch out for dinosaurs, mines, birds, riverside cavemen, and lots more!

The CryptO'pinion?

Whitewater Madness has the hallmarks of a fantastic arcade game and is something I'd expect to see on an Atari console. I love the frantic Toobin-style action, which is perfectly balanced yet challenging without feeling impossible. There's much going on, and I think this is an exciting arcade shooter.

Why didn't Atari release this? It's unbelievable! It's a great game, so it sails into the seas of retro gaming gold!! It's simple, it's fun, and it's now available to download after being 'lost' for decades. That alone makes it special, so enjoy what would have been one of the first Atari STe games. A delightful arcade game!!

Download the official disk images

(with source code) kindly supplied by Scott.

Xenon II - STE - Megablast!

In-game real music!!

Xenon 2 is pretty much Marmite - it's a love/hate thing. Well, I love it. It's one of my favourite shooters with fantastic power-ups and freaky baddies. Plus, it's a technical masterpiece with outstanding aesthetics that proves the power of the Atari ST - when in the hands of developers with talent and commitment in equal measure. We need no custom chips nor those horrendously lame Amiga ports from the 90s!!

Okay, rant over. Here is a new Xenon II upgrade for 1MB+ Atari STe computers with an UltraSatan or decent hard drive. This new version streams 25KHz music, during gameplay, thanks to the DMA Audio hardware. There is no CPU hit whatsoever, so it's as good as ever, but with your choice of music :-)

Convert any song into: 8-bit @25033Hz using a program like Audacity. I've a massive selection of rock/metal songs stored and ZZ Top is playing in my game!!

Xenon II just got even better, and I hope Peter converts many more games to make use of the DMA co-processor. The possibilities are endless... Hmm, perhaps I should send him a wishlist? LOL he'll block me!!

WANTED

I'm John Wayne!

Wanted was released by Infogrames in 1988 and is a Gunsmoke rip-off with hints of Commando or Ikari Warriors. Ignoring the start and its dreadful music, we begin as a budding John Wayne wannabe, strolling through the Wild West. The town is inhabited by outlaws, and we have a gun. Heaven.

Set in the lawless heart of the Wild West, Wanted places you in the dusty boots of a lone bounty hunter determined to bring order to a frontier overrun by ruthless outlaws. Armed with little more than quick reflexes and sharp shooting, your mission is to track down dangerous criminals, survive chaotic gunfights, and prove yourself as the fastest draw in the territory. Watch out, this is a harsh world where every saloon door could conceal danger, and every showdown could be your last. Hmm, how very dramatic!

Unlike Ikari Warriors, the screen will automatically scroll as the action comes thick and fast. Whack on the fire button and shoot your way through Dodge City, but watch for enemies' bullets! These are the slowest bullets on the planet, but are extremely precise - I somehow always managed to walk into them. Arghh!! Thankfully, power-ups are available after shooting barrels, where you'll find weapons, shields, etc.

Wanted is a good vertically scrolling shoot 'em up, and fans of Gunsmoke will love it. Be warned, it's difficult (and there are better games on the Atari ST), but there is something curiously likable about it. I enjoyed it, so download the hard disk version from 8BitChip with floppies available via Atari Legend. 

Fwiw, I've actually been to places like Tombstone, Deadwood, and Dodge City... Yeehaw!!!!